Road Test: Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi 16V VTR+ 5dr

It's not over-stating things to say that the Citroen C3 Picasso will drastically alter the mini-MPV market. It's honestly that cool.

Some cars in this class aren't bad in themselves - we're thinking Nissan Note or Renault Modus - but with the C3 Picasso, Citroen has simply re-defined what manufacturers should be building and offering young families. It's a genuinely desirable car that people shouldn't be ashamed to be seen in.

Prices start from £11,495 rising to £15,595. But if we were buying, we'd plump for the lower-powered 1.6-litre diesel. £15.5k is a bit too much for this car, and the high-power diesel only comes in the top spec trim at that price.

Avoid the petrols unless you only do 3.5 miles a week around town - out on the motorway both petrol engines struggle even with just one adult on board. Kids and all their associated detritus would test it too much.

The greatest trick that Citroen has managed to pull, though, is wrapping a seriously practical interior (all the seats fold flat incredibly easily with just one lever) with an outside that doesn't look like it will condemn the owner to decades of mediocrity in suburbia. Keeping up with the Jones' has just become more interesting.