Citroen C4 Picasso (2007-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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The real test of any seven-seat compact MPV is the comfort and convenience of the third-row passengers. In the Grand C4 Picasso, there's enough elbow room and headroom for two adults, and legroom is bearable if you're not tall. The seats have zero lateral support, but the air suspension fitted to the Exclusive version gives a wonderfully smooth ride. The lower trim levels use conventional coil springs and are a little livelier over bumps.

The Picasso is also very quiet, which means row-three passengers can converse with front-row occupants on the move. Exclusive occupants also get four-zone air conditioning with an air-quality sensor and a scented diffuser; lesser models make do with a simpler air con system.

The boot in the Grand C4 Picasso isn't big, with the rearmost seats deployed, but its contents can be covered by a pull-out blind. The centre-row seats slide easily forward for rear-row access and all five rear seats fold flat into the floor. In the five-seater, the rear seats fold flat to create a huge boot. Some versions come with a rear window that opens independently of the tailgate, which can be very handy if you just want to drop something small into the boot.

All occupants of the five- and seven-seater have lots of shoulder room, as they should in a car six feet wide. Everyone gets a good view out and there are oddments bins within easy reach of every occupant.

Depending on model or option take-up, you can have 18" wheels, DVD screens built into the backs of the front seats behind the flip-down tray tables, a CD stacker, leather trim and more. The boot light doubles as a removable, rechargeable torch. All told, this is very easy MPV to live with.