IN the past budget MPVs like Fiat's Doblo have tended to get looked down upon and dismissed as nothing more than van-like workhorses.

In truth the van-like comparisons were not that wide of the mark either, since traditionally the Doblo and rivals like the Peugeot Partner Tepee and Renault Kangoo were based on vans made by the same manufacturers.

The benefits were space at a fairly cheap price but the downside was ride quality and handling that left a lot to be desired.

But with its latest Doblo, Fiat has departed from the van underpinnings - the current version is based on its Punto Evo platform - and the difference is marked.

It's now a vehicle that offers far greater comfort and refinement overall, but still at a budget price.

Even the van version, the Doblo Cargo, is based on the same Evo platform.

One might expect a downside to be less space but it's actually larger than the model it replaces too.

It also has a funkier kind of look, though it might still not be to all tastes. While it's unlikely to win any automotive beauty contests it does have some of the quirkiness of the original Fiat Multipla which both wowed and disgusted people in equal measure.

Describing the Doblo as cavernous could be considered something of an understatement. When I first opened the tailgate I was amazed by the amount of space available and came to the instant conclusion it would take an awful lot to fill it.

It's thanks in part to a longer wheelbase and the spacious theme is continued throughout with space to spare in pretty much every department, whether you're up front as a driver or passenger or in the rear seats.

Its open feel is great and driver visibility all round is excellent.

Nifty storage solutions abound and I was particularly taken with the trough-like tray above the windscreen that in itself could probably take most of a weekly family shop if you wanted to try and pack it in there - okay, maybe a slight exaggeration but you get the general picture.

In fact the space it offers is class-leading, a big point in its favour. It's already capacious 790 litre boot can be transformed into a 3,200 foot load area if you put the seats down.

Indeed, there is so much space to play with you can even opt for a seven-seat version if you want to spend a little more.

The Doblo also features sliding doors, which are perfect for a family car with people getting in and out in tight spaces. All of a sudden the supermarket car park becomes a breeze rather than a nightmare.

The Doblo feels pleasant and easy to drive. Given its relative size and bulk it manages to corner surprisingly well and scores highly in the comfort stakes too.

The 1.6-litre Multijet engine that powers it is a great all-rounder, combining punch with the sort of economy that will make you wonder why you might ever have owned a petrol-powered car in the past.

It's only limitation is that it isn't the most refined of engines but overall I'd say that's a small price to pay.

You get a stop-start system to boost economy still further. The stop-start thing can still take a little getting used to but you soon acclimatise and it's the way all cars seem to be going these days.

Overall it's offers family motoring at a value for money price and the sort of versatility and carrying capacity that are on a par with quite a number of considerably more expensive alternatives.