With a 0-60mph time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 144mph the Zafira VXR is the fastest people carrier on the market by a significant margin. This is courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with 240bhp – the same unit that powers the Astra VXR. The gearstick for the six-speed manual gearbox is mounted on the dashboard as in the rest of the Zafira range and has a similar easy-to-use shift.

Braking performance is excellent – like the Astra – and acceleration picks up over 2,000rpm as the turbo reaches maximum boost, although there is an area in the rev range beforehand where it lacks urgency.

An overly stiff ride is the payoff for virtually flat cornering in the Zafira VXR and plenty of grip when tackling fast bends. As a result it’s not especially pleasant for passengers over rough roads. Like the Astra VXR, the Zafira often struggles to put down its power cleanly via the front tyres. When accelerating around corners at lower speeds you feel the steering wheel being tugged from side to side as the front tyres struggle for traction.

Otherwise the hot-hatch-like handling allows you to drive the Zafira with confidence along high-speed B-roads. The VXR also comes with a feature called IDS-plus – an advanced chassis control system that adjusts the suspension settings to give better roadholding when needed or a softer ride