As an accommodating aunt, I certainly subscribe to the view that "if the kids are happy, I'm happy." After all, there's nothing more wearing than squabbling children - particularly in the car. The journey home with the one in the middle getting squashed, the baby being wakened by a flying elbow and toys disappearing under the front seats, out of reach, can completely undo the benefits of a great day out. As this usually happens to me when other people's kids (whom I can't tick off without losing friends) are with us, it's quite an effort to grin and bear it. But then the Vauxhall Zafira came along. My test drive coincided with a visit from friends and there was high excitement when my nephew realised that all three of his siblings could travel together with the adults.

Six inches longer, 1.5 inches wider and a shade taller than the original version, this latest Zafira retains the seven-seat configuration unlike other rivals in the so-called 'Mini-MPV' sector (like Citroen's Xsara Picasso for example). It has a middle bench seat offering three berths and two seats in the back that also fold flat into the floor. So there was just about enough room for all of us, once I'd folded out the third row bench from the boot floor. My nephew and his best friend commandeered it immediately and proceeded to huddle together in the very back. One of the things that's really changed in the latest car is the amount of legroom on offer to the occupants. Whereas the old car would have been hideously cramped with all seven seats in use, this Zafira offers a little more breathing space. It's still not ideally suited to a rugby sevens team and their kit, but for the larger family, it's close to perfect. As before, the seating system is so versatile that the Zafira can be configured in two, three, four, five, six or seven seat guises in a matter of seconds. Most buyers will run in five-seat format, and in this mode the Vauxhall can cope with 620-litres of luggage - fully 20 more than the old car. Depending on the trim level, the Zafira can also boast up to 30 storage compartments. The 'Flex Organiser' luggage bay stowage system that has proved a success with Astra Estate buyers is also available on the Zafira. In an action-packed week it was so good to have those extra seats. When we visited Granny and Great-Granny, they both remarked on how easy it was to get in and out of the Zafira; stepping up into a car is so much kinder on arthritic knees. If you're more into carrying luggage than people, the Vauxhall ought also to suit. Take for example, what will probably be a reasonably regular need to use all the luggage space behind the front seats. In, say, a Renault Scenic, unless you want to compromise by simply folding the rear seats in two, you'll have to lug all three of them out of the car and store them somewhere. The Zafira, in contrast, has a much more novel solution. You simply pull up the horizontal rear seat cushion and lock it vertically into place. This enables the bench to be slid forward so that it sits tight against the front seats, leaving the load floor completely clear for luggage. Inside, you should immediately feel the car to be more spacious than the average family hatchback, especially with regard to shoulder room. That squarer, more upright shape helps here. Behind the wheel, it's all pretty much carried over from the Astra: which means solid, user-friendly knobs, dials, switches and stalks. There's also the same wheel-mounted stereo controls. The car seems to have been designed to accommodate a wide variety of human shapes and sizes: most should be able to get themselves comfortable. There's height adjustment on the driver's seat and reach and rake adjustment on the steering wheel.

Speaking as the driver, the general lack of height and girth gives the Zafira an advantage over tall-bodied MPVs - it's easier to manoeuvre. Nor does it look like a van - or, more importantly for driving enthusiasts, handle like one. On the contrary, I would say it's as enjoyable to drive as any modern family hatchback. There's may be an on-the-limit handling disadvantage to its Astra stablemate but I couldn't discern it. A wide range of engines are offered and the Zafira offers Vauxhall's latest 140bhp 1.8-litre ECOTEC powerplant. Sure to be a mainstay of their petrol powered engine selection, compared to the outgoing model's 1.8 unit, the replacement has 14 per cent more power, consumes four per cent less fuel, has improved flexibility and is a good deal more refined. The 140bhp power output means this 1.8-litre engine is one of the most powerful in this class, but it's far from being a highly-stressed race engine with peaky power delivery. Thanks to advanced valve and cam phasing technology, 90 per cent of the 175Nm maximum torque is available from 2200 to 6200 rpm. This wide range ensures lively performance and exceptional pulling power even at low engine speeds, making everyday driving more relaxed with less need to change gear.

The Zafira made travelling with the children almost serene. It certainly proved its worth during its time with me. Even my passengers were impressed...