Citroën has added a new five-seat C4 Picasso to its model range. It is the third compact MPV to wear the dual chevron badge and offers a fresh and versatile design in stark departure from the otherwise bland functional devices currently seen on today's roads.

Differing visually from its MPV stable mates, the C4 Picasso nonetheless builds on their success by offering a distinct individual style. The new five seater's flowing design and smaller proportions suggest sporting pretensions - accentuated by short front and rear overhangs. Unique lamps stretch around the rear corners horizontally rather than vertically and a large glasshouse dominates the entire upper section, divided by Citroën's signature 'wave shaped' beltline.

The simple yet futuristic exterior design is carried over to the interior, with a dashboard layout featuring a centre mounted digital instrument panel that displays vital information while freeing up other areas for storage. The design provides a light and airy cabin, emphasised by the enormous, steeply raked windscreen that passes over both the driver and front passenger.

A large 2,728mm wheelbase is put to good use and enables interior space - the main MPV attribute - to be expansive. With room for five adults (three individual seats and a flat floor at the rear) and 500 litres of boot space under the luggage cover, the C4 Picasso provides a lot of space for compact exterior dimensions. Storage capacity extends to a massive 1,734 litres with the rear seats folded, enough to haul along any family necessity.

The C4 Picasso also features a comprehensive list of safety equipment; including ABS with EBD and EBA, ESP and a total of seven airbags (adaptive driver's and front passenger's, driver's knee, front lateral, and side curtain airbags).

This latest Citroën MPV does not fall short on convenience amenities either, including a height- and tilt-adjustable multi-function steering wheel (with fixed hub), hill start assist, automatic electric parking brake, and four Isofix child seat anchorage points. The top of the line Exclusive model features self-levelling suspension and can be fitted with a lane departure warning and parking space measurement systems as part of the £800 'detection pack'.

A choice of two diesel and two petrol engines are available, with the latter comprising of either a 1.8-litre unit with 127bhp and 125lb.ft torque, or a 2-litre mill with 143bhp and 147lb.ft of pulling power. A 1.6-litre HDi and 2-litre HDi powerplants - creating 110bhp and 138bhp respectively - are the diesel options. Both units are fitted with particulate filters and offer considerably more torque at less revs, creating 177lb.ft in the 1.6-litre and 199lb.ft in the 2-litre (at 2000rpm). Citroën claims CO₂ emissions as low as 150g/km and fuel economy to be near 50mpg for the 1.6-litre HDi.

Engine power is channelled through either a five-speed manual or a six-speed electronic transmission with a paddle shift gearchange feature and the body is suspended by a MacPherson-type front suspension design with a flexible transverse beam at the rear.

Prices for the C4 Picasso start at £14,495 for the entry-level 1.8-litre LX model and climb to £21,195 for the 2-litre Exclusive. Keep an eye on the main Road Tests page for our review of the new Picasso in the coming months.

Eric Gallina - 23 Mar 2007