WHEN I drove the Peugeot 5008 seven seat MPV, I thought such a big vehicle might suffer with a smaller 1.6 diesel engine.

But I need not have worried. It never felt short of breath - even on an airport trip when I picked up five adults and all their luggage.

This has to be one of the most family friendly people carriers on the market, with loads of space, very flexible seating and excellent economy.

It is refined and easy to drive, with either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearboxes.

It's very comfortable, smoothing out even the worst of surfaces on potholed town roads and yet also has excellent road holding, which is good enough to allow for very quick corners.

As well as the 112bhp 1.6 diesel, it's also available with a petrol 1.6 turbo in 120 and 156bhp power outputs, and with a 2.0-litre diesel which has either 150 or 163bhp.

The rearmost two seats have enough legroom for shorter adults or young teenagers and fold down into the boot floor in about three seconds to give a huge boot.

The middle row of seats are individual and adjustable for legroom and they fold down to make even more load capacity. Equipment is good in all.