Citroën Grand C4 Picasso

Citroën C4 SpaceTourer

Industry	Automotive
Predecessor	Citroën C4 Picasso
Founded	2006
Founder	Donato Coco (designer)
Headquarters	Vigo , Spain
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV)
Owner	Citroën (PSA Group)
Parent	PSA Group
Website	www.citroen.com

The Citroën C4 SpaceTourer—previously known as the C4 Picasso—is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) designed to seat five passengers, manufactured by the French automaker Citroën. There is also a seven-seat variant called the Grand C4 SpaceTourer, formerly the Grand C4 Picasso. The Grand C4 Picasso was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in September 2006, with the five-seat version following in January 2007.

Conceived by designer Donato Coco, the initial generation of both the C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso utilized the same platforms and engine options as the Citroën C4 and Peugeot 307. Production for these models took place at the PSA Vigo Plant located in Spain.

First generation (2006–2013)

The debut of the first-generation Grand C4 Picasso occurred in November 2006, with manufacturing continuing until March 2013 when its successor was launched. Sharing mechanical underpinnings with the Citroën C4 and Peugeot 307, it was revealed at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The five-seat C4 Picasso made its first appearance shortly after, during the Geneva Motor Show in early 2007.

Both variants were equipped with expansive panoramic windshields and slender door pillars to maximize visibility and natural light within the cabin. Additional features included front sun visors alongside supplementary blinds designed to minimize glare for both driver and front passenger.

Positioned slightly larger than competitors such as the Mazda Premacy and Opel Zafira, yet more compact than earlier full-size MPVs like the Citroën Evasion, the Grand C4 Picasso offered a boot space of 500 litres, which could be expanded up to 1,951 litres by folding down the rear seats.

Rear parking sensors were exclusive to the top-tier Exclusive trim. An optional pneumatic rear suspension system was available primarily on higher trims in select markets, enhancing ride comfort while lowering the load sill for easier access.

Safety

In 2006, the left-hand drive version of the first-generation C4 Picasso underwent testing by Euro NCAP and achieved a maximum five-star safety rating. This rating was supported by standard safety equipment including front airbags for driver and passenger, a driver’s knee airbag, side body airbags, and side head airbags. Nevertheless, crash assessments revealed potential for leg injuries caused by dashboard impact and chest injuries to drivers during side collisions. Additionally, during frontal impact tests, the rear child restraint tilted forward, resulting in a deduction of head protection points for the crash test dummy.

Reliability

According to the UK Reliability Index, the C4 Picasso attained a score of 111 points. The average age of vehicles assessed was 40 months, with repair expenses averaging approximately . Over 58% of reported repairs were associated with axle and suspension components; issues concerning air conditioning and transmission systems were minimal, registering at 0%. Between October 2010 and September 2011, its MOT pass rate stood at 71.2%, surpassing Citroën’s overall average of 56.8%. Maintenance intervals varied between 12,500 and 20,000 miles or every two years depending on engine specifications.

Second generation (2013–2022)

The second-generation C4 Picasso was previewed as the Citroën Technospace concept during the March 2013 Geneva Motor Show. This iteration is based on the lighter-weight PSA EMP2 platform, which it shares with models such as the Peugeot 3008 and 5008. This platform contributes to a reduced vehicle weight compared to even smaller models like the Citroën C3 Picasso.

Boot volume increased to 537 litres with rear seats upright, expanding to 630 litres when folded down. The front passenger seat can fold flat to accommodate items up to 2.5 metres long.

In early 2018, Citroën rebranded this model from C4 Picasso to C4 SpaceTourer and upgraded its transmission from a six-speed to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Following the introduction of the C5 Aircross in early 2019, model offerings were streamlined; five-seat versions were discontinued in certain export markets including the UK, although production persisted elsewhere.

Production of the five-seat C4 SpaceTourer ceased by mid-2020, while manufacturing of the seven-seat Grand C4 SpaceTourer continued until July 2022. This marked nearly thirty years since Citroën first entered the MPV segment.

Equipment

Feature availability differs depending on the country, with Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) being a standard inclusion throughout all EU markets. Essential safety and performance systems encompass Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA), Intelligent Traction Control (ITC), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The enhanced lane departure warning system (LDWS) in Exclusive+ trims utilizes digital imaging combined with line detection technology to notify drivers through vibrations in the front seatbelts, thereby improving driver alertness.

The C4 Picasso is equipped with a rear-view camera for reversing and offers an optional 360-degree panoramic vision setup featuring four wide-angle cameras to eliminate blind spots and support parking maneuvers. Ultrasonic sensors provide optional parking assistance by detecting suitable spaces for semi-automatic parking operations. The radar sensor embedded in the bumper also facilitates Active Cruise Control (ACC) on Exclusive+ versions, monitoring the distance and speed of vehicles ahead to adjust braking and maintain safe following distances.

Inside, the dashboard boasts a twelve-inch panoramic color screen dedicated to navigation and road assistance functions, which users can customize. A 7-inch touch-sensitive tablet manages navigation, hands-free communication, multimedia, and infotainment features. The audio system comprises six Arkamys speakers powered by a dedicated amplifier, distinguishing it from other Citroën models that feature Denon sound systems.

Critics have praised the generous cabin space—measuring five square meters—with expansive windows and narrow door pillars enhancing visibility. While some reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with the ETG6 gearbox’s responsiveness, they acknowledged improvements in ride comfort and overall driving dynamics provided by the platform.

Safety

In 2013, the second-generation C4 Picasso achieved a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. Standard safety equipment includes six airbags with variable pressure settings: two front airbags, two side airbags, and two curtain airbags designed specifically to mitigate head injuries.

Transmissions

At launch, the C4 Picasso was equipped with Citroën’s six-speed automated manual transmission known as the "Efficient Tronic Gearbox six speed" (ETG6), which allowed drivers to switch smoothly between manual and automatic modes. However, this gearbox received criticism for its jerky operation and slow response times.

Beginning in 2015, alongside the introduction of BlueHDi engines, Citroën replaced the ETG6 with a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission sourced from Aisin, referred to as the EAT6.

The available transmissions include a four-speed automatic, a six-speed ETG, and a six-speed automatic. Each offers two shifting modes via a column-mounted selector: paddle-shifted manual mode or fully automatic mode with manual override capability. Additionally, the ETG/automatic variants featured an optional cooled storage compartment located between the front seats in place of where a manual gear lever would typically be installed.

Earlier 1.6-litre diesel engines and petrol variants produced after 2015 incorporated a start-stop technology utilizing Valeo’s i-StARS reversible starter/alternator system, marketed as e-HDi for diesel and e-THP for petrol models. This system employs two supercapacitors to capture braking energy that powers rapid engine restarts.

PSA states that this start-stop mechanism can reactivate the engine within approximately 400 milliseconds while traveling between 8 and 20 km/h—significantly faster than traditional starters—capable of up to 600,000 restart cycles and delivering fuel economy improvements up to 15%. Enhancements to engine durability include improved turbocharger lubrication as well as strengthened components such as the injection pump, crankshaft bearings, and dual-mass flywheel.

Engines

Overview of engine options and technical details
Model	Production Years	Engine Code	Displacement (cc, cu in)	Output	Torque	0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) (seconds)	Maximum Speed	Gearbox	Template:CO2 emissions (g/km)
Petrol engines
1.6 litre VTi 16v	2006–present	EP6	1,598 (98)	120 bhp (89 kW; 122 PS)	160 N⋅m (118 lb⋅ft)	12.1	116 mph (187 km/h)	five-speed manual	145
1.6 litre THP 16v	2006–2013	EP6DT		140 bhp (100 kW; 140 PS)	244 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft)	11.5	119 mph (192 km/h)	four-speed automatic	197
				150 bhp (110 kW; 150 PS)	240 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft)	10	127 mph (204 km/h)	six-speed automatic (ETG6)	173
	2013–2015	EP6CDT		155 bhp (116 kW; 157 PS)		9	130 mph (210 km/h)	six-speed manual	139
	2006–2013							six-speed automatic (EAT6)	155
1.8 litre injection 16v|| EW7A || 1,749 cubic centimetres (106.7 cu in) || 127 brake horsepower (95 kW) || 170 newton-metres (130 lbf⋅ft) || 11.9 || 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) || five-speed manual || 190
rowspan="2"|2.0 litre injection 16v|| rowspan="2"|EW10A || rowspan="2" |1,997 cubic centimetres (121.9 cu in) || rowspan="2" |143 brake horsepower (107 kW) || rowspan="2" |199 newton-metres (147 lbf⋅ft) || 11.5 || || six-speed automatic (ETG6) || 190
12 || || four-speed automatic|| 211
1.2 litre PureTech	rowspan="2" |2015–	EB2DTS				10.1 (10.8)		six-speed manual	115
1.6 litre THP	EP6FDT				8.4 (8.7)		six-speed automatic (EAT6)	130

Diesel engines
1.6 litre HDi 8v||2013–2015||DV6||rowspan="5"|||||||12.9||||rowspan="2"|five-speed manual||109
rowspan="4"|1.6 litre HDi 16v||rowspan="10"|2006–2013||rowspan="4"|DV6TED4||rowspan="4"|||rowspan="2"|||12.5||rowspan="3"|||140
13.2||six-speed Automatic (ETG6)||135
rowspan="2" |||13.1||six-speed manual||132
13.3||||rowspan="6"|six-speed automatic (ETG6)||132
rowspan="6"|2.0 litre HDi 16v||rowspan="4"|DW10BTED4||rowspan="6"|||rowspan="3"|||rowspan="2"|||12.4||||153
rowspan="2"|12.1||rowspan="4"|||195
||195
||||10.6||137
DW10CTED4||||rowspan="2"|||10.7||177
DW10D||||10.2||||six-speed manual||140
rowspan ="3" 1.6 litre e-HDi Airdream 8v|| rowspan ="3" 2013–2015 || rowspan ="4" DV6C || rowspan ="4" || || || 13.7 || || rowspan ="2" six-speed Automatic (ETG6) || 98
rowspan ="2" || rowspan ="2" ||12.3||(117 mph)||104
11.8||(six-speed manual)||105
1.6 litre e-HDi Airdream 16v||2006–2013|||110 bhp|||285 Nm|||13.3|||113 mph|||six-speed Automatic (ETG6)||120
rowspan ="3" 1.6 litre BlueHDi		2015–		DV6FC		1560 cc		99 bhp		254 Nm		12.7 (13.1)		109 mph		five-speed manual		99
		118 bhp		300 Nm		11.3 (11.6)		117 mph		six-speed manual		100 (105)
		11.2 (11.5)		117 mph		six-speed automatic (EAT6)		100 (103)
rowspan ="2" 2.0 litre BlueHDi	2013-	DW10FC BlueHDI	1997 cc	148 bhp	370 Nm	9.7 (9.8)	130 mph	six-speed manual	102
	10.1 (10.2)	129 mph	six-speed automatic (EAT6)	112

Sales

Year	Global production	Global sales	Remarks
2009	133,800	143,800
2010	126,800	128,800
2011	Template:TBA	116,927
2012	80,600	82,900
2013	104,700	99,900
2014	N/A	124,100

Combining both generations, production has reached 891,000 units for the first-generation and 732,000 units for the second-generation C4 Picasso models (which includes the C4 SpaceTourer).

See also

• List of Citroën vehicles

External links

• Review on Carkeys.co.uk
• Information on the eTouch Emergency system