With a premium-like market position and seats for seven adults, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso people carrier is expected to  outsell its five-seat sibling by more than two to one after it launches in the UK in January.

This MPV provides more room for occupants than Citroën’s current seven-seater and has equipment levels that more than suit the family-oriented company car users and Motability recipients that Citroën has in its sights.

The fleet sector is expected to account for 75% of its 14,000 full-year sales. Yet Citroën wants to tempt some private buyers, too.

It said trends show retired people are increasingly in the market for MPVs, as many are more heavily involved with caring for grandchildren and have higher disposable income.

At the media launch of the Grand C4 Picasso, the model expected to have the highest demand – the 115bhp turbodiesel in second-grade VTR+ trim - wasn’t available.

Instead, we were able to review only the range-topping 150bhp BlueHDI model with its efficient 2.0-litre diesel emitting 110g/km of CO2.

It’s a superb flagship MPV which, in the high-level Exclusive trim, comes with a seven-inch touchscreen for the sat-nav and audio controls, plus a second 12-inch high-definition screen which can be configured to show speed, trip computer details and further infotainment details, including a personal photo.

Other standard equipment on this trim level includes an electric tailgate, LED lights, alloy wheels and dual-zone air-conditioning. With fitted options such as 360° parking camera, active cruise control, a panoramic roof and motorised foot-rest for the front-seat passenger, the car I drove was a technical showcase and certainly created a premium perception, as could be expected by any customer signing for a near £30,000 car.

It’ll live up to a family’s expectations, too. All seven seats are truly usable and comfortable, with access to the rear gained by a neat folding mechanism, and there’s still space behind the third row for a child’s buggy or several shopping bags.

Citroën UK managing director Linda Jackson said quality models such as this MPV and the forthcoming C-Cactus crossover model will help to raise further Citroën’s brand perception. I can only agree.

by Tim Rose