Best MPV

Practicality is key in this class – an area that the current SEAT Alhambra has covered from every angle. Its flexible, seven-seat setup allows countless configurations, and with enough room for fully-grown adults even in the rearmost row, the Alhambra takes the Best MPV crown for the third year in a row. It's often a criticism of large MPVs, but the Alhambra manages to afford a reasonable amount of luggage space even with all seven seats in place. This increased practicality and huge sliding side doors mean the big SEAT is one of the most practical cars on the market.

Not only is it extremely versatile, it's also surprisingly good to drive. The diesel engines are fast and frugal, and our pick of the range is the 2.0-litre TDI (170) SE. It gets a punchy, high-powered diesel engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and cruise control, all as standard. All models come generously equipped, though, with three-zone climate control, parking sensors and alloy wheels, and if you plump for the frugal E-Ecomotive model you’ll see CO2 emissions of just 146g/km.

Interior and exterior build quality is excellent and the supportive individual seats make fully laden long journeys a breeze. The comfortable suspension, strong engines and direct steering make the SEAT Alhambra a joy to drive on any type of road. Safety is top-notch, too, with the car gaining a full five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests. It gets a whole host of airbags and plenty of additional safety technology like anti-lock brakes, stability control and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Reliability should also be proven thanks to a wide range of trusty VW Group diesel engines and a comprehensive three-year/60,000 mile warranty. As well as all this, it undercuts its identical twin, the VW Sharan, by over £1,000, making it great value, too.