2019 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer Review

In Malaysia's 7-seater family MPV market, consumers often weigh practicality, fuel efficiency, and value for money— after all, it’s about meeting the family’s travel and cargo needs without sacrificing the flexibility of daily driving or exceeding the budget. The 2019 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer targets this niche market, boasting key highlights such as class-leading wheelbase for superior space, a 1.6T turbocharged engine for power reserves, and unique French design details. Through our test drive, we aim to verify whether this MPV meets the "all-round" needs of family users.

In terms of appearance, the Grand C4 SpaceTourer maintains the distinctiveness of French cars. The front features a large trapezoidal grille filled with black honeycomb-style trim, flanked by headlight assemblies integrated with chrome strips along the top edge of the grille, visually widening the front. The headlights include lenses, providing sufficient brightness when illuminated. The side profile displays smooth lines, with a waistline running from the front fender to the rear, passing through the door handles, paired with 17-inch multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels (as equipped on the test model), avoiding a bulky appearance. The rear design is simple, with horizontally arranged taillights. The internal lighting elements use LED sources, forming an "L" shape when lit for high nighttime recognition; the chrome strip under the rear bumper enhances the refined look. The overall style leans towards stability, with design details that avoid the common "minivan" perception typical of MPVs.

Stepping inside, the interior layout prioritizes practicality without compromising on materials and features. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch plastic, offering a delicate feel, accented with silver trim strips for added quality. The center console features a prominent 8-inch touchscreen, with clear displays, supporting Bluetooth, CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity, and offers operational smoothness in line with the standards of 2019 models. Below the screen, physical buttons remain for air conditioning controls, facilitating blind operation while driving. The seats are upholstered in fabric (for lower trims), providing good support. The front seats are manually adjustable; while less convenient than electric adjustments, the knob and lever are moderately resistant, making adjustments straightforward. Rear air conditioner vents are positioned above the second-row seats, with USB charging ports provided below, showcasing thoughtful detailing.

Space is one of the primary advantages of the Grand C4 SpaceTourer. With a wheelbase of 2,840mm, the second-row seats support forward and backward sliding as well as backrest angle adjustments. A 175cm tall passenger can enjoy up to two fists of legroom and more than one fist of headroom. The third-row seats are more suitable for children or adults on short trips, offering about half a fist of legroom with the second-row seats adjusted to the middle position, and sufficient headroom to avoid contact. In terms of storage, the front door panel storage pockets can hold two 500mL water bottles, and the center armrest box is deep enough for small items. By folding down the third-row seats, the trunk capacity expands to 1,851L, fully meeting the luggage storage needs of long family trips.

As for power, the test model is equipped with a 1.6T turbocharged engine delivering a maximum output of 165PS and a peak torque of 240N·m (official data), paired with a 6AT gearbox. When starting, the throttle response isn’t too aggressive, but once the turbo kicks in (around 1500rpm), power output clearly strengthens. During mid-range acceleration for overtaking, pressing the accelerator deeply prompts the transmission to quickly downshift, ensuring smooth power delivery and confident overtaking. In daily driving, the gear changes are smooth and barely perceptible. Driving modes include Economy, Standard, and Sport. In Economy mode, the throttle pedal becomes heavier, making it suitable for highway cruising; in Sport mode, the engine revs higher, with more responsive power output for scenarios requiring rapid acceleration.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel feels light and responsive with minimal play. It is very agile when making U-turns or parking at low speeds, and the steering becomes heavier during high-speed driving, providing good stability. The chassis uses a front McPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, which is tuned for comfort. When driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension filters out most vibrations, and there is no significant bumpiness transmitted to the cabin. During cornering, the body roll is well-controlled for an MPV, ensuring passengers don’t feel uncomfortable. Braking performance is also commendable, with a linear feel to the brake pedal and evenly distributed braking force. The vehicle remains stable during emergency braking.

In the fuel consumption test, we drove 120 km through urban traffic (approximately 40%) and highways (approximately 60%) and recorded an average fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km. This result ranks as above-average among 1.6T 7-seater MPVs and meets family consumers' expectations for fuel efficiency. As for noise control, while driving at high speeds (120km/h), some wind and tire noise can be detected, but it does not affect normal conversations among passengers inside the car. Overall, the noise control performance meets the standards for vehicles in this class.

Overall, the 2019 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer’s core strengths lie in its spacious interior, balanced performance, and practical features. Compared to its class competitor, the Toyota Innova, it has a longer wheelbase and a more practical third row of seating. Compared to the Honda Odyssey, it is more affordable (official price RM149,888), offering better value for money. However, it does have some drawbacks, such as the lack of electric adjustment for the front seats, and its interior technology features are not as advanced as newer models.

This car is most suitable for families who prioritize spaciousness and value for money. Be it for daily commuting, picking up kids, or a short weekend family road trip, it can handle it all. If you need an all-around MPV without wanting to spend too much, the Grand C4 SpaceTourer is worth considering.

In conclusion, the 2019 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer is a family MPV with no significant drawbacks. It appeals to family users with its space and value for money, while its performance and handling also meet daily needs. For consumers who prioritize practicality above all else, it is a reliable choice.