A real masterpiece; Citroen have created an MPV that's distinctively chic and has masses of space with their C3 Picasso, writes IAN JOHNSON.

Byline: IAN JOHNSON 

WHATEVER Citroen do, you never expect it to be boring or conventional. But this does not mean that this enterprising French manufacturer churn out cars that are too way-out to be sensible.

The truth is that Citroen have come up with a way of mixing the chic and funky with a high element of fun and practicality - producing a range of vehicles Britain has taken to heart.

One of the latest Citroens, the C3 Picasso, has hit on a winning formula of combining the funky with masses of space for the individual thinker.

It has already won awards, gilding the lily of the Picasso name which started life some years ago on the Xsara Picasso, a car which became a British family workhorse.

Citroen say the C3 Picasso takes the name of the famous artist into a new generation, offering users adaptable, class-leading space, effortless modularity, unrivalled visibility and exceptional driving pleasure in a bold design that's as cool as it is functional.

My view is that its appearance is a little startling, with front quarter lights that taper to near points and styling bulges and curves that make anyone look twice. It certainly is individual - a very different option in the tough world of compact MPVs.

Focusing on everyday needs, the car presents flexibility and capability in a unique, chic design.

Taking inspiration from often opposing qualities, the C3 Picasso features styling almost from the brush of the master himself, uniting the parallels of cubes and curves.

It is an eclectic mix of retro and contemporary, strength and comfort, plus quality and affordability.

Out of all this artistry comes a cavernous interior space in a compact exterior - just a few inches longer than a supermini. I know a lot of compact MPVs do the same, but this one is just huge inside.

It offers occupants class-leading amounts of cabin room and ample storage in the 500-litre boot - one of the biggest in its market segment.

Rear passengers can enjoy plentiful knee room even when the rear splitfolding seats are slid forward thanks to the front seats' slim design.

Elbow room in both the front and rear is also the best in the segment.

The C3 Picasso's internal space is swiftly and simply adapted to load carrying with easy one-handed control of seat-folding mechanisms.

With the versatile flat folding front passenger seat, the MPV can carry loads up to 2.4 metres and, to increase either boot volume or rear legroom, the 60:40 split-folding rear seats can be slid back and forth independently.

It also features one of the largest glazed areas in its class - up to 4.52 square metres - making the C3 Picasso's cabin bright and spacious.

My test car was in the top trim level - Exclusive - and featured a mass of goodies to make life sweet on the move. It even had a torch in the boot.

It is available with a choice of two petrol units, co-developed with BMW - the VTi 95 and VTi 120 - and two HDi diesels - the HDi 90 and HDi 110 DPFS - renowned for their efficiency, refinement and low CO2 emissions.

The C3 Picasso kicks in at pounds 11,495 on the road with 1.4 petrol engine, but my test vehicle which was a showcase for the range can be had for pounds 15,595.

Citroen remain the most popular MPV brand in Europe, with almost one in four of this type of vehicle bearing the firm's double chevrons.

The C3 Picasso joins the larger Xsara, C4 and Grand C4 Picasso to offer something quite special to the MPV driver who wants to be different.

Factfile: Model: Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi 110 Exclusive Engine: 1.6-litre diesel Power: 110bhp 0-62mph: 12.4 seconds Fuel economy: 57.6mpg CO2 emissions: 130g/km Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles Price: pounds 15,595 On sale: Now