OWNING a Mercedes-Benz seven-seater was never going to be cheap, but there is one version that may not be as expensive as you might imagine.

The Tourer variant of the Mercedes-Benz Citan van brings seven seats, offering outstanding flexibility.

This is ideal for alternating between carrying crew and cargo in commercial applications, use as a taxi, or for a mix of professional and private use.

To me this offers an exciting choice for larger families who want a smart Mercedes on their drive which will be up to people moving without breaking the bank.

It is based on the extra-long version of the Citan van and if you think you might see another marque's signatures in the stance of the vehicle then you would be right because its underpinnings are from the Renault Kangoo.

Which is not a bad thing because the Kangoo has a reputation of toughness and durability. So mix it with a little Mercedes magic and you have something very interesting.

Don't expect wood paneling or a raft of standard fit gizmos in the interior though. This is a robust and functional vehicle up to some intense family treatment. However, as always with Mercedes-Benz there are many optional extras to choose from including a sat nav and reversing aid.

Side doors for rear passengers are easy to use sliders which give easy access to the second and third row of seats. The third row, consists of two individual seats which are usable as everyday seating and not just reserved for occasional use.

These are independently adjustable fore-and-aft by 130 mm, and can be individually folded down, or removed as required. Passengers in the rear row have additional stowage facilities in the side wall panels.

Depending on the position of the individual seats, the load space behind them will take between 300 and 400 litres of luggage. Removing the seats in the third row increases the cargo capacity of Citan to 2,200 l. And if the middle row of three seats is folded down too, the load space is enlarged again to 3,500 l.

The Citan is highly practical, as highlighted by the standard equipment for the extra-long Tourer, which includes a flexible cover for the load compartment, as well as load-securing rings in the floor for securing the cargo when the seats are folded down or removed.

Available to order from August 2014 in the UK, the new model variant offers a choice of two engine output ratings, as either the Citan 109 CDI (90bhp) or the Citan 111 CDI (110bhp).

All Mercedes-Benz Citan Tourer models comply with the Euro6 emissions regulations as standard.

They come with the BlueEFFICIENCY package as standard. Among other features, this includes an ECOstart/stopfunction and improved fuel consumption for the diesel models of over 60mpg on the NEDC combined cycle. Citan achieves this outstanding consumption figure without compromising performance.