The new Citroën C4 Grand Picasso is the seven-seat version of the award-winning C4 Picasso, making it a family car option for those with more than three children. The French brand has developed its unique styling around some fresh fuel economy technology, while still retaining its distinctive appearance. Just glance at the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso and you instantly know that it’s Citroën in origin. You have to admire the designers. This is not just another bland people carrier.

Beyond the appearance, there’s real comfort and loads of space. The feeling inside is airy, due to the large window area, while the dash is pushed away from the driver and front passenger to add to that spacious feeling.

I’ve had the 114bhp 1.6-litre turbo-diesel version on the road. The car’s suspension is smooth, as is the operation of the six-speed automatic gearbox. Coupled with the stop-start fuel-saving system, this car is very easy, quiet and comfortable to drive.

There is a lot different about this car. It’s much bigger than the standard C4 Picasso. The wheelbase is longer and it is marginally higher. And when you check the price list it’s interesting that the entry level models cost the same.

With that extra length, the C4 Grand Picasso is a little less manoeuvrable, while reversing on the model I drove was helped by the use of a very effective camera with super visibility features. This was the Executive class model, which adds about €5,000 to the basic price; that’s the bit that I’m not sure about, but it was very useful and practical, while still too expensive on the options list.

As a practical family car, the C4 Grand Picasso ticks many boxes. It has space, individual seats for seven, lots of storage space and a huge load area when the seats are folded down. Everybody gets choices in this car, and it should be cheap to run, provided it can remain reliable.

The running costs are enhanced by an engine that delivers great economy for a large car and a low CO2 rating, meaning low road tax. The car’s official economy figure is 25km/litre (4.0l/100km or 70mpg) and that should give close to 1,300km on a full tank. My test drive returned a figure about 20% less and that impressed me. Any modern car that’s driven sensibly should return 1,000km on a full tank.

The only concern for me is the level of electronics on board. Normally I’m happy with technology and I take time to play with the systems until I get comfortable with them. The C4 Grand Picasso took a little more learning. It was good when I got there, but it took some effort.

There are numerous electronic features from the speedo and all of the car’s controls. The travelling speed is clear – there are no excuses for breaking limits – but there is a lot of other stuff going on across two separate areas. Some of the displays, such as the rev counter, are less obvious – and this is a reading on which I tend to drive my car, hugging the magical 2,000rpm figure as often as I can.

Other drivers may not like the level of technology in what is a very comfortable car to drive. The initial impressions could put some drivers off – it can be learned and can be fun to use, but you need to give it time.

There are loads of comfort and safety features in the car. The seats have Isofix attachments and there are loads of airbags. There are numerous safety driving aids, depending on the model chosen, while all models get hill-start assist, stability control and an electronic parking brake.

What’s missing is the spare wheel and there’s not much room to include one either. This is essential for rural drivers and will eat into the boot space a little.

The entry price is €27,045, or £19,200 in NI, which is competitive. And there are deals to be done, as Citroën aims to improve its market share. The warranty deal is about average at three years or 100,000km, while the servicing costs should be manageable with once-a-year checks, depending on the use levels.

It has the space levels of a Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra or Volkswagen Sharon but at a keener price. It has more space than the Renault Grand Scenic and the Toyota Verso, while close to matching their price levels.

This is a car that excels in terms of comfort and style. It has lots of safety credentials, and the good news is that Citroën’s reliability rating is improving. But first allow yourself to get comfortable with the electronics.