CITROEN'S C4 may be fairly and squarely aimed at the modern family but it is stacked not only with equipment but a lot of character.
It may feature attractive, sculpted lines, impressive build quality and an array of original upmarket features and functions - as do a number of its competitors - but the C4 has that certain something that sets it apart from the rest of the pack.
A lot of it has to do with the latest Citroen corporate styling which the company describes as 'confidence-inspiring' which, I suppose it is.
But the proof of the pudding was in the number of admiring glances this car drew from bystanders compared to other cars in this class that have passed through my hands.
But be under no illusion - this is no five-door flight of stylist's fancy. It is specifically designed to meet the needs of mid-size hatchback retail and business users, being robust and versatile and very much driver-focused.
This case is proven by a glance at the car's stats.
The VTR+ Hdi 90 I drove was capable of 112mph with a respectable 0-60mph sprint of 12.9 seconds but the headline news on this car is that it is capable of a combined mpg readout of 67.3.
Add the CO2 rating of 110g/km which means only £20 per year road tax and the words 'common sense' ride high alongside the car's attractive styling.
On the road this car is typically Citroen with supremely comfortable seats, supple handling, handy acceleration and a silent smooth attitude to everyday driving.
Citroen calls all of this ‘real world' practicality' and after a few days at the wheel you begin to realise what they mean.
All cars in this class attempt to be first class all rounders, but the C4 definitely ticks all the right boxes in this respect.
It is slightly larger than the previous model and offers a class-leading boot volume of up to 408-litres with the seats up and the parcels shelf deployed. Fold down the rear seats and capacity increases dramatically to 1,183 litres.
Being a French car the Citroen delivers on all those little touches that help to make driving a pleasure rather than a chore.
These include the tactile soft-touch material on the top of the one-piece dashboard and the generous amounts of chrome around the dials and vents.
This is a car created to deliver a satisfying on-board experience as well as long-term durability.
The C4 can be tailored to individual requirements, with users able to adjust the colour of the instrument display, select their own ‘polyphonic' sound alerts and even set the intensity of the automatic air conditioning to one of three different settings.
It can be also be specified with massaging front seats - the first time this has been offered in this sector of the market.
There is also a new blind-spot monitoring system, a cornering light function, cruise control and speed-limiter with favourite speed settings and Citroën's innovative eTouch Emergency & Assistance System.
Maybe the C4 is a family or business hatch but there is definitely a premium saloon fighting to get out.