IT'S sleek, stylish and spacious - but how well does Citroen's C8 people carrier match up against its rivals?
That's the key question in a crowded sector of a market that's exploded in the past few years.
The C8 is part of the new generation of Citroens wearing straightforward numbers rather than strange names beginning with X. And it certainly looks the part, with plenty of hi-tech features ranging from electric sliding side doors to triple electric sunroofs.
Best news perhaps is the ingenious use of interior space. This is a cabin with plenty of storage compartments to soak up the debris of family life, from twin gloveboxes with separate areas for pens, coins and CDs, to wide door pockets, a huge boot and the obligatory can and bottle holders.
There are push-button side doors with aluminium-effect handles, a wide, high-opening tailgate and a versatile array of folding, removable seats.
However, fitting them back into their sliding rails isn't quite as easy at it looks and there are some other idiosyncrasies about the interior design which may irritate rather than impress you.
Chief among these is the distinctive dashboard layout. The air vents are housed in a huge arc which is too far away from you to be cleaned easily, and the main gauges are grouped together in a central console rather than in direct view behind the steering wheel.
To make matters worse, the gauges are bathed in a green glow at night and are none too easy to read - a disappointing departure from the no-nonsense illuminations in smaller Citroens like the C2 and C3.
The dash-mounted gearstick comes readily to hand but is stodgier and sloppier than the Volkswagen Caravelle, for example.
There are also a few too many rattles and creaks in the test car than you would hope for in a people carrier designed to impress buyers with its sense of affordable luxury.
The plasticky feel of some equipment may also take the gloss off the executive feel a little too, although like other cars in the Citroen family, it boasts a multiplex wiring system that offers sophisticated features like automatic lights, rain-sensitive wipers and "guide-you-home" headlamps.
It's got seven seats if you need them, but heaving them around isn't too easy and those in the test car were already looking a little scuffed and bruised. Without them you get acres of space in the back, but rear-seat passengers complained about the lack of armrests and had problems adjusting the seats as easily as they might have hoped.
This may be our incompetence, of course, but it's worth checking out if you're tempted by the C8, since ease of daily use is what decides whether a people carrier is a pain or a pleasure to own and run.
Executives can opt for six leather captain chairs, and other extras include a roof-mounted video screen and full colour satellite navigation system.
The C8 sticks to the road pretty well, with the more powerful of the two diesel engines available offering a great mix of performance and economy.
But while the French manufacturer has had enormous success in the people carrier market with the cheap and cheerful Berlingo Multispace and stylish Xsara Picasso, the C8 has to match up to some pretty stiff competition, particularly given that most models in the range top the £20,000 mark.
Pound for pound, it looks the business as far as refinement goes, but the real test will be how well the model bears up to the wear and tear of daily use. It's also a little too early to accurately predict reliability and resale values.
There's no problem giving it the thumbs-up as a stylish successor to the Synergie, and the safety conscious will welcome its top flight Euro NCAP crash test rating, its six standard airbags and useful child lock system.
But is there enough substance behind the style to make it a sound investment in the longer term? With so many rivals snapping at its heels, the jury's still out on that one.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C8 2.2 HDi SX
Price: £22,595
Mechanical: 130bhp, 2,179cc 4 cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 113mph
0-62mph: 12.6 secs
Combined mpg: 38.7
Insurance group: 12
CO2 emissions: 195g/km
BiK rating: 26%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint