First drive: Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 BlueHDi 120 Touch Edition car reviews

Enhanced specification and stronger value for money are expected to help Citroën win a greater share of people carrier registrations in the fleet sector next year.

Relaunched with a fresh trim level identity and subtle styling changes, the most popular version in the French firm’s C4 Picasso line-up is claimed to offer significant convenience benefits to make life easier for the busy driver.

In its latest guise, the Touch Edition Grand Picasso has connected functionality with a new TomTom live satellite navigation system offering live updates on road conditions along with alternative routing choices to allow drivers to steer clear of traffic jams.

The Picasso facelift includes a new front grille and air intake and rear lights with a distinctive 3D effect, fresh colours and a choice of interior designs. The revised package should boost the car’s appeal to corporate users, believes product manager Dan Bullimore.

He said: “Touch Edition replaces the VTR+ model, the mid-range version that has proved to be a big success for us by accounting for 69% of Picasso fleet business. Compared with the outgoing car, it is being pitched at just £200 more and we are confident the additional equipment now included as standard will be seen by customers as representing an excellent uplift in value and an even better proposition.”

With the entry-level version withdrawn due to low interest, the revisions are expected to boost popularity of the mid-range model.

The Grand Picasso is on target to achieve 10,360 sales this year, double the volume achieved by the five-seat Picasso.

Although basic styling is unaltered, cosmetic changes serve to reinforce the image of the Grand Picasso as an upmarket people carrier with class-leading space for seven. With neat handling for a vehicle of its size, the car cruises quietly at speed and has suspension that maintains composure over all surfaces while providing the smooth-ride characteristics to guarantee high-comfort travel over long distances.

For an entry-level model, the Touch is well equipped with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers and corner-turn fog lights. Also standard is a folding front passenger seat which stretches load length to more than 2.5 metres to add even greater versatility to an interior with second row seats that slide to increase legroom. Load volume is 704 litres with the backrests in position and a huge 2,181 litres with the seats folded flat.

The new model also aids driving safety by allowing access to controls via a touchscreen with faster response and better connectivity including voice control to minimise driver distraction. It also offers a degree of personalisation with a choice of orange, red, brown or black screen colours.

“We’re confident fleets will see this new model as a good deal and we also believe it will help us step up our competition with the market-leading Ford C-Max while also bringing us into contention with premium rivals,” said Bullimore.