SEAT is on a hot streak at the moment - recording record sales in July - and leading the charge is its new Alhambra which has been collecting awards almost every other week.

The previous Alhambra was in production for over 15 years and was well passed its sell by date when it was finally retired.

Fresher rivals had raised the bar and the last Alhambra was unable to compete with the best.

The arrival of the new model has changed all that and the big SEAT is now arguably the best MPV available.

It is also extremely competitively priced and underlines SEAT's determination to provide quality high specification vehicles that people can actually afford.

I got the chance to put one to the test recently - driving through four countries in just a couple of days - covering a total of just under 1,500 miles.

Setting off from SEAT's Barcelona headquarters we crossed the border into France and travelled the entire length of the country before crossing at Calais and then tackling the UK motorway network to get back to Scotland.

The big SEAT never missed a beat and despite having four adults, luggage and several cases of wine on board, it still managed to return over 45mpg.

A remarkable figure since we were not travelling slowly at any point in the journey.

The model selected for our drive was the  2.0-litre TDI 140ps E Ecomotive SE.

Priced at £26,605 on the road it represents astonishing value for money and like most MPVs it is a really versatile vehicle.

Admittedly the Alhambra does not have much Spanish flair in its styling as the practical demands of an MPV make for a boxy shape.

But the Alhambra is far from ugly and  in SE trim some classy touches like chrome roof rails and window surrounds with rear privacy glass help to brighten its conservative lines.

Access to the first class interior is easy thanks to the large chunky front doors and the two rear sliding electric doors. The tailgate is also powered to allow easy opening and closing.

The interior impresses with its build quality and trim. The materials are excellent and the dash is smart. There is an upmarket feel throughout and there are plenty storage areas.

An electric parking brake means you even get a large bin between the front seats.

The Alhambra offers an incredible amount of space and  even with all seven seats in use there is still plenty room for luggage.

The seats can be moved about to suit most tastes and passenger comfort is superb.

Noise levels are very low even when travelling at high speed and the big MPV gobbles motorway miles with ease.

A tactile multifunction steering wheel is standard and vision is excellent thanks to the high driving position.

Thanks to the latest 2.0-litre TDI engine the Alhambra is no slouch.

The sprint to 62mph can be tackled in 10.9 seconds and top speed is 120mph.

The power is delivered smoothly and quietly and for such a large vehicle the Alhambra feels quick off the mark.

Ride comfort is excellent and the Alhambra handles well on all types of surfaces. The steering is well weighted and the six-speed manual box a delight to use. A DSG box is also available at an extra cost of £1,270.

The manufacturer claims a combined figure of 50.4 and I think that would be just about achievable with gentle driving and good use of the stop/start technology.

With the five rear seats folded flat the load space is enormous and the Alhambra offers more carrying capacity than any of its rivals.

Standard equipment includes the stop/start system, sliding doors, energy recovery system, dark rear windows, three-zone climate control and one-touch electric windows.

You also get integrated Bluetooth connectivity, a multi-function display including trip computer, cruise control, remote central locking and a decent sound system with eight speakers.

The Alhambra also has plenty safety and security features including tyre pressure monitoring, self-sealing tyres and front and rear parking sensors. Alloy wheels and three 12v sockets are also part of the package as is the auto-hold control.

If you had to choose one vehicle to meet all your needs this big MPV would tick all the boxes.

The Alhambra is a great all-rounder and offers excellent value for money.

It has already notched 1000 sales so far this year in the UK and more will follow.