Used Citroen C4 Grand Picasso review and buying guide (2014 to 2018): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Citroen C4 Grand Picasso should you buy?

A 1.6 BlueHDi diesel with a bill showing its AdBlue tank and pump have already been replaced is the safer buy. The diesel and the 1.2 PureTech petrol both carry a High-rated fault, but the petrol's can starve the engine of oil and take the brake servo with it, which is a far worse thing to inherit than a known AdBlue repair.

There's only one era to choose from, the 2014 to 2018 car, and a later one isn't any safer. The AdBlue fault covers every year it was on sale, so a 2018 diesel needs the same paperwork as a 2014 one. Without that bill, assume the job's still to come and keep looking.

Which C4 Grand Picasso engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.6 BlueHDi diesel is the one to pick, as long as the AdBlue system's been sorted. The pump lives inside the AdBlue tank, so the fix is normally a replacement tank, pump and injector, and it's shown up between 22,000 and 28,500 miles, with some cars failing well before 30,000. The warning signs are an AdBlue light, an engine light and a countdown saying the engine won't restart after so many miles.

An intermittent engine light on one of these diesels isn't something to shrug off. One owner's 2016 1.6 BlueHDi 120 started playing up within months of new, then sat at the dealer for months while they tried to pin down a fault that came and went.

Avoid the 1.2 PureTech petrol. Its belt runs in oil and breaks down, and the debris can block the oil pickup, starving the engine of oil and killing the brake vacuum pump, so the brake pedal goes hard. A low oil pressure light and an engine light are the clues. The 1.6 THP 155 petrol has a thin record: one owner's 2014 car needed a coil pack at two years old and lit its engine light again at 37,000 miles.

On the manual gearbox, one owner's 2014 car had been called back for a new clutch master cylinder, then the slave cylinder failed at 50,000 miles and it wouldn't select any gear. The dealer quoted £800, as the clutch itself would have to be replaced.

What should you check when viewing a used C4 Grand Picasso?

The paperwork matters most on a BlueHDi: ask for the bill for a new AdBlue tank, pump and injector, and if it hasn't been done, see where the mileage sits against that 22,000 to 28,500 mile window. Ask whether the water pump's ever been changed too, since one owner's 64-plate car lost its engine at 57,000 miles when the pump failed.

Turn the ignition on and make sure the AdBlue and engine warning lights go out, with no restart countdown on the dash. Don't accept a light that comes and goes as nothing: on one 2016 diesel with an SCR fault, the dealer found nothing wrong and the light was back two days later. On a PureTech, a low oil pressure light or a hard brake pedal means don't buy.

On a manual, check the clutch bites cleanly and every gear goes in. Watch the stop/start too: one imported 2015 1.6 HDi kept cutting its engine as the owner lifted off at low speed, taking the power steering with it, and a garage blamed moisture getting into the ABS. Look under the nearside front wheelarch for a loose liner, as one owner's kept falling off in heavy rain, and sit in the back row, which is tight and suits children.

Ask for proof the recall work was done, too. Cars built up to early 2015 were recalled because the front wishbone fixing bolts could break and affect the steering, and cars built in 2015 for door locks that could jam and second-row seat belt buckles that could fail in a crash. Any 1.2 PureTech built 2014 to 2018 falls under recalls because debris from its belt could stop the brake vacuum pump working.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do C4 Grand Picasso owners like about them?

The cabin's roomy and there's plenty of adjustment, so it's easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. The seats are comfortable too, and the car's relaxing to drive, which makes a long run with a full load of family feel a lot less of a chore.

The middle row is three separate seats that each slide and fold on their own, and each one has ISOFIX, so you can fit three child seats across. Fold the seats down and there's a huge, flat load floor, which makes bulky loads far easier to slide in.

• The cabin offers excellent space and adjustment, providing a comfortable environment for occupants.
• The car features comfortable seats and relaxing driving dynamics, contributing to an enjoyable experience.
• With the rear seats folded down, the vehicle provides a huge, flat load area for increased practicality.
• The three separate sliding and folding centre rear seats each include ISOFIX, allowing for three baby seats to be fitted.