>> Narrow front footwell awkward for people with big feet. <<

Whoever wrote that has no idea. I'm 1.90m tall, have size 12s and have loads of room. This is a spacious and comfortable car.

>> End of plastic dipstick of 1.6 HDI engine can break and drop into sump requiring removal of sump to retrieve it. <<

No it doesn't. Ring Citroën to check.

After well over 3 years of ownership, there hasn't been a single unscheduled day off the road. There were three items fixed under warranty at routine services within the three year period - a broken dipstick, a faulty climate control control unit and the day before the warranty expired, a new turbo heat shield was fitted.

This car will cruise at legal maximums in the UK (70mph) and on the continent (130km/h) and return around 55mpg. (See photo for 60mpg over 2,000 miles of continental cruising to Italy.)

The Michelin Exalto tyres are excellent but outrageously expensive.

The front discs and pads were replaced at about 55K miles, and the rears are going the same way at 74K miles.

We also have a Ford Focus Zetec with the Ford variation of the DV6 engine. The Ford is lower geared for quicker acceleration but can't match the Citroën for mpg. It's also far more uncomfortable (the Ford's front seats are tiny and so hard) and it's far less well equipped.

So I say let Ford think it's the best in class, but the cognoscenti will be gliding along with full climate control, better mpg, more comfort, auto-lights and wipers and a coherent digital dash with multiple trip computer.

This is an excellent vehicle.