Before we start this review, let's take a history lesson on mid-sized MPVs first.

Renault was the original carmaker that started the mid-sized MPV genre, in the form of its Scenic in 1996. This car had all the hallmarks of large people movers - like its own stablemate, the Espace with its removable seats and various storage areas. But the major achievement was it offered a more spacious and more versatile interior than the hatchback it was based on - and it did that by occupying a footprint no bigger than its donor car.

Then Opel came onto the scene with its Zafira in 1999, and that car went one better than the Scenic by offering seven seats. And the rest, as they say, is history when having seven seats in a mid-size MPV became the norm for the segment rather than the exception.

But in the world of cars, it seems that it is always better to give buyers more alternatives and plug as many niches as possible. So, some carmakers like Renault and more recently Citroën, offer two mid-size MPVs in their lineup - a normal five-seater version and a plus-sized "Grand" version that seats seven. While this line of reasoning may work in European countries - where consumers have more sophisticated tastes and much more varied demands for their cars - in our local context, it is the C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 THP that makes more sense as people here like to get as much metal for their money.

Not forgetting the fact that it is more of a bargain - as it costs just a few thousand dollars more than the five-seater version...

Exterior

Naming a car after one of the most prolific painters who founded the Cubist movement takes some guts, as there is much to live up to with regards to how the car looks. Citroën has done a very good job imbuing its people mover with a sense of style, evident from its curvy lines as opposed to the more pedestrian straight boxy profiles found on its rivals.

With a 120mm longer body as well as the third row seats, the C4 Grand Picasso is given an exterior design that is totally different from the five seater version, particularly after the A-pillars.

It is more utilitarian looking than its more athletically styled stablemate - up front, there is a dynamic looking front end with Citroën's trademark grille and large oversized headlamps. When viewed from the side, its silhouette is cleanly designed and your eyes will be drawn to the immense glasshouse and the slim pillars. It gets a more conventional side window line as compared to the funky looking one on the C4 Picasso.

At the rear, further differentiation comes in the form of tall stacked tail lamps that are radically different from the curvy units found on its brethren.