Despite a noticeable increase in the number of MPVs on the road, and the trend for manufacturers to have such vehicles in a variety of sizes, the traditional estate car seems to be flourishing. It turns out that buyers place estate versions of most cars higher up the image scale than the saloons they are based on. No surprise then that Fiat designed an estate version of the Stilo, to compete head-to-head with the VW Golf.

Fiat launched the Stilo early in 2002 as a serious attempt at the family-hatch market, aimed at the buyer that likes value for money, but also a feeling of quality. The Golf and Focus were the target rivals. The Stilo Multi Wagon arrived in the UK almost a year later. On looks alone, the Multi Wagon has its dull rivals beaten hands down, especially when fitted with the stylish 5-spoke alloys fitted to the car we tested (a bargain at £280). The body shape is sharp and cohesive, and the detail design is exquisite - take a closer look at the headlights for instance, or the small, chunky mirrors. The roof rails are integrated beautifully, and the shoulder line suits the longer body style.

Not only is the rear of the car longer than the 5-door hatchback it is based on, the Multi Wagon is also taller. This allows the driver's seat to be raised, which may not please sporting drivers, but this does free up more space in the car. Indeed, Fiat claims that the 510 litre luggage bay is one of the largest in its class. In practise, the Multi Wagon Stilo 'feels' much bigger than a Ford Focus-sized car, and noticeably more capacious than the Stilo hatchback. The Focus Estate is only slightly shorter than the Multi Wagon overall and in fact has a longer wheelbase, so the extra height works to the Stilo's advantage.

Thankfully, Fiat has made the most of the space available too. The interior is a comfortable place to be as a passenger. There were a few annoyances as a driver, such as the positioning of the armrest, but for the most part, long journeys were covered in comfort. Indeed, the JTD engine is the ideal partner for long motorway trips. It is economical and manages to remain civilised past the UK legal limit, though don't expect a pleasant tune at idle. The turbo adds a healthy dose of torque, which is well matched to motorway cruising speeds. Unfortunately, as lovely as those wheels are, the low profile Goodyear F1 tyres transmitted a lot of road noise, and I suspect the ride would be better on smaller wheels. I don't know if I'd sacrifice the superior appearance though. Bear it in mind if you are specifying larger wheels than on the car you test drive.

The Multi Wagon is a pleasant drive in general. It is certainly up to the odd B-road hustle. The chassis is composed and very stable through high-speed corners, and the steering is pleasantly sharp in tighter bends. Predictably, understeer is the only result of over-egging the Stilo, and it can be safely brought under control with a little lift of the throttle.

Safety plays a large part in the Stilo Multi Wagon, as it should for a car designed to carry such precious goods as one's kids. The list of safety features on all Multi Wagon models features four airbags and ABS with EBD. In total, eight airbags can be ordered, including multi-stage units and side curtains.

Fiat's marketing of the Multi Wagon centres around MPV versatility in a regular estate shape. With the hordes of new cars in this segment, that is an interesting angle. The Stilo Multi Wagon pulls it off well.