Citroën C4 Grand Picasso HDi and Peugeot 5008 HDi, comparison (part III)

We have reached the end of our comparison between the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso equipped with the 2.0 HDi engine of 138 CV and the Peugeot 5008 with the 1.6 HDi engine of 110 CV under the bonnet. The engine range is identical for both models except for the 163 CV HDi block, which is only available for the 5008, but the behaviour of the two is not the same, and that is precisely the aspect we covered in the first part of the road test.

We have also looked at their interiors, where it became clear that, despite having a lot in common, the C4 Grand Picasso offers more MPV solutions than the 5008, and the Peugeot has a more conservative interior compared with its sibling, which has a more innovative look. That said, the space is similar in both, and the two models both offer seven seats and a generous boot.

And now, in this third part of the test, we need to focus on the standard equipment of the two French models, and we will also look at the price difference between them and our overall assessment of this MPV comparison.

Equipment

Within the equipment, we start the review with the safety equipment. In this respect the Citroën comes with six airbags, stability control, ABS, traction control, among other features. The C4 Grand Picasso can be considered a fairly safe vehicle from the base trim and has achieved five stars in the Euro NCAP test.

On the other hand, the Peugeot does not fall short when it comes to safety, and from the base trim it features practically the same elements as the C4 Grand Picasso, such as stability control, six airbags, ABS and traction control. It has also achieved the famous five stars in Euro NCAP, improving its adult occupant protection score by just two points over the Citroën (89% versus 87%).

But if they are almost identical in safety, where are the differences? The answer is clear: in equipment and price. The Citroën C4 Grand Picasso is available in the base Business trim from 18,400 euros, with air conditioning, electric parking brake and the aforementioned safety package, but it does not include the six-speaker CD-MP3 radio that comes as standard on the 5008. However, with the same engine and with only this extra item added, it is more expensive, raising its price to 19,740 euros.

That said, in base equipment the Citroën cannot offer seven seats, whereas on the Peugeot these are an option costing 610 euros, which raises the base price of a 5008 with seven seats to 20,350 euros.

As for the rest of the equipment, we were able to test two different levels. The Citroën came with the Exclusive Plus level, with the manual shift-assisted gearbox, a rear window that can be opened independently of the boot lid, pneumatic rear suspension, a air freshener (a curious detail we have already seen on the C3 Picasso), ventilation with the engine switched off, independent climate control for the second row of seats, among other features.

If we add some extras on our unit, such as the RT5 navigation system with hands-free phone connection and USB port, leather upholstery or xenon headlights, we have a very complete MPV.

It is worth highlighting that our unit also had HiFi speakers offering very high sound quality, and some features such as the opening glass on the tailgate gave the C4 Grand Picasso an extra dose of practicality. The little tables behind the rear seat backrests included an LED that provides light for reading at night.

Our Peugeot 5008 was a Sport Pack trim, the most complete, with the Head-up display (which is optional on other trims) or the panoramic roof. If we look at the top-of-the-range version, we find some differences compared with the Citroën, since the 5008 offers a video pack with two integrated headrest screens and more modern features such as the WIP NAV 3D, which is not available on the Citroën, though the price also goes up.

With similar equipment and engine, the Citroën costs 32,300 euros (1.6 HDi 138 CV CMP engine, Exclusive Plus, and with the extras on our unit: leather, xenon, navigation with HiFi sound system and 7 seats), while the Peugeot with the same equipment and the 150 CV HDi engine (the 138 CV is not available for the 5008) costs 33,430 euros (150 CV HDi manual engine, Sport Pack, with xenon, WIP NAV 3D with HiFi sound, leather and third row of seats).

Overall Assessment

From the start of the comparison we have tried to be as objective as possible, seeking to show the differences between both models, because, at the end of the day, this is not about whether one model is better or worse than the other, especially when they share the engine range, have similar trims and belong to the same group. Instead, we aim to help you decide more easily which model suits you best, according to your needs and tastes.

As for handling, we feel that the Peugeot takes the lead in this area, thanks to its firmer suspension, while the Citroën prioritises comfort at the expense of handling. As for engines, we recommend both the 1.6 HDi 110 CV and the 2.0 HDi 138 CV (or even the 150 CV), though this depends on how the vehicle is used (with or without heavy loads, motorway or city). However, we did not like the automatic shift-assisted gearbox, which is rather slow when engaging gears.

Finally, we have prices, with a clear advantage for the Citroën, which is more affordable, but in exchange the Peugeot offers some technology features not available on the Citroën. These, however, are minor points. Lastly, we have the interior and its practicality. For those looking for something more traditional, the 5008 is a good option, but the C4 Grand Picasso has more MPV-style interior solutions, as proven by the number of storage compartments on the centre console. But the final decision is yours.

Photos | David Taboada