I AM not sure how big a role children play in helping their company car driving parents choose their vehicle for the next three years but in my experience the Fiat Ulysse would be a firm favourite among youngsters.

To my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, the marketing message for the Ulysse is simple – it is the car with the magic doors. To her, the fact the side doors open automatically at the touch of a button is pure magic. These doors are an optional extra fitted to our vehicle.

As I write this, I can still picture the tears in her eyes when I broke the news to her this morning that daddy was swapping the Fiat Ulysse for another car on our long-term test fleet. I'm afraid I did that dreadful parent thing by replying 'because I am' when she asked 'why?' in between sobs.

The fact that it is our job to test different cars on a regular basis (tough, I know) would not have washed.

Never before has she fallen so in love with a car that I have brought home, although convertibles come a close second.

But the doors are not just kids' play either – most adults are also impressed , although one questioned how much the electronics would cost to put right should they fail. There's a real wow factor about this MPV, which shares a platform, architecture and interior with the Citroen C8 and Peugeot 807.

Climb aboard and you won't fail to be impressed by the individual leather captain's seats with armrests that line the vehicle. Each can be reclined, ensuring long journeys are stress and hassle-free and also extremely comfortable.

The Fiat recently proved its worth when I needed a vehicle to take four adults and a child to an airport before we all flew off on a holiday. The fact we were able to remove one of the rear seats to make way for luggage space was a bonus but if we had one more person with us it would have proven difficult to get everybody and their associated holiday paraphernalia inside.

It also been useful when we visited friends recently and decided on a trip to a nearby attraction. The six of us were seated comfortably and again the car was heaped with praise - when they weren't enjoying 40 winks that is.

A problem mentioned in a previous road test involving the radio and CD player cutting out is still happening and is causing annoyance. In fact, the radio signal is often dreadful ever since we had to replace a stolen aerial a few weeks back. As far as I'm concerned, that's my only complaint with the Ulysse.

I've thoroughly enjoyed driving it and would welcome it back on my driveway any time. And that would put me back in contention for Dad of the Year with my daughter.

Company car tax bill 2003/04 (40% tax-payer): £210 per month