People Mover Reviews

The sad fact is the majority of people movers out there only come with seven seats at the most, which dramatically reduces the options for families with six kids – or those with even just two or three who have a big social calendar.Unfortunately, this then increases the chances of those families becoming the chuffed owners of massive fuel guzzling, lane hogging, enviro-killing 4X4’s - complete with CB and snorkel - that will never see dirt.ExteriorWe tested the the Grand Carnival Premium. It’s a big car – 5,130mm long and 1,985mm wide – but Kia have managed to shape it so its long purposeful nose, aerodynamic contours, 16 inch alloys and wide stance make it look contemporary while retaining a classic MPV presence.Electric sliding doors, sleek side mirror housings, distinctive dual front headlights and a rugged rear help to complete its modern appearance.You also get fog lamps set within the bumper, high level LED stoplights and a step plate for maximum loading efficiency.InteriorClearly the inside is where it’s at in a people mover, and in the Grand Carnival there are a heap of different seating combinations to help give you a pain free ride. Of the eight seats in the Kia Grand Carnival, the comfortable front and passenger, plus the first row of three are slidable bucket seats, with a 60:40 split fold-flat bench up the back. The middle row is removable for extra space.With the middle seats removed and the third row folded and sunk, the cargo area is a massive 2,280mm deep and 1,457mm wide.There is also a pile of other features to make travelling with a lively crew as pleasant as possible, including: power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, six speaker sound system, triple-zone air condition with individual outlets for each row of seats, 11 cup holders and storage compartments, passenger folding table and seat back trays in the second row, two coat hooks and a shopping bag hook in the cargo area.Engine and performanceBoth the Grand Carnival and Grand Carnival Premium run on a 184kW, 3.8litre V6 engine producing 343Nm. A five speed auto tiptronic-style transmission transfers power to the wheels. Both versions burn 12.8 litres of unleaded every 100km.SuspensionIts unibody construction together with McPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension give the Grand Carnival a smooth comfortable ride with minimal body roll.SafetyA comprehensive airbag package, ESP, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, traction control, childproof rear door locks, five child restraint anchor points and a security alarm with panic button all come as standard in the Premium Grand Carnival, with an options pack available to top up security in the Grand Carnival.PricingThe Grand Carnival Premium starts at $44,490 and the Grand Carnival starts at $38,490 up to $40,290 with the optional safety package.Halligan saysMy wife and I are in the market for a new car. My ideal family cars run to four-door performance sedans and four-seat convertibles, preferably Italian or German. My wife is similar, just drop the Italian.So a Kia Carnival is not on our shortlist. The idea sends shudders down my spine. Turn up at an eisteddfod or cricket match in a Carnival and suddenly you get the bombardment of “would you be able to drop Jane home, and perhaps little Freddie too.”Hell, I don't want more than four seats, that way the mother in-law can't fit either.The first thing you note about stepping into a Carnival is that it seems larger on the inside than is posible by the outer dimensions. It really is like sitting in a bus. The appointments are basic with a few nice extras such as the power assist on the huge sliding doors each side. The seat arm rests and cup holders are nice — my wife tells me so. Visibility is good. I can understand why a lot of families and soccer mums would like one. It would make life for larger families quite a bit easier and is certainly a better option than sticking the 6th and 7th seats reverse facing in the back of a four-wheel drive.Driving the Carnival is pleasantly surprising, it actually points, tracks and handles quite well. Then again every time I drive a Kia or Hyundai lately I come away impressed. I have also developed a healthy respect for their ruggedness and reliability having flogged an Excel up and down the Freeway for 8 years. The Carnival doesn't feel lethargic either, pick-up is quite good with the transmission changing at all the right times. You can actually push one of these along with confidence.I clocked around 400kms in the Carnival and while I personally wouldn't buy one I would recommend one to a soccer mum with three kids or more. It's a more practical option than the Pajero or Landcruiser you are probably dropping the kids to school in now.If you really do go away in that caravan, fine — keep the Landcruiser. If not, get rid of the 4wd and consider this for your five kids.Rating 7/10 

When Kia’s entry into the people-mover category was unveiled at the 2007 Sydney Motor Show, it didn’t trigger a rousing reception so much as a polite golf clap.Underwhelming as it may have appeared then, set amongst a backdrop of European classic and super cars, the Kia Rondo is in fact a very competent and affordable ‘crossover’ vehicle which aims to combine adequate seating, with the versatility of an SUV.The Rondo comes in three variants – the LX, EX (our test car) and EX limited. All are powered by a twin-cam, four-cylinder 2.0-litre ‘Theta’ petrol engine with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT), which optimises low and medium speed torque. A five speed manual for the LX or optional Sport Mode ‘intelligent’ four speed Tiptronic-style automatic transmission for the EX and EX limited, transfers the 106kW at 6000rpm and 189 Nm at 4250rpm, to the wheels.Kia has managed to keep fuel consumption down to a reasonable 8.4litres/100kms for the manual, which equates to 650km from the 55 litre tank on 91RON regular unleaded. The automatic gets you 8.6 litres/100kms.Using the Kia Magentis platform but with a 20mm shorter wheelbase and shorter overhangs, the Rondo is compact and square but not boxy thanks to a sloping windscreen and carefully sculptured front end. Thoughtful shaping of the door mirrors and A-pillars help to achieve better aerodynamics. 17 inch alloys give the EX a more sporty and agile appearance.There is nothing outlandish about the Rondo – it won’t win any awards for exterior design – but with its modern, smooth lines it certainly doesn’t embarrass itself up against more expensive competitors.With SUV interiors in mind, Kia have developed the Rondo to be wider and taller, increasing leg and elbow room and giving the seats a more upright position. Large windows give the cabin a big airy feel.From the front seats looking back, there seems to be adequate room in the second row for three decent sized blokes. The press kit assures us that the back two seats “will accommodate two 1.8 metre adults in comfort”, but they don’t mention how long they will be comfortable for. We reckon a quick half hour trip to the beach and back would be time enough to begin to feel a little cramped and restless.The middle row of seats slides back or forward on rails allowing several seating configurations to provide adequate room for either passengers or cargo. With five seats in use and the just the back two seats folded down, luggage space is more than 400 litres. With all but the front seats down, a whopping 2106 litres is freed up.The driver’s seat is comfortable and supportive, and its high position provides good vision from every angle. The dash is refreshingly simple, elegant and intuitive and is angled towards the driver creating a snug cockpit.Numerous storage areas adorn the cabin, including 10 drink holders, big door pockets, a huge centre console space and various other trays and dishes for passengers in every seat.In addition to these standard features, the EX gets a leather steering wheel, gear knob and steering wheel mounted audio controls.Safety has not been overlooked in the Rondo 7. It comes standard with four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-Lock Braking, Electronic Brake force Distribution, traction control and Electronic Stability Program.What shocked me at first with the Rondo 7 is how compact it looked. I was expecting the usual, bulbous seven-seater but it really does look a lot more SUV than people- mover.It’s not great looking from the outside but it doesn’t look dull or out of place - it sits humbly between boring and cocky. Its smooth lines and rounded front end let me know that Kia have tried to keep it as up to date as possible for the money.Climbing in the driver’s seat and adjusting mirrors and so on, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was. You sit right up high and you have great vision - with help from the bigger than normal windows. The supportive seat and enclosed, simple dash gave me a cosy warmth.Road noise isn’t too much of a problem even on the freeway but there was an irritating buzz around the passenger door which I thought was a faulty speaker at first, but it turned out to be wind hitting the side mirror.The most annoying thing I found in the otherwise impressive Rondo 7, was the power. If regular overtaking on the freeway or dragging other cars at the lights is your thing, don’t get this car – it’s gutless. But I have left this point until last because I don’t think aggressive power is particularly important for vehicles in this category. It gets you where you want to be on time and that’s all you really should need in a seven seat ‘crossover’ vehicle.The Rondo 7 is a comfortable, smooth and enjoyable family car with great fuel economy and loads of space. For a starting price of $24,990 for the LX and $28,990 for the EX, it’s very affordable too.This is the kind of vehicle you buy because you need something very practical, and while styling is subjective, the Rondo looks quite good on the street – and a lot better than other people movers.But the real proof of this kind of vehicle is how well they do what they’re supposed to, which is carry around people. And the Rondo passes this test well. For a start, it’s very easy to get in and out of the rear area — even through to the third row that is usually the bane of these cars.Space is good once you get in there, too, although I’m not sure large adults would want to spend days in the last row.And there are a lot of spots to stow smaller pieces of everyday cargo… mobile phones, change, cups, maps and so on.But there’s not a great deal of larger luggage space if all three rows of seating are being used.We didn’t get to load the Rondo completely full with adults, however with four on board it had little trouble with city driving but the automatic transmission needed a little forethought for highway overtaking where most torque is needed.The steering is featherlight for around town, but feels a touch vague.But in all situations it was the handling and ride quality that really impressed. You’re not going to have much joy trying to chuck it around corners like a sports car, but it sits as happily as most mid-range sedans. And with either one, two or four adults on board it cruised over poor surfaces with as much confidence as more expensive vehicles.Manoeuvrability and vision were both good, and pick-up was very good from stationary.The seating was comfortable however I couldn't work out how to recline the seat backs. I like to be able to find those controls intuitively and — being a guy — I don't want to have to read a manual on how to use the controls in a car.The orange glow instrumentation I also found annoying, especially the clock which is hard to read.City driving was great with positive steering and excellent visibility, however the spacing between first and second gears is a little too spread.Highway driving was also good, cruising in the 120-130 range, but again I found the gearing to be a little odd.While kickdown was easy, the gear spacing was again the issue. I feel it would be vastly different vehicle to drive if it had one more gear.At those speeds there was also a bit of wind noise — just enough to be noticeable.My wife really like the design– she thought she saw a fair amount of current RAV 4 in it.She praised the front seats and also the cupholders and the centre console vents to the back seat — which are the first two things she checks for.She was also impressed by the rear luggage compartment and third row of seats as she didn't think it looked big enough to have all that from the outside.She would definitely have it on her possible list if she was looking for a people mover as an alternative to a 4wdOverall, it’s a well designed package with quite a bit of style for small people mover, feels solid and well built, and has good pick-up, steering lock and visibility — which adds up to an easy to drive family car. The only thing that lets it down is that transmission. 

According to Kia, it not only ticks the boxes in two or three segments. The little Korean has gone for gold with a four-segment crossover."There are no competitors with this car in the Australian market," Kia Australia president and CEO S.K. Lee said at the Australian launch."It will satisfy customers in four of the most active segments — hatchback, wagon, SUV and people-mover. It is the ultimate urban recreation vehicle."Based on the company's medium-sized Magentis passenger car platform, the Rondo will have seven seats, standard stability control and a 106kW 2.0-litre petrol engine.The name Rondo comes from a musical term for a piece of music often used at the end of a sonata.Prices start at $24,990.The base LX model is available with a five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic at a $2000 premium.Also standard are airconditioning, 15-inch steel wheels (space-saver spare), power mirrors and windows, dual front airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-skid electronic brake-force distribution and a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty.The mid-range EX adds steering wheel-mounted audio controls, roof rails and crossbars, fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, upgraded cloth seats and a standard four-speed automatic. The EX is $28,990.At the top of the range, the EX Limited is another $3000 but has a sunroof, leather interior, side, front and full-curtain airbags and climate control airconditioning.Cruise control is not available but product planning manager Nick Reid believes it will be in the mix later in the year.An optional airbag package adds side and curtain bags to the two lower-spec cars for about $1000. It will take them to the specification that has earned a four-star Euro NCAP and a five-star US Highway safety rating."This is a car that has come from the evolution of changing customers' needs," Reid says."It has versatility and functionality, doing the job of a family car during the week and doubling as a practical leisure vehicle at weekends."Though Rondo shares much of what is forward of the B-pillar with the Magentis, the rear is unique.To accommodate the third row of seats in a compact package, Kia has engineered a rear multi-link suspension supported by a compact transverse sub-frame.The rear suspension has been tightly engineered and many of the components are mounted in or close to the interior space of the wheels.It has been dubbed an "in-wheel" multi-link system.Covering the load-carrying roles of the Rondo are load-dependent, variable-stroke dampers, to maintain consistent dynamic behaviour. 

If anyone knows how to build a people mover it should be Chrysler. After all, the company claims to have invented the mini-van segment back in 1983. The latest descendent of that model is the new Grand Voyager, which is about to go on sale locally. It is the biggest overhaul of the model since the American people mover arrived here in 1997.“This is the ultimate vehicle for families and people on the go,” says Chrysler Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins. “It offers the flexibility of seven seats and room for heaps of gear without sacrificing fuel economy. The all-new Grand Voyager is the new standard.”That is a bold statement for the under-pressure brand. Chrysler has failed to live up to expectations with its new models.Only the 300C remains strong and accounts for more than half of the brand's sales to February.The good news is the Grand Voyager is a very solid performer. It offers vastly improved exterior style, excellent interior space and some clever seating.The most notable change for the new model is the styling. The people mover has been given a complete makeover in a bid to make it look more like the 300C. The design team was led by Trevor Creed, the man responsible for the popular sedan. The new model is longer and wider and has a squarer look with sharper lines. The improved design carries over to the interior. Although the quality still lags behind European and local standards it is better than previous American models. Hard plastics and unsupportive seats remain the biggest complaints.But what it lacks in quality it makes up for in quantity. The Grand Voyager will seat seven people comfortably unlike some of its people mover rivals. Unlike its competitors which adopt a two-three-two seating layout, the Grand Voyager uses a two-two-three system.Because the second row only accommodates two seats it lets the company fit larger units. Chrysler has two clever seating options available for the second row. The first is Stow 'n Go that sees the seats fold down into underfloor storage bins to give more cargo space. The other option is Swivel 'n Go that sees the two chairs rotate through 180 degrees to let passengers travel backwards.The third-row rear seats are also packed with clever features. They can be stowed away to turn the car into a two-seater or can be folded backwards to provide “stadium seating” so you can really sit in comfort.The seats are just part of a comprehensive in-car entertainment system that can include three video screens and satellite navigation.Chrysler has also incorporated “trends in home lighting” by giving the car halo lights to give it a moody feel at night.Another plus is the rear-parking camera that is standard across the range.The three-model line-up is priced from $56,990 for the 3.8-litre V6 petrol LX. The mid-level Touring starts at $62,990 and the range-topping Limited is priced from $72,990. The 2.8-litre diesel adds $3000 across the range.Chrysler Australia expects 60 per cent of customers to go for the Limited model.While it's good news that the Grand Voyager has a diesel for the first time, it is not as sophisticated or smooth as its European rivals.Its saving grace is the strong fuel economy figures it returns which makes it the engine of choice. On our drive we used 8.8 litres per 100km on a long stretch of country driving and Chrysler claims it will use 12.3 litres per 100km in the city.But while it may not be an impressive engine, with 120kW of power and 360Nm of torque, the CRD is up to the task of moving the van that weighs over two tonnes.The V6 petrol engine produces 142kW and 305Nm and has a more responsive powerplant than the oil burner. But with a combined city fuel economy figure of 18.8 litres per 100km it can't match the CRD.In addition to adding the diesel, Chrysler has also upgraded the gearbox from a four-speed automatic to a six-speed.Australia receives the European suspension tune that is firmer and more responsive than the US settings. Despite this it's still a soft ride but it's very comfortable, especially on long trips. Even though you won't mistake the mini-van for a car it does hide its size well.Comfort is the key with the new car. The designers have tried to maximise interior space by “shrink-wrapping” it. That means the interior contours to the mechanical structure underneath which results in a more cluttered look but more importantly opens up a lot more usable space for the passengers.Competitors such as the Honda Odyssey and Citroen C4 Picasso are cheaper and are worth considering. Although they lack the interior space of the Grand Voyager they offer a far superior driving experience.But in the end you won't buy the Grand Voyager for its performance credentials, you buy it to comfortably carry a large family. And on those grounds it's a winner. SnapshotChrysler Grand VoyagerPrice: $56,990-$75,990Engine: 3.8L/V6 petrol 142kW/305Nm, 2.8L/4-cylinder turbodiesel 120kW/360NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 12.3L/100km petrol, 9.3L/100km diesel claimed 

There are still a few van-style people movers - Toyota's Tarago and the Chrysler Voyager for example - but they cost a bomb and are out of the capacity of the average family to afford.Apart from the small VW Caddy Life, the Koreans have the affordable end of the people mover market to themselves with Hyundai's Trajet, the Ssangyong Stavic and Kia Carnival all vying for the largest slice of the family transporter cake.Kia recently launched a new Carnival to complement the larger Grand Carnival. They are new vehicles from the ground up and have nothing to do with the earlier Carnival which was plagued with engine problems from its Rover-sourced 2.5-litre V6.The new VQ Carnivals share the same styling and it is easy to mistake one for the other but the Grand is longer and has a more powerful 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine and five speed auto. The Carnival runs a 136kW/ 246Nm, 2.7-litre V6, used in numerous other Kia and Hyundai vehicles and a five speed manual or optional four speed automatic.Both are front wheel drive which boosts interior room.Carnival is available in base spec' and auto- only Luxury with the latter scoring leather, six air bags, rain sensing wipers and other goodies. It's at a $3500 premium over the manual base model which sells for $32,990 drive away. The four speed auto adds two thousand bucks.We have been driving the auto base model Carnival and it's an impressive vehicle especially when you need to take a crew anywhere. Mum, dad, the kids, friends and the grannies can all fit inside its cavernous body. But only a small luggage space is available with all three seat rows deployed. The rear row is easily foldable or even removable if you want to maximise load space and don't need the extra seats.Access is easy through the front or side sliding doors that have power operated up and down windows, not pivotting or fixed glass. The rear side windows pivot from the front and are also power operated.The rear top-hinged tailgate opens a large aperture and is easy to lift.The V6 engine features variable valve timing and is good for 136kW/246Nm output com- pletely addressing the power deficit of the previous model.It gives the Carnival good performance across the engine rev range and plenty of pulling power when a full load is aboard with the dual aircon blasting away.Though the more sophisticated five speed auto misses Carnival this time around, the four speed auto we drove is satisfactory thanks to an internal upgrade and sequential shift mode. It makes quick smooth changes and willingly kicks down when required.Sequential mode allows manual gear selec- tion if you want more control.The interior is a friendly place that also looks good with a nicely rounded dash and multiple hues to the upholstery.The steering is light, the brakes are powerful and it possesses a tight turning circle for a vehicle this size.Minimal engine noise intrudes into the cabin and the luxury feel is accentuated by a smooth, well controlled ride.We took out the rear pews and they're fairly heavy but once out, load space increases dramatically. The centre row also comes out. The vehicle looks good with big headlights, large tyres and smooth lines set off by roof rails and expansive glass house. You sit high affording a good view in all directions.The seats are supportive and the textured upholstery is comfy.Go over the Carnival with a magnifying glass and it's impressive build quality is evident.It's bigger brother scored a five star US crash test rating so the SWB Luxury model should be the same.Like the Kia cars we have driven in past months, this vehicle bats well above its price point. 

And when they call it the Picasso, there's even less chance it will be conventional. After all, in his paintings, eyes and noses and everything else were rarely where they're usually found.So you step into the Picasso, seven seats, just slightly longer than a Toyota Corolla sedan, loaf-shaped but stylish, prepared for something unusual.And yes, Citroen delivers. The Picasso is definitely quirky, but in a refreshing way; it's easy to adapt to, pleasant to live with, a clever design which works efficiently.For example, the steering wheel rotates around a fixed hub, so the driver's airbag is always positioned perfectly. Now that's a bright idea, taken straight from Citroen's smaller C4 hatchback, which is also the source for the Picasso's mechanical underpinnings.No normal T-bar gear lever here. Instead, the auto selector is a thin chrome wand high on the right-hand side of the steering column. Two curved levers behind the wheel allow you to flick up or down through the gears.Air conditioning controls are on the right-hand side of the dashboard, so your co-driver can't fiddle with them, but the front passenger does get his or her own digital temperature read-out situated on the far left; along with up and down buttons to make that side of the car hotter or colder.The handbrake is . . .  well, actually the Picasso doesn't have one. Instead, the 'parking brake' sets itself when you park, and disengages automatically when you drive away. As back-up, there is a little chrome lever mounted on top of the dashboard, right in the centre.In front of that is a perfume diffuser, so the Picasso always smells sweet. This is a French car, remember.There are picnic tables for the middle row of seats, a drinks cooler up front, a rechargeable torch down the back.The windscreen is so large, and sweeps back so far, there are pull-down sunshades at the top of the glass.So it's certainly different, but not in a negative way. Instead of seeming gimmicky and confusing, its unusual features are handy, and fit its can-do nature perfectly.It's the same story on the road. At first the Picasso can feel bulky and somewhat daunting, the driver has no idea where that sloping snout ends, and the tail seems a long way away but after a while you become used to it.Anyway, there are parking sensors which beep a warning before you get too close to obstacles.The Picasso comes with either petrol or diesel engine, and surely the smarter of the pair is the diesel, sharing its engine with Citroen's larger (and dearer) C5 sedan plus various Peugeots. What a sweet machine; strong on pulling power, big on refinement, excellent when it comes to fuel economy.With six forward gears on hand, it can quickly select the right ratio and summon up a healthy dose of torque for spirited acceleration.The petrol version gets just a four-speed automatic.What the Picasso doesn't like is to be driven fast on a twisty, rough road. The suspension just isn't happy with that sort of silliness. Snapshot Citroen Picasso HDiDetails: Seven-seat people-mover with 2.0 litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine. Power 100kW. Torque 270Nm. Six-speed automatic.Features: Stability control system, anti-lock brakes, seven airbags, alloy wheels, airconditioning, cruise control.Cost: $44,990. (Petrol version $39,990)Rivals: Renault Grand Scenic, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Tarago, Kia Carnival, Chrysler Voyager.For: Refreshing, efficient design. Excellent diesel engine.Against: Perhaps too unusual for some.Summing up: French flair on wheels.Overall: 4 stars 

Think of Volkswagen and many people think of small cars such as the Beetle and Golf. Even the highest-priced Passat from Europe doesn't break $57,000. Yet VW does have vehicles in the prestige market for buyers with around $80,000.It's the Volkswagen Multivan, a seven-seat luxury people mover based on the T5 light commercial vehicle but well sorted and with extensive features. So VW ought to be represented right at the top end of the people-mover list.Ask someone to name the first people-mover van from decades ago and there's a good chance they'll nominate the VW Kombi. But here's a chance to get a new people mover with a touch of luxury.The Multivan in its Highline trim comes with electrically operated sliding doors, a multi-function rear table, satellite navigation (about $4000 extra on lesser models), leather trim, heated front seats, 17-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors plus front and rear fog lamps.A six-stack CD with eight-speaker sound system, cruise control, power windows, 'climatronic' three-zone climate control and swivel seats in the middle row are other touches to make the Multivan even more pleasurable.VW Multivan in this Highline version is available with a choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines and with all-wheel drive that Volkswagen calls 4Motion. The engines are mounted transversely in the front. The petrol unit is the 3.2-litre V6, rated at 173kW of power at 6200rpm and 315Nm torque at 2900rpm. These figures are obtainable when premium (98RON) unleaded petrol is used.The 2.5-litre diesel is VW's five-cylinder unit with intercooler, giving 128kW of power at 3500rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2000rpm. With 4Motion AWD either engine has to drive through a six-speed manual gearbox. But in front-wheel drive they come with a six-speed tiptronic automatic.The Multivan Highline 4Motion is priced at $76,990 for the V6 petrol and $73,990 for the 4Motion diesel. The front-wheel-drive diesel automatic is $72,990 or as a V6 petrol, $75,990. 

The latest Kia Carnival, the VQ series, comes with the choice between standard and long wheelbases.

Nothing abstract about the Citroen C4 Picasso, however, just lots of clever design. For starters, it is the size of a medium sedan, but has seven seats.And while hauling all those people around, it won't break the budget because there is a fuel-saving diesel option.Early people-movers were little more than delivery vans with seats; this one is based on a high-class car — Citroen's C4 hatchback — lengthened, widened, made taller and given a bigger luggage compartment plus a new-design rear axle to cope with greater loads.Its engines and transmissions have come from the dearer, larger C5 sedan, so progress is smooth and refined.But inside and out it looks like nothing else. The shape is avant-garde, but is more practical than a Picasso-like oddity. It provides a panoramic view, loads of room, endless ways to configure the three rows of seats and so many cubbyholes owners may forget where they stowed half the groceries.The massive windscreen — $1100 for a new one — extends so far back, and at such a rakish angle, it ends almost above the driver's head.Sunlight floods in but the designers have provided large two-stage visors that fold down to provide shade, and the glass has a metallic coating to cut down heat.Even if things did become sweaty, there is a perfume dispenser (including a tobacco-neutralising fragrance) as part of the airconditioning system that has controls for each corner of the car. Temperature and air volume can be different in each zone.In the best Citroen tradition, the Picasso is a far-from-everyday design.Its automatic transmission selector is a thin wand on the right-hand side of the steering column; the driver's airconditioning controls also are on the right-hand side of the dashboard; there is no handbrake (engage Park and it figures, correctly, that the parking brake should be applied; press on the accelerator and the brake automatically disengages).A small, high-mounted mirror lets the driver see what children are up to in the back seats.You find a detachable torch in the tailgate, a fridge in the dashboard, picnic tables behind the front seats, storage lockers under the floor, sun blinds on the rear side windows.The instrument panel sits high on the dashboard between driver and passenger; unusual but you soon become used to it. The driver can change the colour of the display, ranging from deep blue to white on black.The third row of seats, two separate buckets, is a place best left for the young, small and agile. If the seats are not needed, a one-handed operation can fold them away, creating a vast luggage area.No wonder Citroen says the Picasso “redefines the family car for the 21st century”, but Australia could prove a tough nut to crack.In Europe, such cars make sense for their convenience and tax advantages; here the competition is tougher because there are reasonably priced multi-seat SUVs with oodles of space inside and relatively uncrowded roads to accommodate them.While sales of compact people-movers have trebled in Europe in the past decade, they have failed to catch on in Australia. For example, Holden has dropped the similar-concept Zafira.However, fuel prices make the diesel Picasso a compelling case.Citroen expects 80 per cent of Picasso buyers will opt for the diesel, though it costs $5000 more than its petrol sibling (a more advanced automatic transmission and high-cost diesel engine explain the higher price).The diesel would reduce fuel bills with its economy rating of 6.1 litres per 100km, compared with 8.9 litres for the petrol engine.The diesel has almost identical acceleration to its petrol counterpart, while its superior transmission and mountain of torque, or pulling power, make it the logical way to go.On the downside, the Picasso's ride-steering package, usually a major plus with French cars, is hardly a work of art. The ride can get bouncy on poor roads and the steering lacks feedback.

The four-cylinder was praised last year for leg room and rear storage space but criticised for the lack of a centre console, the placement of the instrument display in the middle of the dashboard rather than in front of the driver and, importantly, for a lack of fully-laden pulling power up serious highway hills.In comparison the new six-cylinder earns the same praise for storage, gains praise for a neat centre console compartment and deserves even more criticism for the instrument display location, which I find downright annoying, but more of that later.But the most important improvement is the power. As someone who has driven people movers for years, there is now a clear rule to follow. Anything below six cylinders, or a four that can come near the 202kW of power on offer from the 3.5-litre engine in the Tarago, should be ignored if you can afford to do so. On that score, this year's Tarago met the benchmark. It was not hunting gears or surging revs up hills like last year's car.In fact, it felt more like the power you experience in a large 4WD than just about every people mover I have driven before.The V6 Tarago engine comes from the new Aurion sedan and the Lexus RX350, and boasts 60 per cent more power and 50 per cent more torque than the 2.4-litre four. The claimed combined fuel economy for the car is 10.3 litres per 100km. Our usage was a little higher, but was still acceptable considering the size and weight of the car.We tested the middle of the three Taragos in the range, the GLX, which is priced at $56,990. The equivalent model in the four-cylinder is $52,490. The gap represents a $4500 expense that we would heartily recommended you spend. And there's no mistaking the Tarago is a big car: at 4.8m long, it has three rows of seats in a 2-2-3 formation. The base model has an extra seat in the second row. Up front, there's plenty of room for driver and passenger and a clever closing compartment between. Leather seats are reserved for the $69,990 top-of-the-range Ultima model, but the cloth material is fine here. The seats, too, are easily adjustable.The six-speed auto shifts smoothly and there was no sign of it hunting gears under load. But the big bugbear is the centre placement of the instrument panel. It means the driver is looking side-on at the speedo — and in fact, the angle of vision also indicates a different reading from the passenger seat.I found it a distraction to have to look away from the road to check my speed. The second row of seats provides two captain's chairs that offer a pile of leg room and luxury.The back reclines almost flat and in a nifty move, a front leg rest can be flipped out just like a Jason recliner lounge chair.There were complaints that the two seats were too close together and the space available between the chairs and the doors meant the windows could not be used as a headrest. However, their positioning does allow the occupants a view ahead of the road less obstructed by the front seats.The third row has plenty of room but the real gain, particularly when compared with all large 4WDs and some of the smaller people movers, is the abundance of storage space behind the third row. Once the false floor is removed the space is cavernous. It easily soaked up luggage for six people.The rear seats fold down into the well to provide even more space. It's fiddly, but you can master it with practice. And for only the second time with a people mover (the previous being a Chrysler Grand Voyager) we were able to fold down the rear seats, push the second row forward and create enough space to put two full-size bicycles in the back.Verdict: Adding a six-cylinder engine has redefined the Tarago as a truly versatile and capable vehicle, particularly for large families. It's not cheap, but it is comfortable. The central instrument display is still annoying, however.