THE Citroen Grand C4 Picasso was recently put through its paces by some of Arsenal's Premier League stars - and if it were a footballer there's no doubt Gunners boss Arsene Wenger would be trying to sign this top performer.

The multi-award-winning people carrier - or MPV to those in the know - is a family-friendly seven-seater with a feelgood factor that brings a smile to the face.

Available from £19,200 on the road, the Grand C4 Picasso is practical, versatile and elegant thanks to Citroen's oft-mentioned ‘Créative Technologie', combined with top-notch efficiency.

The uncluttered cabin is modern and stylish using good quality materials which have a nice feel to them.

There is plenty of room in the first two rows of seats with the middle row reclining and sliding individually to suit. The two rear seats also offer a decent amount of room and are readily accessible.

Stowing the rear seats in the floor is a cinch and this opens up lots of space for luggage or shopping.

The top-of-the-range Exclusive+ trim offers a huge sunroof which makes the interior and airy light. Visibility is excellent thanks to a windscreen that stretches up and over the driver combined with a broad expanse of glass all around.

The Grand C4 Picasso uses the new EMP2 platform so weighs up to 110kg less than its predecessor which, together with the super-efficient 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine in the model I drove, results in average fuel economy around 60mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions are also extremely low benefiting both the environment and your wallet when it comes to the company car tax bill.

There's little in the way of any noticeable noise from under the bonnet while the six-speed automatic gearbox gets the job done with little if any fuss making this compact people carrier a relaxing cruiser.

The gear lever is situated behind the steering wheel however, so initially you will probably find yourself activating the windscreen wipers rather than changing gear - I found the same problem at first with the the parking brake which is situated just up from a storage box.

Other power units available include a 1.6-litre oil burner, with either 89bhp or 113bhp, and two versions of a 1.6-litre petrol engine.

The Grand C4 Picasso boasts a raft of goodies including  a seven-inch Touch Drive interface combined with a HD 12-inch panoramic screen.

Most of the car's functions are controlled through the touch-screen system - and while this is generally easy to use there are no separate climate control switches so you have to trawl through various menus when you want to adjust the cabin temperature.

There's a good balance between ride comfort and road-holding thanks to an electric power steering system and a bump and hump-absorbing suspension.

There's little in the way of body lean which can afflict some MPVs while the handling and good levels of grip give the driver confidence. The steering is also light which makes quite a big car easy to manoeuvre.

The Grand C4 Picasso offers an impressive equipment list with even entry-level models getting alloy wheels, Bluetooth, a USB socket and air conditioning.

By the time you reach the heady heights of the Exclusive+, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, sat-nav, rear parking sensors, a decent audio system, plus automatic lights and wipers, and a powered tailgate have joined an all-star cast.

Safety is handled by six airbags as well as stability control and Isofix fittings on all three middle-row seats. There's also a blizzard of safety options on more expensive models such as lane-departure and blind-spot warning systems.

The Grand C4 Picasso can't be described as the cheapest seven-seat MPV on the market, but it is good value for money thanks to the generous levels of kit and the fact it offers a bit more space than most compact seven-seaters.