WITH all the versatility and practicality of a minibus but the light handling and easy driving capabilities of a large family car, the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer is the ideal vehicle for an active family that needs to transport up to seven people in style.

Most seven seaters that have enough room for adults in the third row resemble a giant box on wheels.

Yes, there are a few quite stylish models out there, but they are often only suitable for children in the back row and for relatively short journeys too before they start complaining and fidgeting.

However, the SpaceTourer is a genuine seven seat vehicle. All the seats are individually adjustable and a pair of ‘fully-grown' adults can fit in the back without any fuss.

The SpaceTourer looks pretty impressive from any approach thanks to its smooth lines, tinted windows, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors, sweeping light clusters, chrome trim and smart 17-inch alloy wheels.

Move inside and the bright and breezy interior is very upmarket in its layout and design with a wealth of techno treats to explore.

Our mid-range Feel model was priced at £29,250 (£30,930 with options) and it featured the likes of smart blue cloth upholstery, a 12-inch high definition centrally-positioned display that sits above the dash, a seven-inch touchscreen, a six-speaker sound system, DAB radio, Bluetooth, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a navigation system and plenty more besides.

The car was powered by a 2.0-litre 160bhp diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual gear shifts.

It could complete the 0-62mph dash in 9.2 seconds, maxed out at 130mph and according to official figures, delivers combined fuel economy of 60.1mpg with carbon emissions of 123g/km.

The driver's all-round visibility is excellent thanks to the elevated seating position along with slim pillars and a massive panoramic windscreen that stretches above the front seat occupants.

And it's easy to get comfy with power-adjustable seats and ample steering wheel adjustment on offer. There are three individual seats in the second row and a further two in the back so the car can accommodate seven adults in comfort.

The boot capacity ranges from 165 litres with all seven seats in use to 2,181 litres with rows two and three folded flat.

Elsewhere there is a good-sized glovebox, a deep central bin with sliding top, another sealed compartment beneath the dashboard, nets in the backs of the front seats and cup holders which I thought were positioned a little low and too far forward to reach without stretching.

When it comes to driving and performance, the Grand C4 SpaceTourer is deceptively agile. Despite measuring more than 4.6 metres in length, it is easy to manoeuvre and that excellent all-round visibility is a real plus factor in busy town centres with cars, pedestrians and cyclists darting out from all angles.

Out on the open road, the acceleration through the automatic gearbox is nice and responsive and the road holding is confident for such a high-sided vehicle.

There is a little wind and road surface noise at higher speeds, but generally the cabin is nicely refined. And it has to be said the massaging seats are a welcome feature on longer journeys.

The vehicle is packed with safety spec and secured a maximum five stars when it was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating. Features include anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, electronic stability control with intelligent traction control, hill start assist, numerous airbags and lots more besides.