Citroën Grand C4 Picasso (07 on) - Review

A huge glass area means that the inside is light - even with the dark cloth trim of most models, while visibility is excellent all round. The panoramic windscreen (which comes as standard on all models) also helps this airy ambience although most of the time you're likely to keep the sliding blinds forward to stop being dazzled. It's quiet on the move, with wind noise only noticeable at higher motorway speeds while the seats are comfortable, even if the middle ones are a little narrow. The rearmost seats are cramped though, not helped by a lack of legroom, so are only really suitable for youngsters. A neat option is the DVD system - the screens are built into the seat-back tables and flip-down when needed. Go for a VTR+ model upwards and you get a built-in air freshener with a choice of refill scents. A smooth ride means the Grand C4 Picasso is great for families on long journeys and it will effortlessly cruise along the motorway.

The seats in the rear of the Grand C4 Picasso fold flat in a matter of seconds. It’s not the most elegant system – extra flaps need to be folded out to cover the gaps in the floor – but it's user-friendly and pretty straight forward. The seats also flip forward for easy access to the third row and boot space is generous even with the seats up. Hidden storage under the seats is useful for hiding valuables. The rest of the cabin is designed to make life on board as easy as possible. The boot light can double as a torch and pulls out, which is ideal for finding stray items from your shopping. Then there’s a coolbox built into the dash (with the exception of LX), which is great in the summer, while the door bins sense when you’re putting your hand in and illuminate. The only disappointment is the lack of a central storage bin - instead the C4 Picasso makes do with a rather shallow and not very useful unit. But there is plenty of other storage including two large cubbies on the dash top (the CD changer is also cleverly situated here) and a decent glovebox.

The Grand C4 Picasso dash looks good (although the exact layout varies considerable between models) and is easy to use, plus all the major functions can be controlled by buttons on the steering wheel, which means you don’t need to stretch across. Only the driving position lets this part of the package down. Although there’s excellent adjustment in the steering wheel and seat, there’s very little foot room and it can feel cramped. The clutch footrest is too high and too close to the driver to be comfortable.