IS the new Citroen Berlingo the most practical car on the market today?

It’s certainly got to be up there.

There are more storage compartments than an IKEA kitchen.

They’re in the roof space - along the length of the cabin - above the boot space behind the rear seats, everywhere you look.

Practicality, is, of course, the Berlingo’s key selling point.

It’s got height and width – there’s lots of room to move around inside.

It’s a simple range, with Feel and Flair the two options. There are short wheelbase and long wheelbase versions, named M and XL.

Feel is the entry-level one and you get 16in steel wheels, automatic lights and wipers, two independent and removable third row seats, underfloor storage, full width front overhead storage, cup holders, an 8in touch screen, digital radio, USB and 12 volt sockets, Bluetooth, air conditioning, cruise control and safety kit such as lane keep assist and speed limit recognition.

A thoroughly practical, useful, list of standard kit.

Flair gets alloys, black roof bars, rear parking sensors, tray tables on the back of the front seats and three independent rear seats that fold completely flat, sat nav and voice recognition.

The driving position is somewhat reminiscent of a van, slightly more upright than your average car.

But the drive is smooth and easy, with the BlueHDI diesel that has become a mainstay of the Citroen, Peugeot and DS ranges offering a great mix of power, torque and efficiency.

Ours was the BlueHDI 130hp unit, which is the more powerful of the diesel options, the others being the 75 and 100.

The 130 engine offers on-paper combined mpg of 65.7, with CO2 at 113g/km.

We got mid-40s on the motorway cruise and 40s and 50s elsewhere, so it stood up pretty respectably.

The 75hp offers 69mpg and 108g/km, while the 100 is nearly identical to the 130hp.

There are two petrols as well, offering 110 and 130hp variants.

Predictably, they’re not as efficient, with 51mpg and 125g/km on the 110 and figures not yet available on the 130.

The Berlingo handles nicely for a tall vehicle and it’s a generally smooth and comfortable ride.

The interior is, as we’ve already alluded to, full of space and storage options, including a overhead shelf that runs pretty much the length of the car, and materials are decent.

There’s lots of rear space and, as you might imagine, a cavernous boot when you’re not using the third row of seats.

If space and practicality are what you need, the Berlingo is an excellent combination of that, technology and great engines.

Prices start at £18,850 and top out at £26,070.