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THE FIRST law of family motoring dictates that families and their stuff will expand to fill the space inside any vehicle. That certainly applies to the sub-nuclear Ruppert clan, as the detritus of everyday living, working and schooling clutters up our otherwise XL Saab 9000. It's no wonder that families are switching to multi-seat, multi-space XXL vehicles or Multi-Purpose Vehicles. And the third bestselling example of this growing breed is the MPV you may never have heard of - the Kia Sedona (pictured left).

Just behind the usual suspects such as the Ford Galaxy and Renault Espace at the top of the sales charts, but ahead of more familiar names, including the Chrysler Voyager and Volkswagen Sharan, the Korean-built Sedona must have something going for it. Especially as it has just been revamped for 2002. The only way to find out what makes it special is an epic transcontinental journey in deepest midwinter. It would, though, be more fun to pop over to Disneyland Paris for a long weekend.

Loading up the Sedona is easy. It has twin sliding rear doors, which means a usefully large opening, especially when fitting child seats. The Sedona has ISOfix child-seat anchors, if you have the click-in seats. The rear bumper has a step plate to protect it when loading, but with all seven seats in place you can only get in a couple of upright suitcases. If you need to remove any seats, it's simple, and they have castors to make the manoeuvring easier. The 2- 2-3 seating layout is different from most MPVs' 2-3-2, but it means there is a walk-through facility, so that front-seat parents can mop up, chastise and search for lost crayons. LX and SE models have a second row of seats that fold down and can be used as tables, while second-row passengers now have fold-out tables on the back of the front seats.

Dynamically, the big news is a revised diesel engine. A V6 petrol is available, but the majority of buyers plumped for the diesel engine; the latest CRDi (Common Rail Turbo Diesel) version delivers 34mpg in manual and 32mpg in automatic form. I found the automatic gearbox could make the engine sound gruff under acceleration. I'd choose the manual gearbox despite the long throw between each gear. It pulled along impressively and quietly at motorway speeds, and it's claimed to be the most powerful diesel MPV. I have read reviews that the Sedona is not that nice to drive, but that misses the point and proves that many motoring journalists are badge snobs.

It may only be a Kia, but it is comfortable, practical and brilliant value for money. Look at the price and specification list. The entry level 2.5 V6 L Sedona is just pounds 13,995. Pay for a name badge, and a Renault Espace starts at pounds 19,350. The bestselling Ford Galaxy is pounds 18,245. Only the Hyundai Trajet comes close at pounds 15,495. The entry-level diesel Sedona is pounds 14,250. You only get what you pay for, and with the basic L model that means remote keyless entry, twin airbags, electric front windows and roof rails. LX trim adds ABS and EBD brakes, air conditioning, tinted rear glass, seat-back shopping hooks and aircraft-style seat-back tables. The SE version includes leather seats, alloy wheels, power folding mirrors, electric driver's seat, CD player and rain-sensing wipers.

VDO Satellite Navigation and a Video/DVD system are optional. Technical hitches - no DVD or video to hand and a missing remote - meant I never got to see whether pounds 1,590 would stop the "Are we there yet?" questions. The 6.8in full-colour screen mounted in the roof may seem gimmicky, but it will become the MPV norm. The pounds 899 navigation system was great until I got to Paris, when it misdirected us into the city centre. This was a good thing; Paris at night is wonderful.

The Kia Sedona got us to a cold but bright and Christmassy Disneyland Paris. More important, it fulfilled the second law of foreign family motoring, packing in ourselves, luggage, presents and hypermarket goods. There would have been room for Minnie and Mickey, plus the pushbike that is free to buyers of brand-new Sedonas.

Kia Sedona 2.9 CRDi LX, pounds 16,250