Families demand more from People Carriers these days. Much more. So Vauxhall’s improved Zafira Tourer offers it. Sharp styling, taut handling and very clever seven-seat versatility from a shape not too big and not too small. It’s everything a modern MPV should be.

If you think this car looks smart from the outside, you’ll be especially impressed with the improved interior, essentially a reinvention of every neat MPV idea you can think of packaged together into a ‘Flex7’ format that really works. This set-up doesn’t have the usual central bench, three individual more comfortable and more flexible seats instead provided. These can individually slide by around 100mm backwards or forwards and recline for greater comfort into three different positions of 16, 20 or 24-degrees.

Go for a plusher Zafira Tourer with so-called ‘Lounge Seating’ and you’ll find that they can do even more, should your need be restricted to the carriage of two rearward occupants seeking greater Club Class comfort. To create such a layout, you’ve only to slide each of the two outer seats in a L-shape, backwards then inwards. As you do so, the central seat also folds itself inwards, its bolsters becoming comfortable armrests for the remaining two passengers who suddenly find themselves with limousine-like standards of leg and shoulder room.

Pricing sits mainly in the £20,000 to £30,000 bracket and there’s a choice of 1.4-litre petrol or 2.0-litre CDTi diesel power. The latest model comes with all the well-known virtues of its predecessors, such as the Flex7 seating system and the option of features like ergonomically-certified AGR front seats, the Flex-Fix bicycle carrier and FlexRide adaptive damping.

In this improved Zafira Tourer, families have pretty much the ideal People Carrying formula. Big - but not too big. Sporty - but comfortable. Surprisingly good looking. And clever enough to re-invent itself around almost any permutation that seven people and their luggage can create.

It’s arguably the best-looking MPV you can buy too - though of course that’s a subjective call. What’s not up for debate is the Zafira Tourer’s status as easily the most accomplished People Carrier Vauxhall has ever brought us. Got kids? Take it from us: you’d like one.

CAR: Vauxhall Zafira Tourer
PRICES: £18,665-£29,630 – on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-22
CO2 EMISSIONS: 129-158g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4 Turbo] 0-60mph 9.9s / max speed 124mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 CDTi S&S] 57.6mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Six airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4656/1884/1685mm