IT is no secret that car companies are slashing prices and Citroen with its Xsara Picasso is master of the art.

Aug 18 2008 Steve Hughes

IT is no secret that car companies are slashing prices and Citroen with its Xsara Picasso is master of the art.

Renowned for its so-called cashback deals there are currently straightforward reductions on offer, with those for the Xsara Picasso being among the most generous.

The Xsara was the first to get the Picasso treatment, which turns a medium size hatchback into an MPV, with all of the versatility and flexibility that entails.

Although offering just five rather than seven seats, occupants get a higher level of comfort than in conventional saloon or hatchback models.

There is a higher seating position for better visibility, which children love, and there are individual seats with their own adjustment controls.

So successful has the Xsara Picasso been that others have copied the idea and Citroen has added the C4 Picasso and seven-seat Grand Picasso to its line-up too.

Citroen C4 Picasso prices start at £13,995 and there are currently discounts of up to about £500 on offer.

In the case of the larger C4 Grand Picasso prices start at £14,995 with similar discounts being given.

However, the biggest savings are on the Xsara Picasso, which has an official entry-level price of £15,325 for the 1.6-litre petrol-powered Desire model, rising to £17,425 for the range-topping 1.6 HDi 110 Desire.

Dealers are currently knocking as much as £3,000 off those prices, meaning it is possible to get a Xsara Picasso for as little as £12,000.

That represents a lot of metal for the money, with all models having as standard cruise control, air conditioning, remote central locking, front and side air bags, electric windows, CD sound system and three-point safety belts all round plus ISOFIX child seat mountings.

In the case of the 1.6-litre diesel model with a power output of 92bhp there is economy of 55mpg, a CO2 figure of 135g/km and 110mph performance.

This model has an official list price of £16,325 but actual transaction prices after discounts are more like £14,000.

Best of the bunch is the flagship 1.6-litre 110bhp model, which boasts the same 55mpg economy and a CO2 figure just one gramme per kilometre higher at 136g/km but with even more sprightly performance and a higher top speed of 115mph.

More importantly the figure for torque, or pulling power, rises from 160lb ft to almost 180lb ft.

This means that the vehicle has a far greater ability to haul itself around even when fully laden with the minimum of effort.

The official list price is £17,425 but some dealers are reducing this to just £15,000 because competition is so intense in this sector of the mid-range MPV market.