It’s not the cheapest car of this kind to run, but neither is it the most expensive. Expect to get strong fuel economy, especially from the diesels, however, it can be a little on the expensive side to service. Residual values are in line with others in this class (with a couple of exceptions at the top end of the range which are much better than average), although with monthly offers on new cars, list prices are fluid, which could affect how much it’s worth in years to come.

The C4 Picasso scores well on the eco front. Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.6-litre diesel, which is one of the greenest models in the range emitting 155g/km of CO2 and returning 48mpg.

Quality throughout appears to be good, but the C4 hatchback – launched in late 2004 – has been far from perfect with a string of problems reported from owners. As the Picasso version was launched a few years later – in early 2007 – hopefully these have been ironed out.