Choosing a new family car entails a compromise between necessity and desirability. The things you must have and the things you would like. Such as five seats, big boot, fits garage, electric windows, CD player and internet access. My own list went like this: six seats, in two rows.

It’s not your average car buyer’s demand, but it makes sense to me. I could not, would not, consider driving an MPV. Like many family motorists, I often need six seats for the kids plus the friends and relatives who come with them, but I don’t want three rows of seats for aesthetic and practical reasons. Even the smallest MPVs feel unnecessarily elongated, and kids in the back row can be a law unto themselves.

I’m from the old school of style-driven mummy-motoring that says: “I don’t drive buses.” I like the extra height, extra seating, extra floor space and extra storage in an MPV; I simply don’t want something with an extra row of seats.

So where does that leave me? Somewhere between a 1960s Cadillac with bench seats and a 2002 Fiat Multipla with two rows of three chairs. I am seriously considering the American classic once my kids have outgrown their child seats, until when it must be the Fiat.

Despite its crab-like squatness, in the six months since I bought the Multipla 1.9 JTD ELX I have fallen for its charms. Multipla motoring is a bit like discovering comfortable shoes. Get past the awkward appearance and you will find something perfect for the job. That’s not to say it is without faults, it’s just that when it comes to carting two kids around there’s nothing better.

The exterior isn’t to all tastes, but it does grow on you. In many ways its eccentric looks are what make it attractive. The round headlights are quite cute, those at the base of the windscreen even striking. Above the waist it is rather more odd, with almost vertical rear and side windows and a high roofline, but a few tweaks to the facelifted model in July — including new colours, body-coloured bumpers, tinted windows and more stylish alloy wheels — have improved its appearance.

It’s inside that the Multipla really impresses, though. Recently I have taken to a phrase for smart things that don’t work: “Designed by a man.” Such as nappies that sound an alarm when wet. Trust me, designed by a man. And the Multipla? Well, there was a woman in there somewhere. Three adult-sized seats in two rows, a big boot, plenty of pockets, storage drawers and copious legroom. It is an utterly practical and logical use of space with no negative factors. Well, maybe just one: the Multipla is as wide as a Mercedes S-class.

As well as the roominess, the kids and I also enjoy the unhindered view, thanks to the vast side windows. And I’m at a loss to understand why more car manufacturers don’t reorganise the drivetrains in their cars so that the gear lever can be mounted on the dashboard and the handbrake to the right of the driver, with a third seat in place of the centre console. The traditional five-seat arrangement is a waste of space.

We use our Multipla with both centre seats folded to create tables, but when we are six-up they’re easily adjusted, and when we’re carrying extra luggage they’re easily removed.

Most surprising of all is how great the Multipla is to drive. Despite its Pope-mobile appearance it rides and handles far better than any other people carrier, indeed much like a conventional car. The steering is precise, with just enough power assistance. Even in turbodiesel form it can belt along comfortably and the ride actually improves with speed.

But perhaps the most striking thing about the Multipla is how small it really is. Live with one and you will never feel cramped or crowded, and the boot can swallow a week’s luggage for a family of four (though six could be a squeeze). But park alongside a Land Rover Freelander or a Ford Galaxy and the Fiat is positively dwarfed. It may be wide, but it’s shorter than a Fiat Stilo hatchback.

The Multipla is Fiat’s answer to the — and it pains me to use the word — mini-MPV. Thankfully, it’s a novel answer and deserves a larger following than it has found so far.

Vital statistics

Model Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD ELX
Price £16,214
Engine type Four-cylinder turbodiesel
Capacity 1910cc
Power 115bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque 150lb ft @ 1500rpm
Transmission Five-speed manual
Suspension (front and rear) independent, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Tyres 185/65 R15
Fuel 44.1mpg (combined)
CO2 170g/km
Top speed 109mph
Company car £1,201 for a
Tax higher-rate taxpayer
Insurance Group 10
Verdict It may look oddball, but the Multipla is stunningly and ingeniously practical, the answer to a mother's prayers