THERE are many drivers when it comes to buying a car, and I don't mean the one behind the wheel.

Take the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Flair 150, for instance. Is it room, performance, economy, ride or handling which makes someone decide to buy?

Or is it a child? Certainly with the latest model the most vociferous and praiseworthy were two children and I bet their enthusiasm for what is a true family car will be repeated around the UK.

The high riding position with low waistline gave very good vision, the seats were comfortable and in the middle row their users could use some handy drop-down aircraft-tables with their own lighting.

The children's ability to throw in everything they needed for a day out also found favour and the run home at the end ensured a sleepy conclusion. It's win, win.

The 2.0 turbo-diesel engine has strong pulling power from about 2,000rpm and with the latest stop and start technology it proved very economical, sometimes topping 50mpg but overall a reasonable 43mpg.

It was very smooth and commendably quiet even when rushed along through the gears with their slick changes sweeping in to provide good acceleration and a steady flow of acceleration.

Underfoot, the brakes admirably coped with the big family car and were light and progressive in application, while the electronic parking brake easily held it on our usual slope test.

I liked the smoothness of the steering but the turning circle was a bit bigger than I would have liked if I had to do a lot of town driving, but the power assistance and parking aids made easy work of manoeuvering and the Flair model comes with blind-spot monitoring warning lights as well as optional Park Assist.

I was not so impressed by the multitude of secondary controls on the wheel-spokes and fascia display which is distracting and not as safe as it might be with some more traditional buttons for certain functions on the dash.

Climate controls were very comprehensive and effective, filling the big cabin with desired air and backed up by powered windows all round.

There was a sunblind for the very large roof glass and rear windows blinds. Driver and front seat passenger could also watch the little ones behind with an adjustable small mirror just below the conventional driver's mirror.

The driver has self-dipping main beam LED lights and programmable wipers and a reversing camera and sensors to ease journeys and parking either end.

It is a really roomy family car with excellent access for all but the rearmost pair of pull up seats, lots of room throughout and excellent comfortable adjustable seats including an electrically operated footrest and massage feature on the passenger side.

Oddments room is abundant throughout with bins, trays, hard and soft pockets and hidden compartments. Power sockets are also spread throughout for phones and play systems. Nothing seems to have been overlooked for a family car.

As a family vehicle, you cannot expect this MPV to handle like a sporting saloon, an estate or even a cross-over model.

It felt big winding long country roads but it stayed planted on them and was entirely predictable in nature and showed no vices.

While the powertrain was generally composed and quiet, the suspension was smooth but noisy, with road bumps being heard as the suspension calmly coped. Body roll was present but not excessive.