With almost one in five Citroen customers in Ireland last year buying a C4 Picasso, the company's compact MPV might seem a surprise as one of their best sellers, writes Brian Byrne.
But the vehicle is indeed a key element in the Irish distributor's market mix, offering as much space as the larger segment C5, with more flexibility and luggage space, and the potential to carry more people.
With up to seven seats available, it's the family car ability for the school and teenage years that seems to be the attraction, according to Citroen Ireland's Sean O'Neill.
The C4 Picasso was the brand's second-best seller here in 2011, and is neck and neck for the same position with the C3 supermini in the January sales period.
The C4 is the best-selling Citroen in Ireland.
Meanwhile, finding your local Citroen dealer is getting easier. The new corporate identity is rolling out through the dealership network at the moment, making the brand highly visible in its locations. A sign, presumably, of the carmaker's serious intent to grow in this country over the coming years.
