PEOPLE carriers, or MPVs, were a brilliant idea, pioneered by Toyota with its Space Cruiser, but hijacked by Renault with the trend-setting Espace.

The trouble with people carriers is that they are too big and too expensive, so Toyota came up with a smaller and cheaper, six- or seven-seat alternative called the Picnic. And guess what, Renault brought out a smaller and cheaper alternative called the Scenic and cleaned up again.

Who says the Japanese are copycats?

With prices starting around £16,000 on the road, the Picnic is around £1,500 cheaper than the base Ford Galaxy. It's also around 4in shorter and 5in narrower. The Picnic looks like a high estate car - it is not as stylish as the Scenic, but it seats six comfortably, although six people plus luggage into a Picnic will not go.

Four bulging supermarket plastic bags will almost fill the boot area, but there are a fair number of storage areas inside, such as a tray under the driver's seat, largish glove pockets, useful big storage boxes by the third row of seats and pockets on the rear of the seats.

If the front of the vehicle had not been so deep, it might have created more interior space. There seems a lot of dead space between the engine compartment and the front passenger area.

Apart from that - which really is the only criticism - the Picnic is a pleasant vehicle to drive and easy to manoeuvre. Like all tall vehicles, all-round visibility is clear and unhampered.

My test vehicle was the £17,395 GLS, equipped with driver-friendly five-speed manual transmission. It is powered by a lively 2.0-litre engine, which is capable of 109mph and covers the 0-62mph dash in just over 11 seconds - certainly fast enough for the school run. A more economical turbo diesel is also available.

Twin air-bags, power steering, electric windows and mirrors, two power sockets, an engine immobiliser and remote control central locking are all on the base GS. The higher trim GLS gains anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, radio controls on the steering column and roof rails.

Instruments are clear and easy to read but the radio controls are partially concealed behind the steering wheel and the remote fuel release is well hidden. It took me ages to discover it way down in front of the driver's right knee and on a dark night it blended into the grey fascia.

An aisle runs down the middle and, combined with four wide-opening doors, brings easy access and makes it possible for passengers to move around. And as the occupants aren't sitting on top of each other - ending the piggy-in-the-middle scenario - it has the extra advantage of cutting down on squabbles. As a father of three, this was its greatest virtue - all the children had their own space and the youngest quite liked travelling in the peaceful solitude of the third row.

The Picnic is a versatile vehicle with umpteen seating possibilities, ranging from reclining to create a bed or removal for extra luggage room. Seats slide backwards or forwards and the second row can be folded to create table tops.

Toyota describes the Picnic as a family fun vehicle - it's certainly that as long as you don't want to take six away for a fortnight's holiday. Piling the luggage onto the roof rack is where the fun ends.