SEAT is definitely on a roll at the moment with a vastly improved model range.

And one of the leaders of the field is the Alhambra, a familiar name in the world of MPVs but a real transformation from the old model bearing this name.

The market is certainly sitting up and taking notice of Alhambra which is yet another statement of SEATs dedication to providing the highest specification possible for a reasonable price.

Anyone not familiar with modern SEATs should not confuse them with the original imports into this country which really did not pass muster in terms of quality. These days SEAT is the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen Audi group and it is quality all the way.

The Alhambra I drove certainly proves this with its electric sliding doors and power operated rear tailgate plus  improved modular functionality with seating for two to seven.

And add the latest 2.0 TDI diesel which brings a combined fuel economy of more than 50mpg and you have a challenger which is picking up awards all the time and has the opposition rather worried.

As a result, this Alhambra bears the new SEAT logo reserved for extremely low-emission models - E-Ecomotive.

After driving the Alhambra I rapidly came to the conclusion that this is a leader in closing that rather difficult gap between the business car and family vehicle. Many company drivers with families or sporting interests are often faced with the dilemma of what to choose.

Do they go for a large saloon and have accommodation difficulties or opt for an MPV and face driving over long distances on business trips with a vehicles that falls short on driving enjoyment?

Some manufacturers have tried hard to deliver everything in one package at a reasonable price, but SEAT certainly seems to have cracked it with the Alhambra.

My test car cost £25,805 and offered space, sophistication, specification, value and driving enjoyment.

It proved to have excellent poise and road-going qualities - a galaxy away from some of the early space-mobiles that took to our roads years ago. It handles well under full load and is never short of power thanks to its remarkable power unit which is capable of propelling it to 120mph and giving a 0-62mph zoom of 10.9 seconds.

The new generation Alhambra gains an additional nine centimetres in width, taking it to 1.90 metres delivering an exceptionally generous amount of room, with ample space in the third row for two adults.

The long sliding doors with the option of electric operation, offer easy access to all seats. The luggage compartment is also more than generous - measuring up to 2,430 litres, almost 2.5 cubic metres, when the second row of seats is folded.

The floor of the luggage compartment always remains completely flat, even with the seats folded. When the third row seats are folded, the load surface is 1.3 metres long and is finished with high quality carpeting.

With the new EasyFold system, the second and third-row seats can be retracted into the vehicle floor in just one movement. Moreover, the second-row seats can also be positioned sideways, with integrated child seats available as an option.