Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: a stylish family car for grown-ups

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is packed with features to help take the stress out of family motoring.

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(Image credit: Matthew Howell)

Pablo Picasso created masterpieces by looking at the world differently, and Citron has borrowed his philosophy as well as his name for its seven-seater family car, says Chris Knapman in The Daily Telegraph. The Grand C4 Picasso embodies unusual thinking throughout from the ingenious way the seats fold to the distinctive front-end styling and huge windscreen that extends back into the roof, giving the cabin an airy feel.

The car is roomy and practical for family duties too. In five-seat mode the boot is "huge", says Knapman, and even with seven people taking their seats you'll have room for the shopping.The graphics on the touchscreen, which control almost everything in the car, are classy, and the dash is made of appealing soft-touch plastics.

It is also surprisingly easy to manoeuvre for such a big car, thanks to feather-light steering and excellent all-round visibility. It's not exactly fun to drive, but then few people buy cars like this to be entertained on winding roads, and it is very fuel-efficient for a car of its size.

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I'm not nearly grown-up enough for a dull car like this, says Jeremy Clarkson in The Sunday Times. Just step into it and before you know it you'll be sticking to the speed limit, scoffing at girls in ripped jeans and agreeing with all the callers to the Jeremy Vine show. But adults will admire the comfy head and foot rests, the foldaway sun visors, the cubbyholes and storage bins.

You won't be able to figure out how to turn off the engine stop-start function on the new-fangled touchscreen, but then you won't want to because it saves money, and that is the most important thing in life. And you'll never crash, because you'll never be going fast enough. If you want a sensible seven-seater car, it makes a deal of sense. It brings out the adult in us all.

It is seriously practical and great value for money, says What Car. Most versions come very well equipped, and are packed with features to help take the stress out of family motoring. It's a relaxing motorway cruiser and a great all-rounder.

Price: from £21,435.

Stuart Watkins

Stuart graduated from the University of Leeds with an honours degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and from Bath Spa University College with a postgraduate diploma in creative writing. 

He started his career in journalism working on newspapers and magazines for the medical profession before joining MoneyWeek shortly after its first issue appeared in November 2000. He has worked for the magazine ever since, and is now the comment editor. 

He has long had an interest in political economy and philosophy and writes occasional think pieces on this theme for the magazine, as well as a weekly round up of the best blogs in finance. 

His work has appeared in The Lancet and The Idler and in numerous other small-press and online publications.