BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A CITROEN E-SPACETOURER FROM OSV - bit.ly/39BSfOM
The options for full-electric power are growing in the sector for really large MPVs. Here's Citroen's take on this concept, the e-SpaceTourer. In 50kWh form, it 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.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:35 Background
01:42 Driving Experience
05:19 Design & Build
13:26 Market & Model Range
15:58 Cost of Ownership
17:22 Summary
Background
Very soon, no segment of the automotive market will lack full-EV model options. One of these sectors lately gaining 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 and Citroen Dispatch LCVs can all now be had in full-EV form. So their MPV counterparts (the Mercedes V-Class, the Peugeot Traveller, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life and the Citroen Space Tourer) also get the BEV treatment. The Peugeot, the Vauxhall and the Citroen are essentially the same underneath, sharing the same PSA Group powertrain; it's the Citroen model, badged the 'e-SpaceTourer' that we look at here.
Driving Experience
Big People Carriers are largely used for suburban duties, which is just as well because this car's not much good for anything else. A huge heavy People Carrier relying on a battery designed to sustain an electric supermini was never going to travel very far between charges and, sure enough, this e-Space Tourer's 50kWh battery pack takes this Citroen only 136 miles between charges. So you're going to need to think hard if you're going anywhere more than 60 miles or so away, unless you've the time for a potentially lengthy recharging stop before your return journey.
This is annoying because this car's LCV counterpart, the Dispatch van, has the option of a larger 75kWh battery that would add around 60 miles of additional range. At the time of this test in early 2022, that wasn't being offered on the e-Space Tourer.
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. There's 136hp on tap and there's also a 'B' option that ploughs extra energy back into the battery, offering more resistance while you're slowing down. Top speed is just 84mph.
Design and Build
Apart from the badge work and the charging flap, it'll be difficult for your neighbours to spot that you've switched your big MPV to full-electric power. This big Citroen is clearly van-derived, but the looks are modern and not too LCV-like. This MPV comes with medium-length (4.95m) 'M' and long 'XL' body lengths. Inside, you get an nine-seater 3-3-3 layout (with a 3-person bench seat at the front) and you're going to need to slide the rear two rows about to facilitate legroom if a full complement of adults are aboard.
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