Skip advert
Advertisement

New Citroen SpaceTourer 2016 review

The new Citroen SpaceTourer is the MPV version of the Dispatch van, but how does it drive on British roads?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Citroen SpaceTourer
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Citroen SpaceTourer is mainly aimed at taxi and transport companies, but as a passenger car with nine seats it’s a decent choice. There’s lots of space for passengers, and while the price is a bit high, the mix of economy, space and equipment is a strong combination.

The arrival of the new Citroen Dispatch van is good news for those looking for a car with more than seven seats, as there’s a new passenger-carrying version too. It’s called the SpaceTourer, and like the Dispatch, it shares a platform with the Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace

Advertisement - Article continues below

• Best 8-seater cars

There are three options, ranging from 4.6m to 5.3m in length, with five, seven, eight or nine seats. We tried the nine-seater in Business trim, which is aimed at commercial buyers and taxi drivers – but there is also a ‘Feel’ version for private buyers. This model gets more hard-wearing materials inside such as the rubber floor mats. 

The interior is basic, but not ugly, and there’s plenty of space in the passenger seats. Even tall passengers will have acceptable legroom in any seat, and shoulder room is good too. It comes at the cost of boot space, as there’s only a small luggage area with the seats up - but fold them down and it’s it doubles as a van with 2,381 litres of space. The XL version is even bigger, with 2,932 litres in total.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

718 Cayman

2025 Porsche

718 Cayman

13,000 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £45,499
View 718 Cayman
X3

2021 BMW

X3

29,509 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £30,491
View X3
Q3 Sportback

2021 Audi

Q3 Sportback

50,000 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £30,000
View Q3 Sportback
3 Series

2022 BMW

3 Series

81,557 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £19,475
View 3 Series

Clearly this is the purpose of the SpaceTourer, and it lives up to the name, but what you don’t usually get in these kind of vehicles is a car-like interior. While the SpaceTourer can’t hide its van origins, the well-finished dashboard and seven-inch touchscreen display (with DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay) fitted on our test vehicle do give it a more upmarket feel. Standard equipment is good, with remote central locking, ISOFIX child seat mountings, Hill Start Assist, cruise control, parking sensors, LED daytime running lights and a USB port. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Plus, the SpaceTourer doesn’t feel as van-like as you might expect on the road. This M version felt smaller than anticipated on some tight country roads, and the small turning circle means it’s easier to park as well. Visibility isn’t bad, especially thanks to the high-up driving position. 

It rides well, and while we weren’t able to test it with a full load of passengers on board, the SpaceTourer handled a set of bumpy British roads rather well. It’s noisy inside, with very little in the way of sound deadening, though. 

The diesel engine is punchy enough, and pulls very well from low in the rev range. The six-speed manual box has a decent shift but it’s not as slick as the one you’ll find in a Volkswagen Caravelle. It’s easy to use, at least, and matches well with the light – but slightly vague – steering. 

Impressive economy of 53.3mpg and emissions of 139g/km means it has a BIK rate of 27 per cent. That’s good for a nine-seater, but the list price is definitely high if you’re buying privately. There’s no avoiding the fact this is still a van with windows, rather than a very large car.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,233 off RRP*Used from £12,420
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025