Summary
The nine-seater Citroën SpaceTourer MPV arrived in the UK in late 2016, and is a passenger version of the Citroën Dispatch mid-size delivery van. It was discontinued in 2022 as Citroën shifts to an electric future.
Developed by parent company Stellantis, the SpaceTourer is essentially identical to the Peugeot Traveller, Vauxhall Vivaro Life, Toyota Proace Verso and Fiat Ulysse.
First unveiled at the 2016 Geneva motor show, the Citroën SpaceTourer line-up consisted of two diesel powertrains, with both manual and automatic transmission variants available. The electric version called the ë-SpaceTourer was launched in 2020 and has essentially replaced this conventionally powered version.
Customers could choose between the standard ‘M’ trim, and the longer ‘XL’ trim, but reviewers generally concluded that the interior quality of both options was rather basic. “It feels cheap in places and looks very dull inside”, Carwow concluded, adding that the Citroën SpaceTourer’s back-to-basics cabin was likely to disappoint buyers that were more accustomed to driving traditional people carrier models, like the Citroën C4 SpaceTourer.
Which? agreed, stating that “As an everyday car, the Citroën SpaceTourer is betrayed by its van-based origins all too clearly in its stuttery ride quality and loud cabin noise.” However, it also pointed out that, “for carrying people and luggage, the SpaceTourer is pretty much perfect.”
“It will suit people whose family has outgrown a conventional MPV or SUV”, Auto Trader deduced, “but more likely, it’ll be snapped up by airport taxi firms and private hire companies who need to transport lots of people and baggage comfortably, quickly and without fuss.”
As of April 2024, the Citroën SpaceTourer holds a Used Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 64%. It gets good grades for its low running costs, but its CO2 emissions are only average and its media score and safety rating are poor.
SpaceTourer highlights
- Impressive fuel economy considering its size
- Seating for up to nine
- Plenty of cabin space
- Good levels of standard equipment
SpaceTourer lowlights
- Lethargic handling
- Noisy diesel engines
- Unimpressive interior quality
- Heavy rear seats are difficult to remove
Key specifications
Body style: Large people carrier
Engines: diesel
Price when new: From £34,495 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2016
Last updated: Autumn 2020
Discontinued: Spring 2022
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroen SpaceTourer MPV trades on its big capacity and masks its van origins well.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Citroen Spacetourer will suit people whose family has outgrown a conventional MPV or SUV, but more likely, it’ll be snapped up by airport taxi firms and private hire companies who need to transport lots of people and baggage comfortably, quickly and without fuss.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Business
Score: 8 / 10
“Cost-effective and well thought out addition to a sector lacking in choice.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre BlueHDi Feel MPV
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroen SpaceTourer is the next step for those who feel a seven-seat MPV just isn’t big enough. It’s easy to drive, comfortable to be driven in and it’s fairly economical.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed:
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Citroen SpaceTourer offers versatility, efficient engines and a touch of style, but struggles to shrug off its delivery-van origins.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Citroen SpaceTourer is a huge van-based MPV with a roomy cabin that can be had with up to nine seats. It feels cheap in places and looks very dull inside, though.”
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Eurekar
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Flair
“The Citroën SpaceTourer handles surprisingly well. It feels well planted when cornering and feels very car-like despite its van-like capacity. It is also very well built with soft-touch finish and robust switchgear, while all eight seats are comfortable and this case leather-trimmed.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel automatic Feel
“The Citroën SpaceTourer is not exactly a van, although derived from one, but more a people carrier, or MPV, or mini-bus, and pretty luxurious at that. It looks good, is well equipped with economical engines and most importantly of all is hugely practical.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It might not be the most fashionable of family cars, but when it comes to affordable running costs, value for money and eight seater practicality, few MPVs can match the Citroen SpaceTourer.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroën Spacetourer is a comfortable and family-friendly MPV, with lots of interior space for up to eight adults, and is well equipped as standard.”
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Motors.co.uk
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 3 / 10
“The Citroën Spacetourer is very spacious, well equipped and has frugal engines but the interior quality is not the best and seats are hard to remove.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Business
“If you are looking for bags of space without admitting you need a commercial vehicle, the Citroen SpaceTourer should be on your shopping list.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Flair
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s better than you’d expect, the Citroën Spacetourer, and certainly in this top-spec form, it makes a decent fist of hiding its humble roots. But there’s no getting around the fact that, at nearly £50,000, it’s a lot to pay for a van with windows. Even if it is a very nice van with windows.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Massively spacious but interior quality and handling are likely to disappoint someone used to a regular MPV.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2015
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 87%
Child protection: 91%
Vulnerable road users: 64%
Safety assist: 78%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Citroën SpaceTourer was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of April 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Citroën SpaceTourer to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the SpaceTourer, we’ll publish the score here.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Citroën SpaceTourer has received
2017
- Red Dot Awards – Design Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Citroën SpaceTourer, you might also be interested in these alternatives
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer | Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer | Fiat Ulysse | Ford Galaxy | Ford Tourneo Custom | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | Peugeot Traveller | Renault Trafic Passenger | Toyota Proace Verso | Vauxhall Vivaro Life | Volkswagen Multivan | Volkswagen Sharan
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