Citroen Xsara Picasso   Women's view

Citroen's Xsara Picasso Is Designed For Families. Vanessa Hinkley Tried It With Hers

Ive always admired Pablo Picasso for his originality on canvas. Who knows, maybe hed have appreciated the Citroen mini-MPV people carrier that now bears his name. My family and friends certainly did after a week with the Xsara Picasso. Somebody at Citroen has thought long and hard about what families really want.

In our case, that doesnt include seven seats five for us are perfectly adequate. Roadburning performance is equally unnecessary in a car of this type, so either of the four mainstream Xsara hatchback engines on offer (1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol units, plus the 92bhp 1.

6 HDi diesel we tried and a 1.6-litre HDI with 110bhp) would be sufficient. Outside, the Picasso looks subtly futuristic. It's 225mm higher than the Xsara hatchback on which its based (which makes it seem much bigger) but just 60mm longer ('shrinking' the car when it comes to tight parking spaces). Probably the biggest difference over the conventional Xsara is the wheelbase, 220mm longer to enable the inclusion of five full-sized seats.

That spacious body makes all the difference when it comes to sitting at the rear. Rivals like Renaults Scenic, in contrast, condemn the middle centre passenger to a seat narrower than the outer two. As you'd expect, the Citroen provides rear seats that fold, collapse forward or can be removed completely (as long as you can find somewhere to leave them). Collapse the centre rear seat and you create a multi-function work or play area that includes a clipboard-style paper holder. There are rear picnic tables, under-floor storage compartments, a drawer under the front passenger seat, a huge glovebox and clever door pockets moulded to take cans, cups or even huge 1.5-litre bottles.

What you'll really remember from your first showroom visit however is that 'modubox' trolley which normally sits flat-packed, attached to the boot wall. When required, you simply unclip it, extract the telescopic handle and wheels and wheel it off with as much as 18kg inside. The whole thing feels a little flimsy but that aside, you have to hand it to the design team for lateral thought.

Its strange to get behind the wheel and look - into nothing. There are no dials - just a digital display to your left in the centre of the dashboard, part of which can be turned off to avoid distraction at night. The gear lever sprouts from the dashboard, leaving the floor clear for you to walk through to the back seats. The HDi diesel we tried performs quite reasonably, especially at the pumps (we achieved over 50mpg in normal use).

Diesels, Im told, will account for the majority of Picasso sales, mainly due I think to the fact that neither of the thirstier petrol models offer anything much better in terms of performance or even refinement. Certainly, this hi-tech common rail diesel seems in my experience to be the finest unit of its kind. It loses out to rivals in terms of sheer horsepower but still betters them both at the pumps and in terms of pulling power from low speeds. On the road, the ride is intentionally biased towards comfort - but despite that, cornering is well controlled.

Although there isnt a rev counter, you could easily enjoy driving this car - not a comment applicable to many MPVs. At first acquaintance, that centre digital display seems a little strange - but you quickly get used to it. Incorporated in it is a standard trip computer as well as a stereo display and the graphics for the optional satellite navigation system.

Prices of course, mimic those of obvious Renault Scenic-class mini-MPV rivals - expect to pay between £14,950-£17,035, depending on your choice of engine or trim level. Most mainstream models include features like twin front airbags, air conditioning and a CD player.

In summary, we thought the Picasso a useful addition to the growing ranks of small but spacious people carriers. As long as, like most families, you don't really need seven seats (or even six), the Citroen is difficult to ignore, offering as it does so much in terms of original interior thought. It wouldnt be difficult to imagine cars like this completely replacing conventional family hatchbacks - which could cause an interesting dilemma across the motor industry. If Xsara Picasso sales keep on going the way they have, the days of the family hatch could well be numbered.