ANYONE wanting a huge family holdall with seats for five or seven that is also avant garde and immensely comfortable should look at the Citroen C4 Picasso before they buy anything else.

At my suggestion, my son bought a fairly elderly one three years ago, and despite the fact that it now has dings or scrapes on most panels, he still rates it perfect transport for his family of four.

I've had marvellous holidays in various models from the range and have driven most of the others over the years.

Citroen still insist on calling them C4 Picasso, but no-one else I know ever uses the C4 moniker, because it is, and always has been, completely superfluous, and the people carrier has always been more popular than the hatch in this country.

Produced from 2013 to 2018, its forte is that truly comfortable ride for all - even those in the rearmost seats of the seven seat Grand Picasso - which is simply a long wheelbase version of the same car.

Whatever about the name this is a family car par excellence, right up there with the best the rest can offer and at prices to make them wince.

As well as that comfort, it also handles really well through the corners apart from steering that is a little lacking in feel.

All models have excellent grip and tenacious roadholding, helped by minimal roll despite their tall stance.

The engine choice over the model's production period majors on diesels and the later ones are 1.6 and 2.0-litre units, which made up the majority of sales.

The 1.6 is available with 100 or 120bhp, giving a zero to 60 miles an hour time of 12.5 and 11.4 seconds. Best government economy is an excellent 74mpg so expect a real world 50 plus

The other diesel is a 2.0-litre with 150bhp that covers the sprint in a sprightly 9.4 seconds, and is still capable of 68mpg with very low emissions.

The higher powered 1.6 and the 2.0-litre have either a six speed manual gearbox, or a six speed automatic, while the 100bhp model has a five speed manual.

Petrol engines are 1.2 and 1.6-litre turbos with either 130 or 150bhp. The larger unit gets to 60 in under nine seconds and is capable of 47mpg, while the 1.2 takes 10 seconds for the sprint and can do 56mpg.

All the engines are smooth and quiet until revved, as is normal, and all offer good to excellent acceleration through the gears.

Those concept car looks might not appeal to all, but they hide fantastic practicality thoughout the interior.

The all-digital instruments work well, and there are a number of options selectable by the driver.

There is a huge amount of storage around the cabin, and the massive boot in the five seater swallows everything most families would want for two weeks' holiday.

Rear passengers get three individual seats that slide fore and aft for more legroom, and fold flat to give a gargantuan load area.

Even the front passenger seat folds flat, allowing long items to be carried home with ease.

Base VTR spec is excellent, and includes air conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels, traction control, remote locking, electric windows, good stereo with remote control, and loads of airbags.

And just a couple of levels higher in Touch Edition spec, you get parking sensors, an alarm and heated electric mirrors.

Pay about £7,550 for a '17 17-reg VTR+ 1.6 BlueHDi 100bhp diesel, or £13,320 for an '18 18-reg Flair 1.2 Puretech 130bhp petrol with stop/start.