IS the good old fashioned large MPV an endangered species?

Wind the clock back and they were once all the rage but their presence has diminished somewhat, perhaps as a result of the rise of the SUV.

Once upon a time if you wanted the ability to carry seven people the MPV was the only option. But, as SUVs have become more commonplace and car-makers have discovered ever more ingenious ways to cram seven seats into a vehicle, the influence of the MPV seems to have waned.

Added to that, compact SUVs have emerged which offer a seven-seat option and these days you can even get compact crossovers that will transport seven people.

However, it's worth noting the laws of physics will always ultimately prevail and vehicles which squeeze seven seats in - be they an SUV or whatever - will almost inevitably make compromises of some sort.

Invariably it's the space allocated to passengers in the rearmost seats, along with boot space.

And this is where a ‘proper' MPV like the SEAT Alhambra really comes into its own.

While the two third row seats don't quite deliver a limo-like passenger experience they do offer the kind of head and legroom one might expect in the rear of a conventional passenger car.

I know because two adults travelled in them on a journey from Birmingham to London and found the experience comfortable.

Another bonus is the amount of legroom is flexible and can be adjusted by moving the middle row seats forward.

Three younger passengers got to enjoy the more spacious setting of the middle row where space really is in abundance - and while one might question the wisdom of such a passenger arrangement it actually prevented those in-car arguments about who's elbowing who.

Crucially, with all seven seats in use the Alhambra also offers an impressive amount of boot space, aided by a slightly sunken boot floor that enables you to get a surprising amount in.

SUVs that can carry seven generally do so at the expense of luggage space but the Alhambra coped with enough baggage for seven for a long weekend away - in truth there was even a little space to spare.

The cabin feels big, open and airy and the sliding doors are still a useful feature that makes getting in and out in tight spaces a breeze.

To drive the Alhambra feels good with dynamics that are surprisingly car-like given its overall bulk and it rides nicely too.

It's also surprisingly good around town, which one might not necessarily expect from what to all intents and purposes is a big old bus.

I drove this one across central London in the rush hour and did a fair bit more driving in the congested streets of the Capital and it never felt awkward, cumbersome or unwieldy.

There's a choice of 140bhp and 174bhp 2.0-litre diesels, this was the higher powered variant and while the lower-powered one is perfectly capable I appreciated the extra power it offered, particularly with a full load.

The Alhambra is set for a refresh but I'd imagine it isn't going to be all that different. In all honesty there's not a lot that needs fixing with it.