MOST car makers are content with a triple assault on the senses to woo car buyers — not Citroën. It decided that the Citroën C3 Picasso should not only look, sound and feel good, it had to smell good too, but more of that later.

The sensual approach seems to have worked, as the company’s compact ‘Spacebox’ has already proved an award winner, being voted best multi-purpose vehicle at the 2009 What Diesel Car of the Year awards.

Citroën has a glorious history of quirky design and the C3 Picasso’s unlikely blend of of cubes and curves continues that splendid tradition. It’s a friendly looking car, but you really warm to its charms once inside, because above all else this is a fantastically practical vehicle.

Small on the outside, but huge on the inside, the C3 Picasso blends the roomy, high-seated, excellent visibility and versatile advantages of a multi-purpose vehicle, with the comfort of a family hatchback. A pull of a lever or two on the seat-folding mechanisms and the internal space can be swiftly and simply adapted for a range of different uses.

With the optional flat-folding front passenger seat, loads up to 2.4 metres can be carried and to increase either boot volume, or rear legroom, the 60:40 split-folding rear seats can be slid back and forth independently. The use of slim seat-backs in the front gives more space for rear passengers, even with the rear bench moved forward.

Whether it’s transporting the whole family, or tumbling the seats down to use the enormous flat rear load space, this is a cleverly versatile car, with magnetic flaps, fitted in the backs of the rear seats, folding out to extend the flat surface between the bench and the boot floor. The boot floor is adjustable and can either sit level with the boot sill for easy loading or can be lowered to increase storage height in the rear. It also provides a hidden storage area. The three-part luggage cover, which can be used to conceal the entire boot’s contents, can be stowed away when not in use in this under-floor compartment.

As well as being versatile, it is also a surprisingly good car to drive and the cube-like body shape, with its short overhang at the front and rear, makes it supremely easy to park.

As this is primarily a family car, safety is a high priority, with anti-lock brakes, up to six airbags, Isofix anchor points and a seatbelt monitor system all standard. An electronic stability program is also available, linked to a traction control system. With recommended prices starting from about £11,500, the C3 Picasso is available with a choice of two petrol engines, co-developed with BMW – the VTi 95 and VTi 120 – and two HDi diesels – the HDi 90 and HDi 110.

All models come with a host of handy storage spaces and one of them holds the key to the rather pleasant smell that accompanies C3 Picasso travel. A box in the upper centre of the dashboard with a push-pull lid, dampened opening and soft touch finish, houses an in-built in air freshener.

Auto facts Citroën C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi Exclusive

Price: £15,595

Ins group: Five

Fuel consumption (Combined): 57.6mpg

Top speed: 114mph

Length: 407.8cm/160.5in

Width: 173cm/ 68.1in

Luggage space: 17.6 cu ft

Fuel tank capacity: 11 gallons/ 50 litres

CO2 emissions: 130g/km

Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles