ABRA CAR DABRA

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Mar 22, 2009 | by Quentin Willson

CITROEN just keep on pulling bunnies out of hats.

Their striking DS has been rightly greeted with all the superlatives going, they've had a slick re-brand with the promise of posh new dealerships, and now they've come up with a Focus-chasing baby MPV that's an absolute blinder.

The C3 Picasso's cubist proportions mean it tops the class in interior room, with clever "one hand" modular seating that folds flat enough to give a voluminous 1,500litres of load space. A massive 747-like windscreen floods in light and the dash sparkles with shiny slivers of aluminium. It's a cockpit with luxury pretensions.

The 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines give 40mpg, but most buyers will plump for the punchy 1.6 HDi oilburner that's good for 60mpg.

The C3's ride is exceptionally composed and there's been a monster leap in the solidity of build, virtues appreciated by the quality-obsessed German market, where sales are running 200% over target.

My sole gripe is the absence of a sixth gear. But with a kick- off price of pounds 11,495 for the 1.4 VTi petrol, the C3 is fine value for such clever, well-built and trendy family wheels.

Make sure you buy one in this brilliant blue...

TECH FILE

ENGINE 1397cc

POWER 94bhp

TOP SPEED111mph

0-60 12.2 seconds

PRICE pounds 11,495

IN A WORD Box of brilliance