HOLIDAYS were beckoning, but what to choose for the trip? First thoughts were to go for a big 4x4 - lots of room, a high driving position, chunky boot and a versatile interior sounded perfect for some long-distance work.

But, with less than a week to go, I was let down badly. The 4x4 I'd chosen wouldn't be available after all and, with no replacement in sight, I was on my own. Thanks a lot.

Luckily all was not lost thanks to those helpful chaps at SEAT.

They took pity on my plight and suggested an Altea MPV instead.

Now I already know quite a bit about the Altea - my wife drives one - but this was the 2.0-litre TDi and it was fitted with the fancy new DSG gearbox, the semi-automatic transmission that's got the motoring press raving.

And, in a remarkable bit of serendipity, it turned out to be the perfect choice for a week of motoring with the family.

First, a bit of history.

Car critics didn't know what to make of the Altea when it arrived in 2004. It was tall and roomy, like an MPV, but looked rather sporty and drove like a normal hatchback. So was it a people-carrier or a largerthan- usual hatch?

SEAT didn't seem too sure itself.

When the Altea arrived it tried to coin a new term, multi-sport vehicle, to explain why it had styled a peoplecarrier with looks that wouldn't have disgraced a coupe.

Over the years, the Altea has been joined by several sporty MPVs from rival manufacturers, so it no longer seems like the odd one out.

The Altea has an excellent pedigree.

It's based on the same chassis and running gear as the current Volkswagen Golf and shares the same engines.

Now it also has the DSG gearbox that first appeared on an Audi.

I won't bore you with the technicalities, suffice to say it uses fancy electronics to guess which ratio you'll be needing and holds that gear in reserve ready for near instant selection.

The result is a sweeter change and greater efficiency. In fact, the DSGequipped Altea is no more expensive to run than its manual sister models.

You don't get steering wheel paddle shifters for ultimate control like you do on an Audi TT but the change is so sweet that it doesn't really matter.

Combined with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel's broad spread of torque you just surf along on the crest of a wave with barely a blip as each ratio slots silently and smoothly into place.

It costs a bit more to buy a DSG but, as word has already got around about how good they are, you can choose it with confidence because you'll get the extra outlay back on the secondhand market.

We selected the Altea as our family transport for several reasons but one of the biggest was the versatile cabin.

I had no need of a full-sized MPV with seats for seven. Nor did I require a pair of fold-down chairs in the boot.

What I did need was a cabin with plenty of room to accommodate four people, or five at a push.

The Altea, with its sliding rear seats that can trade boot space for legroom and vice versa, meets our needs to a T.

When I need to make a trip to the tip I can move the seats forward for a bigger boot or drop the backrests down for maximum load space.

If my wife is ferrying her friends about she can slide the seats back to afford them the space to stretch out in comfort.

It's quick and very easy.

There are more than 30 storage compartments, drinks holders and cubbies, including a hidden luggage compartment beneath the front seat that's perfect for hiding sat-nav equipment, a decent glovebox and a two-tier parcel shelf that can hold an umbrella.

Interestingly, I noticed that SEAT has done away with the little toggle that held the tray to the larger parcel shelf for 2007.

It now lies flat when the boot is opened.

Luggage space is a generous 409 litres even with the seats in place, plenty big enough for a small family holiday, although the load lip is quite high.

Some of the plastics are a bit hard to the touch but the interior is very tough. Ours travels into the north Pennines several times a week - where the roads are as agricultural as the scenery - and it doesn't suffer from squeaks or rattles.

The chrome door handles are nice and the stereo can play MP3 files for ten hours of music per disc. New for 07 is an auxiliary socket for iPods and the like.

Standard kit on the Stylance includes climate control, cruise, alloy wheels, traction control, ABS and more bags than Tescos.

The thick roof pillars create an annoying blind spot that the small quarter lights do nothing to alleviate, though.

And why only one remote central locking key? The spare only opens the driver's door manually and you'll have to then switch the ignition on or the standard-fit alarm goes off after about 30 seconds.

Odd.

The 2.0-litre TDi is quite a flying machine. It has 140bhp on tap, a big increase over the 105bhp you get with the venerable 1.9 TDi, and a hefty slug of torque.

Fuel consumption seemed to average out at around 40mpg how ever I drove. The best I managed was 48mpg during one very light-footed session when I was really trying to maximise my economy against the electronic fuel computer.

That's a fair way behind the official figures but still good enough for a 500-mile touring range.

The Altea goes around corners rather well, too. It may look a little high - and indeed it is - but the suspension is very well fettled and there's less initial travel than you'd expect.

The downside is a sporty ride that some people may find slightly harsh, but I reckon it's an acceptable trade off. Nobody complained during several lengthy trips to the seaside.

After its week as a family workhorse I felt rather relieved when the driver from SEAT came to fetch the Altea.

Not because I was glad to see the back of it but glad to know that we had made the right purchase for our family car.

If you are in the market for a family do-it-all I'd recommend you give one a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.

SPECIFICATION

Engine: 1968cc, four cylinders turbodiesel
Power: 140bhp
Transmission: Six-speed semimanual
Fuel consumption: 47.1mpg (combined) -claimed; 41.2mpg on test.
Acceleration: 0-62mph: 9.8 sec
Top speed: 125mph
Standard equipment: Four electric windows, remote adj mirrors, alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipe, tinted rear windows, ABS, traction control.