Review of the new Citroen Nemo Multispace 1.4 HDI

Citroen has installed itself as the undisputed king of the MPV. That's not to say that the French manufacturer's products are the best: just that it has more of them. With a comprehensive line-up of conventional passenger car people carriers and a full selection of models based on its small van range, Citroen has more options for moving people around than National Express.

From on the outside, such a varied range of vehicles designed to fill essentially similar roles can look like overkill. Citroen would counter that its MPV collection is carefully structured to meet the varying needs of modern families. That would make the Citroen Nemo Multispace the vehicle for the family that needs a small car with a lot of space and may not have a whole lot of cash to spend on it. To get the 1.4-litre HDi diesel version, our family will need to pay more upfront to save over the longer term.

There's an upright driving position in the Nemo and good forward visibility. The view to the rear is restricted by the tapering rear windows and thick C-pillars but there's a wide rear screen and the flat back of the vehicle helps when parking - as does the tight turning circle. The steering is light and the dash-mounted gear lever is close at hand, both of which help with stop/start urban motoring but on the open road, the Nemo is less impressive.

The light steering doesn't instil much confidence at speed and the suspension has the Nemo bouncing around a little too much. For such a tall vehicle, it feels quite stable through corners though. The diesel engine sounds rough when worked hard (and you find yourself working it hard quite a lot of the time) but refinement is generally OK. It's a 69bhp unit with a reasonable 160Nm of torque but it will still struggle with a fully-loaded Nemo. The 0-60mph sprint is a laborious 18.7s but this Citroen is well capable of cruising at 70mph (if you have the patience to get there) or nipping about town. The top speed is 94mph.

"As long as you're not expecting too much in the way of creature comforts, it's hard not to like the Citroen Nemo Multispace."

Citroen sales personnel won't necessarily draw buyers' attention to the fact that the Nemo Multispace is based on the Nemo van but if the name doesn't give it away, first sight of the vehicle should. The compact, sturdy shape has definite van overtones but it's not unpleasant on the eye. The sharp angles have been gently rounded off and the distinctive front end with its chunky bumper and high-mounted headlights is far from offensive.

More importantly, the shape lends itself perfectly to the people carrier role. The tall, boxy dimensions and short overhangs maximise interior space for passengers and luggage. The Nemo is less than four meters long but has space for five and a 360-litre boot below the parcel shelf. The space is tall and not particularly deep but fold the rear seats and there's a massive 740-litres available. With the seating removed completely, it reverts to something approaching van form with 2,500 litres available.

From a practical point of view, things don't tail off much. Access to the boot is via a huge slab-like tailgate that lifts up over head and isn't too weighty to pull down again. The low loading height and the tie-down points in the floor tell of the Nemo's commercial vehicle origins while the load floor is usefully flat. There's even a detachable torch mounted next to the boot area light. It's a gimmick but as gimmicks go, it's a good one.

Passenger access is through the sliding side doors which are great in tight parking bays. There's room for three on the narrow rear bench at a push but generous space for two with ample legroom and a huge amount of headroom. The rear windows that taper off towards the rear of the vehicle can't be lowered. They simply open a little way with a flap on their rear edge, which isn't ideal. The seat backs fold down in an easy, positive action and from there they can be tumbled forward to make more space. They're quite heavy though, so lifting them out completely is a major operation.

The 1.4-litre HDi engine is £1,000 more than the 1.4-litre petrol unit, a big step up in a £10,000 car. It's also available with the Sensodrive automatic gearbox which does a very commendable job, making the Nemo Multispace easier to use around town, but costs another £800. Performance may not be dramatic with the diesel engine but despite having less power, it's still better than the petrol. It's likely that most customers will see the premium as a worthwhile investment, even though it will take them a while to recoup it in fuel savings. .

There's just the one trim level which includes the basics from a CD stereo and electric front windows to power steering, a trip computer, front airbags, side airbags and ABS. From there, the Nemo specification can be supplemented with various packs. There's the Plus Pack, Comfort Pack and the Road Pack which adds roof bars and front fog lights. Air-conditioning is a £500 option.

The key rivals for the Nemo Multispace are conventional car-based models like Vauxhall's Meriva and Renault's Modus but also the Fiat Qubo. The Qubo is virtually identical to the Nemo having also emerged from the LCV partnership between Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat. Buyers needing more space (or potentially 7 seats) should bear in mind that Citroen also has a Multispace version of its larger Berlingo van.

Running a Nemo should be a low cost enterprise. Fuel economy is measured at 62.8mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions are 119g/km. By way of comparison, the 1.4-litre petrol engine can only manage 42mpg and 165g/km. Insurance is an affordable group 2.

Being based on a commercial vehicle design, the Nemo Multispace pays particular attention to durability and minimising the cost of repairs when they are needed. It's a tough customer, with bodywork well protected by those big bumpers and side running strips and light clusters mounted well up out of harm's way. All models get a 3-year/60,000-mile warranty

As the entry-point to Citroen's sprawling range of MPVs, the Nemo Multispace plays an important role. Its van origins are ultimately a help rather than a hindrance, giving the vehicle its sturdy build, functional design and big interior space. The 1.4-litre HDi diesel is the pick of the range but performance is still sluggish. At least the fuel economy should put the smile back on faces of buyers and pricing is still competitive for what is a very versatile family vehicle.

As long as you're not expecting too much in the way of creature comforts, it's hard not to like the Citroen Nemo Multispace. It's a no-frills way of catering for the family's transport needs, so the rather basic specification and lack of power can be easily forgiven. Neat handling and a tough, adaptable cabin make it a great tool for ferrying the kids around.