Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 VTi 16v VTR5dr Car Review - March 2012

The four cylinder 16v engine delivers 118 bhp and 118 lb-ft of torque at 4250 rpm. The maximum speed of 116 mph is decent for a family car and acceleration speeds are fairly good for a car of this size and weight. The car reaches 0-62 mph in 12.3 seconds which is two tenths of a second slower than its five seater equivalent, the C4 Picasso 1.6 VTi VTR. The diesel engine offers a lot more torque than this petrol unit, however, making it a better bet.

Internal comfort is high within the vehicle thanks to some of the features and the suspension does a good job of keeping the drive smooth and enjoyable. However, there can be some noise disruption from this at higher speeds and when driving on motorways.

The style of the C4 Picasso is highly attractive and the overall design uses sweeping lines and striking features, such as Citroen’s trademark radiator grille, to create an attractive exterior.

The cabin is also stylish although some of the interior plastics are a little scratchy. This model comes with a fairly extensive trim level which includes power steering, central locking, stability control, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and a stereo system with CD compatibility as standard.

As this is one of the more basic trim levels some other features are lacking and this may disappoint buyers. Alloy wheels, climate control, rear parking sensors, leather seats and Bluetooth connectivity are not available as options and the stereo does not offer MP3 connectivity either.

Overall, the quality of the build feels high and that means the model feels safe and sturdy to drive. The Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 VTi VTR also comes with driver, passenger and front side airbags fitted as standard. The C4 Picasso also fared well in the NCAP crash tests where it achieved the maximum five star rating for overall safety.

Buyers receive a three year warranty for 60,000 miles with this model to provide additional assurances and reliability levels are expected to be high. A service interval of 20,000 miles is recommended and this means maintenance should not be too expensive or frequent.

Internal space is used well and that means comfort levels are high for all passengers and the driver. The boot also boasts a large capacity regardless of whether the seats are in place or not. With them folded down there is a mammoth storage space of 1,951 litres whilst an impressive 576 litres is still available when the seats are put back into position.

Priced at £18,455 the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 VTi 16v VTR 5dr is not the most expensive seven seater people carrier on the market and this could make it a tempting option. However, the model is identical to the five seater C4 Picasso but costs £1,400 more - a figure which seems unjustified considering the lack of changes.

Overall, the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 VTi 16v VTR 5dr is a great family car which offers all the spatial requirements which are required along with a fair selection of features and decent performance credentials. This makes it ideal for families but diesel varieties could offer better value for money and should therefore be considered as a wiser long term investment.

Fuel efficiency is the same as the five seater 1.6 VTi VTR achieving 40.9 mpg on the combined cycle. This model emits 159 g/km of carbon dioxide, placing the car under road tax band G.