JONATHAN CROUCH takes a look at the Citroen Xsara Picasso

Pablo Picasso was a man known for his originality on canvas. Perhaps then, he would have appreciated the Citroen mini-MPV people carrier that bears his name.

Sit behind the wheel and 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 during nighhtime periods.

The gear lever sprouts from the dashboard, leaving the floor clear for you to walk through to the back seats.

Open the boot and find a fold-out trolley that avoids the need to decant the weekly shop in the supermarket car park.

Somebody at Citroen has thought long and hard about what families really want. Research suggests that hardly any buyers in this sector have more than three children - so five seats were deemed adequate. Roadburning performance was found to be equally unnecessary, so the five mainstream Xsara hatchback engines 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol units plus a 90bhp HDI diesel) and, the latest addition, a 110bhp 1.6HDI are deemed sufficient.

All of these perform reasonably, especially (in the case of the HDi units) at the pumps (expect over 50mpg in normal use from both). The diesels account for the majority of Picasso sales, mainly due to the fact that neither of the thirstier petrol engines offers anything much better in terms of performance or even refinement.

The 1.6-litre HDI unit is impressive, with 110bhp, its faster than the larger capacity 2.0-litre diesel but still managers better fuel consumption.

It’s possible to average nearly 58mpg and travel 760 miles on a single tank. In fact, this hi-tech common rail diesel is 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 torque (pulling power from low speeds).

On the road, the ride is intentionally biased towards comfort but, cornering is well controlled.

As you’d expect, the rear seats fold, collapse forward or can be removed completely (as long as you can find somewhere to leave them).

Collapse the centre 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.

Prices of course, mimic those of obvious Scenic-class mini-MPV rivals – between £13,595 and £17,495, depending on your choice of petrol or diesel engine and LX, Desire or Exclusive trim.

All variants have dual front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, remote control central locking, immobiliser, a CD player and power front mirrors and windows. Desire versions add ABS, more airbags and body coloured bumpers while Exclusive gives you 15in alloys and automatic headlamps amongst other things.

In summary, the Picasso has proved a popular addition to the growing ranks of small but spacious people carriers.

As long as, like most families, your tribe really don’t 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’s not hard to see cars like this almost completely replacing conventional family hatchbacks - which could cause an interesting dilemma across the motor industry. Perhaps the designers have been too clever for their own good.

FACTFILE

CAR: Citroen Xsara Picasso range

PRICES: £13,595 -£17,495 – otr

INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-8

CO2 EMISSIONS: 147-205g/km

PERFORMANCE: [1.8 16v] Max Speed 118mph / 0-60mph 10.5s