Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer Review

Nowadays, the competition in Malaysia's 7-seater family car market is becoming increasingly fierce. Consumers not only want spacious and practical interiors but also demand higher levels of configuration and driving quality. The 2020 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, as a model updated for the year, not only lowers its price to RM 144,980 (almost RM 5,000 lower than the 2019 model) but also upgrades several configurations, such as the addition of a HUD heads-up display and a 220V/230V power outlet. In this test drive, we focus on verifying whether its configuration upgrades truly improve daily usability, whether the 7-seater space is flexible enough, and how the 1.6T powertrain performs under full load conditions.

From the exterior, the 2020 Grand C4 SpaceTourer continues the family-style design, with overall smooth and rounded lines, avoiding overly aggressive angles, which fits the positioning of a family car. At the front, the iconic double-chevron chrome logo connects seamlessly with the headlights on both sides, visually broadening the front. The lower part of the front bumper features a honeycomb black grille, adding a touch of sportiness. On the side, the door handles are body-colored, paired with 17-inch multi-spoke wheels (as equipped in the test drive model), creating a harmonious proportion. At the rear, the horizontally-aligned taillights use LED lighting, which is highly recognizable when lit at night. The lower part of the rear bumper has a hidden exhaust layout, maintaining the simplicity of the rear design. Notably, the new car comes standard with Xenon automatic headlights and front fog lights, enhancing daily convenience.

Sitting inside, the overall interior layout prioritizes practicality. The dashboard has a symmetrical design, with operational areas slightly tilted towards the driver for easier daily use. In terms of materials, the upper part of the dashboard and the inner sides of the door panels are covered with soft-touch materials, offering a comfortable feel. The seats are designed with a combination of leather and fabric, balancing comfort and durability. The core highlights of the 2020 model lie in its configuration upgrades: the HUD heads-up display clearly shows vehicle speed, navigation, and other information, reducing the need for the driver to frequently look down at the instrument panel; the 10-inch touchscreen central console supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration with smooth responsiveness; the front row is equipped with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and independent rear air vents ensure comfort for rear passengers; the newly added 220V/230V power outlet is highly practical for users needing to use laptops or small appliances in the car. In addition, keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers, and power-folding side mirrors are all standard features, placing its configuration level among the upper tier of 7-seater cars in the same price range.

Space performance is one of Grand C4 SpaceTourer’s advantages. It measures 4602mm×1826mm×1644mm, with a wheelbase of 2840mm (the same as the 2019 model). With the front seats adjusted to a suitable position, a driver who is 175cm tall has about one and a half fists of headroom. The rear seats offer about two fists of legroom and one fist of headroom, ensuring sufficient space even for three adults sitting side by side. The third-row seats are more suitable for children or adults on short trips, with approximately one fist of legroom and four fingers of headroom when the second-row seats are adjusted. As for storage space, the front door pockets can hold two bottles of mineral water, and the central armrest compartment is quite deep, capable of storing various small items. The second-row seats have cup holders and storage slots on both sides, and there are individual cup holders for the third row as well. The trunk space is about 165L with the 7-seat configuration, enough for two carry-on suitcases; folding down the third-row seats increases the capacity to 704L; and folding down both the second and third rows offers a maximum capacity of 1851L, fully meeting the storage needs for family moving or long-distance travel.

In terms of power, the 2020 Grand C4 SpaceTourer is equipped with a 1.6T turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 165PS and a maximum torque of 240N·m (although not directly specified in the configuration table, it is inferred from the 1.6T engine displacement and maximum torque at 1400rpm). It is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and features a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. During daily driving, the engine reaches maximum torque at just 1400rpm, providing quick power response during startup without noticeable turbo lag. Mid-range acceleration performs well, and when overtaking, stepping hard on the gas prompts the transmission to downshift responsively, offering smooth and strong power output. However, when fully loaded with 7 passengers and running the air conditioning, highway overtaking requires reserving more throttle travel as the power reserve feels somewhat insufficient. Regarding driving modes, the car offers three options: Economy, Standard, and Sport. In Economy mode, throttle response feels slightly sluggish, which is suitable for daily commuting; in Sport mode, the transmission stays in lower gears, making power output more direct.

In terms of handling performance, the steering wheel has a moderate weight, with minimal play and precise directional control, making daily driving quite agile. The suspension system adopts a front MacPherson strut independent suspension paired with a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, which is tuned towards comfort. When passing speed bumps or on bumpy roads, the suspension can filter out most minor vibrations, ensuring that rear passengers do not feel significant jolts. However, body roll becomes noticeable during high-speed cornering, which is a common characteristic of family MPVs. The braking system is stable in performance, with a moderate pedal travel, linear brake force in the initial stage, and sufficient braking power in the later stage, providing adequate confidence. In terms of fuel consumption, during our test drive under mixed road conditions (approximately 60% city roads and 40% highways), the average fuel consumption was about 7.2L/100km, which shows some variation from the official figure of 5.6L/100km. However, considering that the car was often fully loaded and the air conditioning was on during the test drive, this fuel consumption performance is still acceptable.

Regarding ride comfort, the new car's sound insulation is quite good. At highway speeds (120km/h), wind noise and tire noise are kept within acceptable limits and do not interfere with normal conversations inside the car. Engine noise, on the other hand, becomes more noticeable during rapid acceleration but is barely perceptible during steady-state driving. The seats provide moderate support and cushioning, ensuring comfort even during long drives. The second-row seats can slide forward and backward and have adjustable backrest angles, further enhancing comfort for rear passengers. Additionally, the new car comes standard with 6 airbags, active braking, electronic stability control, and other safety features, ensuring reliable safety performance.

Overall, the 2020 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer's core strengths lie in three aspects: First, its cost-effectiveness has improved after a price reduction, being nearly RM 5,000 cheaper than the 2019 model while upgrading its features. Second, it boasts class-leading feature richness, with functions like a head-up display and a 220V power outlet, which are uncommon in vehicles of this price range with a 7-seat layout. Third, it has flexible and practical space, meeting the needs of large families with its 7-seat configuration and excellent trunk capacity expansion. However, it also has some shortcomings, such as the relatively confined space in the third row and average power reserve when fully loaded.

Compared to models in the same class, such as the Honda Odyssey (higher price, relatively fewer features) or the Toyota Innova (more spacious but less equipped), the 2020 Grand C4 SpaceTourer is more suitable for family users who value rich features and driving comfort—especially those who often need to transport elderly people and children, while also hoping that the car's features can enhance everyday convenience. If you're looking for extreme third-row space or off-road capability, it may not be the best choice, but if you want a balanced, practical, and well-equipped 7-seater family car, it is worth considering.

Overall, the 2020 Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer is a model that "understands family needs." The price reduction and feature upgrades make it more competitive among models in the same class, suitable for daily use by most ordinary families.