WITH a new-found sophistication, more appealing style and muchimproved ride, Citroen is taking its prowess with people-carriers to a new level.

The C4 Picasso had a hard act to follow. The first generation Picasso was a huge hit thanks to its pricing and versatility.

But in the intervening years the competition has increased dramatically, prompting a change of direction for the French manufacturer.

Buyers are more demanding than ever. Having space for the family and shopping isn’t enough; comfort, attractive design and fuel efficiency are as important as versatilty. So the new C4 Picasso struts its stuff with a whole lot more to tempt buyers.

The key advance is that it is the first of a series of Citroens to use the new EMP2 platform. Because of its modular design it can be lengthened to create a whole range of vehicles and it’s also been created to save weight. Despite this, it is stronger and stiffer than the outgoing car, which is good news for occupant protection in the event of a crash.

With the new platform offering a longer wheelbase and increased cabin space, the new C4 Picasso is more compact on the outside, with more space on the inside than the previous generation model, setting what Citroen claims are new benchmarks for the segment.

Rear passengers benefit from three individual, full-size seats that can be folded flat or tilted for increased comfort or fore-and-aft adjusted for increased flexibility.

There are a number of other clever and convenient storage spaces around the cabin including LED illuminated compartments in the central dashboard with an aux-in, USB port and 220V socket.

Important stuff, but it’s the outside that will get your attention first. More than a box on wheels, the C4 Picasso has a large glass area and slim LED headlights that help to create a more distinctive look.

It has certainly benefited from the stylish DS models elsewhere in the range. You can have one parked on your drive and your neighbours won’t automatically assume that you’ve given up on life because you now have children.

This is an MPV however, so it’s the inside that matters most. The first thing you notice is the amount of light coming into the cabin. The windscreen, which is quite possibly the largest I have ever come across in a car, extends almost over the heads of the front seat occupants, and from the raised driving position you get a panoramic view of the road ahead while the bonnet stays out of sight.

There are lots of clever features, such as an airline-style footrest for the front passenger and 40 litres of under-floor storage, while the rear seats are divided into three and fold easily to give lots of versatility.

Citroen has also made a big noise about the layout of the dashboard, which does away with conventional instruments and instead gives you two large screens. The upper one – a 12-inch HD screen – can display all sorts of information as well as images uploaded from a USB stick and is configurable in numerous ways, while the lower one is a seven-inch touchscreen “driver interface” and controls many of the vehicle functions.

From air conditioning and music to communication and navigation, everything is intuitive, integrated and cutting edge. It all looks very busy - indeed, there is a lot of information to access - and is certainly in tune with the digital age.

From next year, drivers will also have access to Citroën Multicity Connect, a portal of connected applications controlled from the touchpad. The system provides information such as the nearest fuel station, hotel or restaurant, weather updates or traffic reports.

I would like to see a head-up window display too, because the downside of having all this information placed centrally on the dashboard is that you have to glance to the left to see it.

Under the bonnet there’s a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, but it’s the 1.6-litre diesel tested here that will surely outsell other offerings by the truckload. The 115 e-HDi unit offers a useful blend of performance and economy; it’s as quick as you will need for most circumstances and might even return a fuel economy figure in excess of 70mpg.

But it is the C4 Picasso’s excellent ride that really impresses. It soaks up bumps very well and is neither sluggish nor clumsy when asked to tackle more demanding roads .

Beyond useful everyday functions such as keyless entry and start-up and reversing camera, the C4 Picasso features a range of innovations making driving easier and more enjoyable, including four cameras around the car to give drivers a bird’s eye view, a rear view or a panoramic front view. The system provides a complete view of the car’s immediate environment, enabling an extended field of vision that makes for easier manoeuvres.

Other impressive features include active cruise control with a radar sensor in the front bumper maintaining a constant distance with the vehicle in front by detecting slowdown in speed and warning the driver, active driver and passenger front seatbelts with motors that pull the belt tight automatically in the event of danger and a vibration alert in the driver’s belt to warn if the car crosses a line.

Fact file

Citroen C4 Picasso Exclusive E-Hdi 115 Airdream

PRICE: £21,555 (range from £17,500 to £24,455)

ENGINE: Four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbo diesel producing 114bhp

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 117mph; 0 to 62mph in 11.8 seconds

ECONOMY: 70.6mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 105g/km