Used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso for sale: everything you need to know

In terms of driveway appeal, MPVs have given way to SUVs in recent years, but for outright practicality it’s still hard to beat a proper people-mover like the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso sold between 2014 and 2018.

That isn’t to say the Citroen lacks style, either. It’s definitely one of the better-looking MPVs released around that time and with a few years under its belt, today it’s a real bargain for customers seeking seven proper seats for their family. With plenty of equipment and a comfortable drive, it shows there’s life in the MPV format yet.

The Peugeot 5008 is now an SUV but the older model overlapped with the Grand C4 Picasso and was a proper MPV, so that’s worth a look too - as are the Renault Grand Scenic, SEAT Alhambra and Volkswagen Sharan if you need a spacious interior and seven seats.

Should you buy a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso?

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is the kind of car you’d buy if you need seven seats but aren’t keen on the idea of some of the larger recent SUVs. It’s also a car for MPV buyers who don’t want to sacrifice style, since despite its practical cabin, Citroen really did put a lot of effort into making the Grand C4 Picasso look sophisticated, rather than just being a people-moving box.

Details like the slim grille, split level headlights and the silver-coloured bars running up the sides of the windscreen all the way to the back of the car really stand out, and Citroen didn’t forget the interior design in its quest to liven up the MPV genre either - it’s equally swoopy, with centrally-mounted instruments, and fantastic visibility courtesy of a wide and deep windscreen and a split A-pillar design that keeps each pillar slim and improves your view around corners.

First and second row passengers have tons of space and it’s not bad in the two third-row seats either, particularly if you slide the second row forward. Like many MPVs the boot space is modest if all seven seats are in place but quickly becomes massive when you start folding seats.

It’s pleasant to drive too, with light and precise steering, minimal body lean in corners, and a comfortable ride quality. For a small engine the 1.2-litre petrol is up to the job of pulling the Grand C4 Picasso around, and the automatic gearbox, post 2016 at least, is very smooth. Diesels were available for those who wish to maximise economy, too.

MPVs like the Grand C4 Picasso are slowly disappearing from the market but used models are still easy to find, and the Citroen’s rivals included models like the 2009-2016 Peugeot 5008 and the Renault Grand Scenic, the Ford S-Max, an the Volkswagen Sharan and SEAT Alhambra - though not many are as stylish as the Citroen.

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What’s the best used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso model to buy?

The entry-level Touch made a lot of sense when new thanks to an impressive level of standard equipment, but as a used buy it’s worth shopping around, as for small differences in mileage and specification you may find one of the higher trim levels for similar money to a Touch - the 12-inch driver display of the Feel adds to the high-tech feel of the cabin, even if it ultimately doesn’t change the driving experience.

The Puretech petrol and automatic gearbox both suit the Grand C4 Picasso’s relaxed character and it’s a pretty fuel-efficient combination too (bear in mind that all the figures on this page are the old NEDC test cycle, which is less realistic than the later WLTP standard), though if long trips and a full complement of passengers are a regular occurrence, the top 2-litre BlueHDi 150 diesel will be most adept at coping.

Used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso fuel economy and performance

• Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Puretech 130: The 130PS three-cylinder turbocharged petrol was offered with 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearboxes. Both manual and auto could get from 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds. The manual’s economy was a claimed 56.5mph, and the auto 55.4mpg.
• Citroen Grand C4 Picasso BlueHDi 100: With a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox the 100PS BlueHDi had a 13.1-second 0-62mph time and NEDC economy of up to 74.3mpg.
• Citroen Grand C4 Picasso BlueHDi 120: The next diesel up had both manual and automatic gearbox options. With 120PS, they could do 0-62mph in 11.7 and 11.5 seconds respectively, and both were capable of 70.6mpg.
• Citroen Grand C4 Picasso BlueHDi 150: The most powerful diesel (and most powerful Grand C4 Picasso) was a 2-litre turbodiesel with manual and automatic gearboxes, with 0-62mph times of 9.8 seconds for the former and 10.1 seconds for the latter. The manual was good for up to 68.9mpg, and the auto 65.4mpg.

What used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso trim levels are available?

Before the Grand C4 Picasso made way for the Grand C4 Spacetourer it was available in three main trim lines, with a decent level of equipment from the entry-level Touch to a more comprehensive kit list in the top-spec Flair. Standard Apple CarPlay (in later years at least) and third-row seats in this Grand model are both strong points of the entire range.

• The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Touch started the range with 16-inch alloy wheels, an electric handbrake, panoramic windscreen, electric heated and folding door mirrors, dual-zone air conditioning, rear parking sensors, an LCD central driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay.
• The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Feel stepped up to 17-inch alloys, headlights with a cornering function, chrome exterior details and aluminium interior details, front parking sensors, and a 12-inch central TFT driver display.
• The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Flair swapped the cloth seats of the Touch and Feel for half leather, got 18-inch wheels on BlueHDi 150 versions, blind spot monitoring, a panoramic sunroof, LED front indicators and rear lights, privacy glass, keyless entry, and tray tables for the second-row passengers.

Used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso dimensions and boot size

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4602mm
• Width: 1826mm (without mirrors), 2117mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1644mm (with roof bars)

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso’s boot size is:

• 165 litres (seven seat mode)
• 632-793 litres (five seat mode seats back/forward)
• 2181 litres (two seat mode, to roof)

Used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso road tax

Most Citroen Grand C4 Picassos you find will have been registered prior to April 2017, and as such their yearly VED or ‘road tax’ is based on CO2 emissions. This works in your favour as it means some models will be very cheap indeed to tax - the manual BlueHDi 100, at exactly 100g/km, is free, while the PureTech 130 and BlueHDi 120 in all its forms are either £20 or £35. After this early 2017 date, all models move to a flat rate of £180 per year.

How much is it to insure a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso?

Insurance rates for the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso should be similar to most rivals, with a range that starts from insurance group 13 at its lowest, and rises to group 26 for the most powerful BlueHDi 150 in a higher trim line and with an automatic gearbox.

Read our full Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review