VERGING on its fifth birthday, the Citroen Xsara Picasso is beginning to show its age. But it doesn’t stop this trusty MPV from being a practical solution for those wanting load-carrying space with the comfort of a car.

It’s certainly not for those wanting to stand out from the crowd, though. The Picasso has been one of the best-selling MPVs for a few years now and has become a common sight out on the road.

I put the Picasso through its paces during a recent house move. It coped famously with various household objects piled up onto its reclined seats, but ferrying the contents of one house to another I was not alone.

Every other vehicle on the road seems to be a Picasso. Maybe it’s the area where I live, stereotypical suburbia with 2.4 children.

Or it could be the price. At £16,645, our range-topping diesel Picasso – the 1.6 HDi Exclusive – is good value for money for buyers in a market where MPVs can reach £20,000, particularly when you consider the cashback deals and other incentives Citroen has become known for offering.

A Renault Scenic 1.9 dCi Privilege will set you back about ££18,500 or for £17,000 there is a top-of-the-range Nissan Almera Tino 2.2 dCi SVE. Even the Ford Focus C-MAX 1.6 TDCi Ghia, which has exactly the same engine as our Picasso, comes in at £18,190.

However, its ubiquitous nature and Citroen’s keenness for offering deals has taken its toll on residual value predictions, with CAP Monitor quoting it will retain just 27% of its value over three years/60,000 miles.

Model: Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 HDi Exclusive
Price (OTR): £16,645 (£17,145 as tested)
Mileage: 12,819
CO2 emissions (g/km): 131
Company car tax bill (2005/6) 22% tax-payer: £53 per month
Insurance group: 8
Combined mpg: 57
Test mpg: 48.9
CAP Monitor residual value: £4,500/27%
HSBC contract hire rate: £302
Expenditure to date: Nil

Figures based on three years/60,000 miles