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There are more options than you might expect for full-electric power with really large MPVs. Here's Citroen's take on this concept, the e-SpaceTourer, here usefully improved with a larger 75kWh battery. It still won't go particularly far on a single charge, but it'll seat up to nine, help you move house or function as an executive minibus. All without using a drop of fuel.
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Detailed ratings
Luxury Full Electric Cars
Background
Very soon, no segment of the automotive market will lack full-EV model options. One of these sectors lately gaining improved BEV models has been that for large People Carriers. This isn't really because manufacturers think this to be much of a potential growth area. It's more because really big MPVs are always based on the kind of mid-sized vans that car makers, pressurised by governments, are starting to offer in full-electric form these days.
The Mercedes Vito, Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro, Toyota Proace and Citroen Dispatch LCVs can all be had in full-EV form. So their MPV counterparts (the Mercedes V-Class, the Peugeot Traveller, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life, the Toyota Proace Verso and the Citroen Space Tourer) also get the full-battery treatment. The Peugeot, the Vauxhall, the Toyota and the Citroen are essentially the same underneath, sharing the same Stellantis Group powertrain; it's the Citroen model, badged the 'e-SpaceTourer' that's the subject of this review, originally launched in 2020, then enhanced three years on to create the car we look at here.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 37990 | 55130 |
| Insurance group 1-50 | 33 | 35 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 84 | 84 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 12.1 | 12.1 |
| Min | Max |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 139 | 139 |
| Length (mm) | 4950 | 4950 |
| Width (mm) | 1920 | 1920 |
| Height (mm) | 1900 | 1900 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 2381 | 2381 |
Driving experience
Why Citroen offered the original version of this model with a 50kWh battery more suited to an EV supermini is difficult to understand. It's also difficult to see why the brand still sells the e-SpaceTourer in this form, a guise in which range is limited to just 136 miles. Far more usable is the 215 mile range of the added 75kWh model that most will want (about the same as the class-leading Mercedes EQV). Both these two types of lithium-ion battery are mated to the same 136bhp electric motor, which now works with a new three-stage regenerative braking system controlled by paddles behind the steering wheel.
Using this MPV is straightforward. You turn the key in the ignition, wait for the starting beep, then flick the gear toggle into Drive. There's a drive-mode selector that allows drivers to switch between ECO, NORMAL and POWER modes. Top speed is just 84mph. Through the corners, as you would expect, there's plenty of body roll if, rather unwisely, you start throwing the thing about. If you can ignore both that and the slightly vague steering and find yourself absolutely having to push on, you'll find that there's reasonable grip and traction. The power steering is now electrically assisted (instead of electro-hydraulic) to reduce effort and improve manoeuvrability.
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Design and build
This improved e-SpaceTourer has been brought in line with Citroën's latest design identity. This is particularly visible on the grille, which incorporates the brand's new oval logo, linked on either side to the headlamps by a striped black band that echoes the chevron motifs. The headlights have been redesigned and now feature a distinctive sign of Citroën's new identity, plus the light signature is now characterised by a vertical bar linking two horizontal bars. With a height of 1.90m, this Citroen provides easy access to underground car parks. As before, it's available in two body lengths, 'M' (4.98m) and 'XL' (5.33m) and can accommodate up to nine passengers in a wide range of seat configurations.
Inside up-front, there's space for three (unless for some strange reason you want to replace this two-person bench with a single chair). Ahead, the dashboard has been redesigned to incorporate this new, larger 10-inch central HD touchscreen, plus there are storage compartments that are now larger, more numerous, and more cleverly designed. The steering wheel has been revised too, now with a selection of integrated controls and the ability to be heated. Through it, you view this 10-inch digital instrument screen which shows battery level on the left and your chosen drive mode on the right.
Usually in the second row, there'll be a split three-person bench. With 'MAX' trim, it'll be mounted on floor rails, so that you can slide it back and forth - or, with that top trim level, you can replace the second row bench with a couple of separate VIP chairs. In the third row, the benefit of this van-derived design is that there's proper head and legroom for adults over reasonable length journeys. Here again, with 'MAX' trim, the three-person bench can slide on rails - or be replaced by two individual VIP chairs if you wish.
Luggage space depends of course on your choice of 'M' or the 'XL' body length but either way, as you'd hope from a van-based design, there's lots of it. With the second and third row seating removed, there's 3161mm of loading length in the M version and up to 3511mm of loading length in the XL model, where you'll also get up to 4,554 litres of boot volume.
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Market and model
Prices at the time of our Review Summer 2024 started from around £38,000 for the 50kWh model and there's a choice of two body lengths (M or XL) and two trim levels (the base 'YOU!' version and better-specified 'MAX'). There's quite a large premium (over £5,000) to trade up to the larger 75kWh battery. The plusher 'MAX' model can only be had in 75kWh form, at prices from just under £55,000.
Whatever your body style and trim choice, the standard seating arrangement accommodates nine, with three in each row. Opt for plusher 'MAX' trim and the main difference is that the second and third row benches are mounted on rails, so can be slid back and forth. With 'MAX' trim, you're also offered the option to replace the second and third row benches with two individual VIP arm chairs in each row. With 'YOU!'-spec, you can replace the two-seater front bench with a single individual seat if you want to.
As for equipment, well base 'YOU!'-spec gets you the basics, but they include most of what you'd need. Tick off twin sliding side doors, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter, a 10-inch digital driver's instrument screen, a heated driver's seat and a 10-inch central HD Touch screen with voice recognition and 'Mirror Screen' wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. 'MAX' trim adds the niceties; 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, leather upholstery, front fog lights, power-folding mirrors, dark-tinted rear side windows, keyless entry and power-operating side doors with foot sensors. Inside with 'MAX' trim, there's Connect navigation, a HiFi Pack audio upgrade, a front seat massage function, a 'Park Assist 180' rear camera, dual-zone climate control, a wireless 'phone charger, an acoustic windscreen, front seatback tray tables, side window blinds and a rear seat 'aviation-style' air conditioning panel. 'MAX' models can also be had with an optional panoramic glass roof.
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Cost of ownership
To get close to the 75kWh model's quoted 215 mile range figure, you'll need to engage 'Eco' mode frequently - which reduces power output to 80hp. To maximise range, you'll also need to regularly engage the fiercest of the regenerative braking settings, activated by steering wheel paddles.
Because the e-SpaceTourer supports up to 100kW rapid charging technology, an 80 per cent charge in the 75kWh model will take 45 minutes (it's 30 minutes with the 50kWh version). This EV People Carrier also features a 7.4kW on-board charger. A full charge from a 7.4kW domestic wallbox takes 11 hours 20 minutes with the 75kWh model (or 7 hours 30 minutes with the 50kWh version). With the alternative 11kW wallbox, you can reduce that to seven and a half hours with the 75kWh battery (or four and three-quarter hours with the 50kWh battery).
For peace of mind, the lithium-ion battery packs offered in this model come with an eight year/100,000 mile warranty, for up to 70% of the initial battery capacity. The included 'Citroen Connect Box' package allows the driver to set up deferred charging or to pre-condition the vehicle via the MyCitroen mobile app on their smartphone. This app also allows drivers to initiate or schedule thermal preconditioning and view, schedule, start or deferred charging remotely.
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Summary
Our main criticism when we tested the original version of this model was its feeble driving range. Now that's been usefully improved, the e-SpaceTourer has become a more credible choice in its segment. We like the way that the battery powertrain has been built into this People Carrier without any compromise to interior space. It's quiet and well built, looks contemporary and is well equipped.
If you can live with the range now on offer - as some city based families and business users will be able to - there's potentially a lot to like here, though it's less easy to see why you'd choose the Citroen version of this design, rather than the near-identical Peugeot e-Traveller or Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric models. If the range and the deal is right for you though, this big French MPV might be worth a look.
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