PETROL power is making a comeback in SEAT's Alhambra MPV as the popular seven seater gets a facelift.

A 1.4-litre turbo engine is joining the line up alongside two revised diesels which have been given a power boost and tweaked to meet the latest emission standards.

The petrol engine will be fitted to the lower grade versions of the new Alhambra which will be arriving in September priced from £24,885.

That's £700 lower than the current entry level price but the cost of the diesel models has gone up by around four per cent and now start at £26,775.

The price rise not only reflects the extra economy of the diesels - up 12 per cent to 56.5mpg in the case of one of the engines - but also some new kit which integrates smartphone technology and other improvements inside and out.

There's even a massage function on the driver's seat as a standard feature on top specification versions which kick in at £31,760.

However, those won't come with the new petrol engine which is something of an eye opener and keeps the Alhambra's value for money image alive and kicking.

It develops a healthy 150ps and like all the engines in the new Alhambra comes as either a six speed manual or a six speed DSG automatic.

The DSG version costs from £26,790 and makes the Alhambra east to drive and nicely refined.

It's best when switched into sport mode - a multi-mode drive selector is another new feature - and as such it has a fair bit of bite from the throttle coupled to a slightly stiffer suspension which helps the ride.

Paddle shifters allow for manual changes if required and acceleration is relatively brisk at 9.9 seconds 0 to 60.

Fuel economy is rated at 42.2mpg with a CO2 figure of 156g/km (43.5 and 150g/km for the manual) and the DSG box comes with stop/start and a coasting function to help boost economy.

Around town it works well and we saw an average of 39.2mpg on the trip computer although overall it returned 29.1 to the gallon after getting to grips with some motorway work.

The previous Alhambra line up was diesel only and those engines remain true to form in the new model, delivering added pull as well as realistic fuel returns in the mid-40s.

With the upgrades the 2.0-litre VW-sourced diesel now develops either 150 of 184ps enabling the Alhambra with the higher powered engine to knock off the standing 60 in a relatively nippy 8.9 seconds - not at all shabby for a full size MPV.

SEAT claims official fuel figures of 56.5mpg for the 150ps manual and 53.3 for the 184ps version and we managed 47 and 44mpg respectively driving over similar routes. CO2 figures are 132 or 139g/km putting both in the 25 per cent tax bracket for business drivers.

The refreshed Alhambra is arriving at the same time as Ford is releasing its all-new S-MAX and Galaxy seven seaters and VW is updating the SEAT's sister ship, the Sharan.

The Alhambra retains its competitive edge and although not quite as smart inside as the Ford pair, the new look touchscreen and connectivity system developed in conjunction with Samsung is right up to date and enables users to access the likes of Facebook on the move via voice control.

The display screen itself is fitted with proximity sensors and activates as soon as your hand gets close.

Other new equipment includes blind spot monitoring, anti-dazzle automatic headlamps and an emergency braking system which can prevent secondary collisions after an initial impact.

Top grade Alhambras come with power operation for the sliding middle doors and the tailgate as well as a panoramic sunroof and leather trim.

Outside, the changes are subtle with a new design the LED tail lights and a spruced up which gives the car a cleaner face.

Family-friendly features include underfloor storage, fold down picnic tables and ventilation outlets throughout the cabin. Child seat anchors are also fitted to all three middle row seats.

Boot space remains on the large size ranging from 267 to 2,297 litres and the diesels can tow up to 2.4 tonnes. The 1.4 petrol is restricted to 2.0 tonnes.

The seven seat MPV is shrinking and realistically there is only the Sharan and the Galaxy as alternatives.

SEAT's appeal is a sporty approach coupled to high value and the new Alhambra retains those qualities in a vehicle which is right up to date on all fronts and with the new engine now has the added attraction of cheaper fuel as an alternative.