THE multi-award-winning Seat Alhambra started the year as it ended 2011, by scooping another prestigious trophy.

The highly-acclaimed seven-seater once again claimed the MPV title at the influential What Car? Awards – the UK motor industry’s Oscars – for its combinations of practicality, economy and a refined driving experience. And it had already claimed half a dozen national awards last year.

A long-running fixture of the school run, the Alhambra had previously lived in the shadow of the ‘big boys’ at the school gates. It was originally the product of a three-way partnership with Ford and Volkswagen, before the former decided to go its own way with an all-new Galaxy, leaving the Spanish and German makers to concentrate on a different approach to a new full-size MPV.

Hailed by many as a rounded product offering plenty of space and an engaging driving experience, the first generation Alhambra was an affordable, practical and fun-to-drive ‘big-box’ people carrier.

Essentially an oversized five-door hatchback, it could seat five or seven and eschewed sliding doors for more conventional alternatives.

How times have changed: now you can have your Alhambra with sliding rear doors – electrically powered if you wish. With so many lifestyle people carriers of various shapes and sizes now boasting this feature, the negative commercial vehicle connotations are no longer an issue. In fact, the facility is a huge plus if you have children and need quick, safe access to the rear seats.

It’s not just the doors that have changed, however. Already a big vehicle for obvious reasons, this second-generation Alhambra is a little wider and longer than its predecessor.

With its best-in-class wheelbase of nearly 3m and 2,430 litres of space with all but the front seats folded forward (809 litres for the five-seat model with the seats in place), it’s easy to see why the car is popular with large families. And all this isn’t at the expense of a boxy exterior.

The Alhambra’s unmistakably Seatthemed tailored lines and streamlined profile do much to flatter its size.

You can go from being seven-up in relative comfort to transporting furniture in only a few moments.

And with those sliding rear doors, access is further boosted if you need to load or unload awkward or heavy objects. The car boasts of one-handed operation for the various sliding and folding functions, too.

The ability to easily slide a second row seat forward to gain access to the third row is another pleasant surprise, as is the ability to individually slide the second row chairs fore and aft to boost legroom or boot capacity.

Factor in Isofix-friendly rear seats, capacious door bins plus minor oddment storage areas dotted around the cabin and it’s clear that the Alhambra’s designers have thought of pretty much everything.

Dynamically, the car is pitched as a comfortable, refined yet agile people carrier. With its lofty driving position, low wind noise and slick controls and compliant ride, the Alhambra delivers an experience akin to that of a mid-range executive saloon. Build quality is first-rate, too, reinforcing the premium ambience.

Available in S, SE or top spec SE Lux trim and priced from £23,525, the Alhambra is offered with a choice of turbocharged petrol or diesel powerplants.

All engines, with the exception of the entry-level 115 PS 2.0 TDI CR, can be paired with either six-speed manual or DSG auto transmission that offers the extra flexibility of sequential manual operation via the standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts.

As befits a class leader, all Alhambras boast a high level of standard equipment. Among the highlights available across the range are sliding rear doors (optionally available with electric operation); fuel-saving Stop/Start and Brake Energy Recovery systems; integrated Bluetooth hands-free phone connection; three-zone climate control and front and rear parking sensors.

Move up to SE and you can look forward to such luxuries as auto lights and wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror; 17in alloys; High Beam Assist and cruise control among a raft of added equipment.

SE Lux buyers, meanwhile, enjoy a fittingly luxurious Alhambra experience. Black leather upholstery; power operated rear side doors and tailgate; panoramic glass sunroof; rear view camera and satellite navigation are among the extensive list of standard-fit equipment.

With function often taking priority over form in the full-size MPV class, Seat has successfully managed to make this second generation Alhambra a sharp-looking and stylish proposition.

Factor in low running costs, generous equipment levels, a versatile cabin boasting a premium car ambience plus a rounded driving experience, and if you need the space it’s easy to see the big Seat’s appeal.

fact file

Seat Alhambra SE2.0 TDI CR E Ecomotive

PRICE: £26,605 (range from £23,525)

ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbo diesel unit developing 140bhp

TRANSMISSION: six-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: 0 to 62 mph in 10.9 seconds, top speed 121mph

ECONOMY: 50.4mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 143g/km