Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate

Review of the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate

The new Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate does exactly what you’d expect it to with a name like that – it offers a very generous amount of space. It’s absolutely huge and undeniably practical.

However, it’s also impossible to deny its van origins, and this does nothing for its image. That said, it doesn’t look that bad and can be chosen in 3 different lengths, with the smallest variant looking quite fetching.

OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2018 Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate review.

Citroen are over 100 years old. Read our article about their history here.

Overview of the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate

On the Road

True, it looks like it would be super awkward to drive. But looks are clearly not everything, and the Space Tourer is easier to drive than you’d think. It’s bulky but doesn’t feel bulky, while the M Version can even claim to be a neat handler. Take it out into the country and it copes just fine with those weaving lanes.

The elevated driving seat helps a lot, especially with visibility. This, in turn, makes it easier for drivers to take corners, while a surprisingly tight turning circle and light steering ensure the car is great to drive in the city.[vc_single_image image=”80760″ img_size=”article-image”]Ride quality is good too, with the Space Tourer able to deal with broken and battered roads well. Citroen say that they’ve refined its suspension setup, and on this evidence, they’ve done a great job. That said, if you’re travelling on a really bad road, you might feel one or two potholes.

Overall, it’s very hard to fault the way this Citroen drives. It might be based on a van but it doesn’t feel at all as rough and unstable as these things used to do.

All the engines in the range are diesels, with the BlueHDi 95 model sitting at the bottom of the range. Its modest power output of 94bhp means it takes 15.9 seconds to complete the 0-62 dash, and we can imagine that most buyers will overlook it.

At the top of the range is a hefty BlueHDi 180 model that’s paired up with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It can’t be specified with a manual ‘box.

We think the mid-range BlueHDi 115 is the most satisfying engine. The 180 variant is great if you’ll constantly be travelling with a full load, but otherwise, the 115 model should be all you need. It delivers a good amount of punch, feels flexible and its gearbox is smooth and accurate.

Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate Interior, Design and Build

[vc_single_image image=”80761″ img_size=”article-image”]Last time around, this was a pretty noisy car, and indeed one of the biggest customer complaints was that insulation was poor. This time around, Citroen have added sound deadening to the cabin in an effort to reduce exterior noise.

Well, that’s what they say at least. We’re sceptical because it’s still a noisy car. It’s a shame too, because the ride quality is so good.On the whole, the cabin is a plus. It’s better than your usual van-come-car cabin, and we think buyers will appreciate its well-finished dashboard. It’s a pretty basic interior, but Citroen have second guessed that this is what buyers are looking for – and we reckon they’ve got it right. You’ll find no glamour in here, with Citroen opting for a straightforward approach. The plastics are durable, build quality is good, and the cabin is easy to live with.

Is the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate practical? Leg, shoulder and headroom should be sufficient for even the tallest of adults, while three rows of seats come as standard. This is great for whenever you need to ferry around six or seven people, but when all seats are taken there isn’t much boot space available.

Fold the two rows of seats, however, and you can free up 2,381-litres of luggage space. Spend extra on the XL variant and your boot grows as big as 2,932-litres.

There are some clever practical touches in either variant. For example, the boot and door can be opened via the Hands-Free Access Facility, while the motorised sliding doors are handy.

Equipment and Safety of the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate

Standard kit is decent across the range, with all models getting ISOFIX child seat mounts, LED daytime running lights, parking sensors, a seven-inch touchscreen, a digital radio, automatic wipers and lights, air conditioning and some flashes of chrome surrounding the air vents.

Sat-nav is an expensive £600 optional extra for the entry-level Revi models, but Flair models get it as standard, as well as more speakers and a better stereo.

In terms of how safe it is, EuroNCAP awarded it 5 stars for its crash test performance, while its van origins mean it’s tough and secure. Its standard safety kit includes active cruise control, a driver drowsiness monitor, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning.

Costs of the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate

Prices for the new car start out from £30,170 and rise to £43,590. For more information on our leasing deals, you can check out our page here.

In terms of its running costs, if you pair the BlueHDi 150 up with the 6-speed manual gearbox, you can return as much as 53.3mpg.

However, it’s the BlueHDi 115 model that’s the most frugal in the range; it returns 55.4mpg and comes with stop-start tech as standard.

Most models cost £140 a year to tax, but the BlueHDi95 costs £145 a year, while the BlueHDi180 will cost you £180 per year.

Insurance groups haven’t been confirmed yet.

To find out more about Citroen reliability read our unbiased summary here.

Pros and Cons of the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate

Pros:

Ideal for taxi firms

Taxi firms is largely who this MPV is aimed at (as well as transport companies) and it will suit both well.

It has nine seats

If seven-seaters just don’t cut it for you, the 9-seater Space Tourer has got you covered. It’s also available with 5, 7 or 8 seats.

Economical

It seems absurd that a car this big can return over 50mpg across its range of engines, but that’s what you have here.

Cons:

Basic interior

It isn’t what we’d call ugly, but it’s as basic as basic does.

Not much boot space with the seats up

You’ll find that there’s only enough room for a bag or two with all the seats up.

Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate vs Ford Galaxy Diesel Estate vs Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate

Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals in the comparison section of our 2018 Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate review.

Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate vs Ford Galaxy Diesel Estate

The new Ford Galaxy Diesel Estate is a practical family car that’s the best version so far.

Ford are well renowned for making cars that drive well, and the Galaxy – despite its considerable size – is no exception. It’s great for cruising in, it’s comfortable and it’s very quiet out on the motorway.

The ride isn’t too soft, but it’s supple enough so as to be able to smooth over some of Britain’s poorer road surfaces.[vc_single_image image=”80762″ img_size=”article-image”]The steering is nice and positive, there’s very little body lean and plenty of grip.

In terms of its engines, the 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel is the best-seller so far. It covers the 0-62 dash in just 10.9 seconds, but some of you might prefer the extra power offered by the 178bhp variant of the same engine. It can get you from a standstill to 62mph in 9.8 seconds and copes well with the car on a full load.

Sitting at the top of the range is a twin-turbocharged 208bhp variant of the same engine. It covers the 0-62 sprint in 8.9 seconds, which is remarkable for a car of this size, and it remains hushed at speed.

The 148bhp and 178bhp variants can be paired up with a 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission for an extra £1,500.

Running costs? The three variants of the 2.0-litre diesel engine vary only slightly where fuel economy is concerned, with all three able to return 55.4mpg if you choose the right specifications.

For example, adding four wheel drive and the 6-speed automatic gearbox to the 148bhp engine alters its economy to 51.4mpg.

Inside, Ford have really taken things up a notch. The cabin is more luxurious than last time and feels like a very classy affair. The quality of the materials used has been improved, and we love the soft leather seats and the chunky aluminium trim.

The dashboard is now clutter-free and looks very modern, and it comes with a brand new 8” high-res touchscreen.

Is the Ford Galaxy Diesel Estate practical? It can fit seven people with ease and is one of the most versatile cars around. Adults as well as kids can occupy the third row of seats, leg and headroom is good, and the large windows create an airy and light atmosphere while improving visibility.

The boot, meanwhile, measures 300-litres with all seven seats up, extends to 1,301-litres if you fold the third row of seats and 2,339-litres if you fold the second row too.

Price:

Citroen – £30,170 – £43,590
Ford – £28,000 – £38,645

Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate vs Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate

The new Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate is well-built, decent to drive and very spacious.

On the road, the Touran isn’t what you would call exciting by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s easy to drive and easy to live with. Especially if you hook it up with the optional 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, it feels nice and smooth and provides a hassle-free way of getting from A to B.

It’s a tad on the noisy side, but we reckon buyers can deal with that.[vc_single_image image=”80763″ img_size=”article-image”]In terms of its engines, there are three diesels to choose from. A 1.6-litre unit sits at the bottom of the range; it develops as much as 113bhp and completes the 0-62 dash in 11.4 seconds, which we think will be enough to satisfy most buyers.

However, a pair of 2.0-litre diesels do arm the car with more thrust and power and are well worth checking out if you’re planning to regularly fill the car up with seven people. You can choose from a 148 and a 188bhp variant.

Whichever one you go for, we recommend that you specify the DSG twin-clutch automatic gearbox.

Running costs? All models cost £140 a year to tax, while the 1.6-litre diesel is the most frugal overall. It returns 65.6mpg and emits 113g/km of CO2. Specifying the automatic gearbox helps to keep fuel costs down.

Inside, the Touran Estate is able to boast a top-notch interior that feels classy. Its updates have been subtle but they’ve helped to modernise the cabin so that it’s now fully smartphone connected.

The plush seats offer plenty of comfort, lumbar support is available as an optional extra for the first time, and some models feature a massage function.

The dashboard, meanwhile, now benefits from some brighter-coloured highlights, which help to break up the otherwise grey gloom.

Is the Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate practical? It comes with seven seats and plenty of space for all. The high roofline means that even the tallest of passengers are well-accommodated, while legroom is good, too.

The second row of seats slides back and forth, although the third row is really for kids only.

VW reckon there are 38 different storage cubbies inside here, and while we’re not ones to argue, reports from various sources suggest you’ll struggle to find over 20. That’s still impressive, of course.

The boot, meanwhile, measures 136-litres with all the seats in place and over 1,850 when you fold the second and third rows.

Price:

Volkswagen – £23,395 – £31,910

Verdict of our 2018 Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate Review

Nine-seaters like this are very rare; it’s based on a van, but it looks pretty good and offers all the space a family could need out on the road.

Accommodating, easy to drive, and with a well-appointed and finished interior, the Citroen Space Tourer Diesel Estate is a very solid MPV.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