Citroen

e-SpaceTourer/SpaceTourer/Grand SpaceTourer

Citroen’s e-SpaceTourer has evolved from a car-like design to one that is very much van-based. It can accommodate seven, eight or nine occupants and is now fully electrified.

Test Drive

Citroen e-SpaceTourer Business Lounge M (2023)

People carriers powered solely by electrified means are making quite an impact on the market at the moment thanks to their versatility and, in many cases, on-board luxury.

Plus, with zero emissions, they make the perfect vehicle to transport large numbers of people on airport runs that may be located in Ultra Low Emission Zones, such as Heathrow.

One of the latest arrivals is the Citroen e-SpaceTourer – a five-door model with the choice of seven, eight or nine seats, along with two varying lengths called M and XL. There are also three trims to choose from called Business Edition, Business and Business Lounge with prices starting from £37,045 and rising to £49,535 (including VAT).

We opted to test the range-topping Business Lounge model in shorter M guise costing £48,695. A number of optional extras, including metallic paintwork, a panoramic glass roof and a pair of individual armchairs in row two saw the final cost creep up to £50,665.

Admittedly not cheap, but there are numerous financial incentives, including free road tax, exemption from fees in Congestion Charge and ULEZ areas, a Benefit in Kind tax rating of two per cent and being free from any premium vehicle tax that applies to ICE models costing above £40k.

Our e-SpaceTourer featured seven seats with easy access offered through two huge sliding doors. These can be opened automatically using a button on the dashboard, the key fob or by pressing the handle.

The second row of seats are quite luxurious and they can be folded and slid forward to offer trouble-free access to the trio of rear seats. They can also be lifted and rotated 180 degrees and a table lifts up for family get-togethers.

Up front there is bundles of space and the leather seats are powered, heated and even feature a massaging function. There is a wealth of on-board technology to explore, including a seven-inch infotainment navigation screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, a DAB radio, voice recognition, Bluetooth and plenty more besides.

The driver information screen behind the steering wheel is where all the vital data such as speed, battery charge and driving range can be viewed while other switches include an e-Toggle gear selector and drive mode controls.

There is air conditioning and the back seat passengers get their own climate control settings with six ceiling-mounted air vents, along with window blinds for added privacy.

Stretching just shy of five metres in length, the e-SpaceTourer has a strong road presence and is easily recognisable as a Citroen thanks to the chevrons and chrome bars stretching the width of the car and connecting the headlight clusters. Other features include a panoramic glass roof, vertical tail lights, side steps, rear privacy glass and 17-inch alloys.

With this model being an EV, there is a charge port conveniently located on the front wing with a second one that is closed off at the rear. This is where you would fill up with fuel on an ICE version of the car.

The Citroen e-SpaceTourer features a small 50kWh battery pack and, under WLTP testing, can achieve a combined driving range of up to 137 miles, increasing to 201 miles in a city environment with lots of stop, start driving.

It delivers 136hp with 300Nm of torque and can reach 60mph from a standing start in 13.1 seconds with a top speed of 81mph.

There is a single-speed automatic transmission and this front-wheel drive MPV is a comfy motorway cruiser, although expect to see that somewhat-limited driving range drop like a stone. However, in busier town centres with lots of slowing down, it makes full use of the regenerative braking.

There is a B mode to increase the level of energy captured under braking, along with three drive modes called Eco, Normal and Power that change the characteristics and handling of the e-SpaceTourer. Eco restricts the power, speed and climate functions, while power delivers a livelier performance altogether.

Another plus point are the refinement levels. Occupants are well protected against outside noise, while all but the most severe bumps and dips are smoothed out by the highly efficient suspension set-up.

The tailgate is really large so you need to allow lots of space behind the vehicle in order to open it fully. If all seats are upright, there’s still ample room for some overnight bags, but if you drop the trio of rear seats the capacity increases to 1,700 litres. With just the front seats occupied the limit is a whopping 2,550 litres.

In addition, there are numerous compartments throughout the e-SpaceTourer, including a large glovebox that opens upwards, but unfortunately the lid won’t stay open on its own. There are cup holders each end of the dashboard as well as in the rear doors, plus nets, seat back pockets, deep door bins and fold-down trays. My only gripe about build quality was the door bins with edges that were quite sharp to the touch.

Charging the vehicle’s 50kWh lithium-ion battery from 0 to 80 per cent via a 100kW fast charger takes just 32 minutes. A zero to 100 per cent charge can be completed via an 11kW wallbox in four hours, 45 minutes or in seven hours, 30 minutes using a 7.4kW box.

All in all, the Citroen e-SpaceTourer has plenty going for it in a competitive and ever-growing sector. It’s practical, packed with kit, easy to drive and brings with it many EV cash incentives. However, that low driving range between charges somewhat restricts this vehicle to a city life where its assets can be put to full use.

Test Drive

Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer Feel Blue HDi 160 Auto

Family sizes are growing and as a result the demand for larger vehicles is becoming more evident, so with its seven-seat versatility and attractive price-tag the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer could be the perfect solution.

Many seven seaters lack any real flair when it comes to design and they frequently resemble a giant box on wheels. Admittedly, there are a few stylish models out there, but they are often only suitable for transporting children in the back row and for relatively short journeys too before they start complaining and fidgeting.

However, the Grand C4 SpaceTourer is a genuine seven seat vehicle. All the seats are individually adjustable and a pair of ‘fully-grown’ adults can fit in the back without any fuss.

The SpaceTourer looks modern and stylish from any approach thanks to its smooth lines, tinted windows, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors, sweeping light clusters, chrome trim and neat 17-inch alloy wheels.

Step inside and the bright and breezy interior is upmarket and spacious in its layout with a wealth of techno treats to explore including all the essential connectivity options.

Our mid-range Feel model was priced at £29,250 (£30,930 with options fitted) and it boasted eye-catching blue cloth upholstery, a 12-inch high definition centrally-positioned display that sits above the dash, a seven-inch touchscreen, sat nav, a six-speaker sound system, DAB radio, Bluetooth, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning and plenty more besides.

The car was powered by a punchy 2.0-litre 160bhp diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual gear shifts. It could reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.2 seconds, topped out at 130mph and, according to official figures, delivers combined fuel economy of 60.1mpg with carbon emissions of 123g/km.

Obviously, a people mover will often be used to transport youngsters and may feature regularly on the school run so exceptional all-round visibility is a ‘must’ and this as an area where the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer excels.

The driver benefits from an elevated seating position and that, along with slim pillars and a massive panoramic windscreen that stretches above the front seat occupants, results in perfect vision.

And getting comfy is an easy process too with power-adjustable seats and ample steering wheel adjustment on offer. There is a trio of individual seats in the second row and a further two in the back so the car can accommodate seven adults in comfort and when seats are not being used they can quickly be folded away.

The boot is generously sized and has a capacity ranging from 165 litres to 2,181 litres depending on the seating configuration. Elsewhere there is a good-sized glovebox, door pockets, a deep central bin with sliding top, another sealed compartment below the dashboard, nets in the backs of the front seats and cup holders. I thought these drinks holders were positioned a little low and too far forward but that was my only slight gripe.

When it comes to driving and handling, the Grand C4 SpaceTourer is deceptively agile. Despite measuring more than 4.6 metres in length, it is nimble and easy to manoeuvre with light steering. And that exceptional all-round visibility is a real bonus in busy congested town centres with cars, pedestrians and cyclists darting out from all angles.

Out on the fast country lanes road, the acceleration through the automatic gearbox is nice and responsive and the road holding is confident for such a high-sided vehicle. It is also a vehicle that can hold its own on motorways. There is a little wind and road surface noise at higher speeds, but generally the cabin is nicely refined. And it has to be said the massaging seats are a welcome feature on longer journeys.

The SpaceTourer is packed with a range of safety specifications and secured a maximum five stars when it was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating. Features include anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, hill start assist, electronic stability control with intelligent traction control, numerous airbags and lots more besides.

Obviously, a vehicle with the versatility of the Grand C4 SpaceTourer will have a specific target audience and won’t be to everyone’s taste, but this model ticks all the right boxes for seven-seat practicality combined with stylish good looks, economical pricing and nice driving dynamics making it a very impressive all-rounder.

Test Drive

Citroen Dispatch SpaceTourer Business M BlueHDi150

They say looks can be deceiving and Citroen is the perfect proof of that with its SpaceTourer model which looks every bit a workman’s van, but on closer inspection is a stylish and practical people carrier intended to tackle the rigours of family and business life head-on.

The SpaceTourer is based on the same platform that is used for the C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso, which means plenty of refinement and agility when it comes to handling as well as all the flexibility needed from this type of vehicle.

It looks robust without appearing too aggressive thanks to a short horizontally-styled bonnet, high-set headlights, black air intake grilles, vertical LED daytime running lights, a protective bumper, a wide tailgate for easy access and a choice of eight body colours.

The Business edition tested comes with a range of five to nine seats and on this occasion was kitted out for maximum capacity with three rows of three. This configuration and the simplicity in which it can be adjusted, combined with easy access via sliding side doors and good leg room for all occupants, means the SpaceTourer Business would make an ideal taxi or airport/hotel shuttle.

The vehicle measures 4.6 metres in length, but is just 1.90 metres high so it can gain entry into standard car parks at shopping centres, airports and the likes where height restrictions are often in place.

The interior is spacious and bright with lots of on-board technology to be explored, including a 7-inch touchscreen with DAB radio, Mirror Link and Car Play, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control with variable speed limiter and lots more besides.

The test model was priced at £31,130, but a few optional extras such as xenon headlights, a rear parking aid, 17-inch alloys and metallic paint increased the cost to £33,300.

Powered by a 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it can sprint from 0-62mph in 16.0 seconds and maxes out at 106mph. According to official figures it can achieve combined fuel efficiency of 53.3mpg with carbon emissions of 139g/km. The BIK rating is set at 27 per cent.

With practicality and versatility in mind there are plenty of storage options such as a double glovebox, deep door pockets capable of holding 1.5-litre bottles, cup holders and aircraft-style trays in the back.

Comfort levels are high for all occupants and the second row of seats can easily and quickly be folded and tilted forward to allow access to the third row.

So the SpaceTourer looks the part, is very versatile with plenty of top notch kit, but how does it handle when put to the test? The answer is surprisingly well. Hand on heart, I expected it to drive a little bit like a van and be quite cumbersome. It was the exact opposite. It proved agile and very easy to manoeuvre when tackling twisting and narrow country lanes and there was a constant supply of power to accelerate away when the road opened up. The steering is light yet assured and the road-holding super grippy. The SpaceTourer also features a 12.4 metre turning circle which means three-point turns pose no problems.

There is a little engine and wind noise which is to be expected from this type of high-sided vehicle, but even that is quite suppressed within the cabin. All occupants benefit from high seated positions and that’s a real bonus for the driver who is treated to excellent all round visibility.

The vehicle also featured a comprehensive list of safety systems, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, numerous airbags, hill start assist and seatbelts for all on board. There are driver attention alert and coffee break alert systems to make sure regular breaks are taken on longer journeys and these all contributed to the vehicle’s top rating of five stars in the Euro NCP safety tests.

All in all, the Citroen SpaceTourer is a fabulously practical vehicle that also offers high levels of comfort and fun-packed driving dynamics along the way. Expect to see lots of them whizzing around at an airport near you very soon.