THE MULTI award-winning SEAT Alhambra is starting the new year as it ended 2011, by scooping another prestigious trophy.

The highly-acclaimed seven-seater has once again claimed the MPV title at the influential What Car? Awards. The sought-after SEAT retained the coveted honour at the ceremony with the judges highlighting its practicality, economy and refined driving experience.

Commenting on the SEAT's second consecutive crown What Car? editor-in-chief, Chas Hallett, said: "The Alhambra does what an MPV should: move up to seven adults in comfort. But it adds strong refinement, a keen price and low running costs, with up to 50mpg.

"It's a very strong proposition for large families – a worthy MPV category winner, for the second year in a row."

The largest member of the growing SEAT range went on sale here in late 2010 and, since then, has secured near-universal acclaim from the nation's motoring press.

At last year's ceremony the Alhambra claimed the first of half a dozen national awards in 2011 with key titles such as Auto Express, Diesel Car and Fleet World all agreeing that the seven-seater is, indeed, the best MPV on offer in Britain today.

Available in S, SE or top spec' SE Lux trim and priced from £23,525, the Alhambra is offered with a choice of modern 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 a crisp six-speed manual or smooth six-speed DSG auto that offers the extra flexibility of sequential manual operation via the standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts.