Alternative MPVs

It may have a conventional appearance but don't let Vauxhall's Zafira GSi fool you.

Yes, the famous GSi performance moniker does belong on a full-sized MPV.

If you still have your doubts, then a quick spin in this seven-seat rocket ship should convince you.

That crucial 0-60mph is a ridiculous 7.6 second trip, offering you the chance to crush the self-respect of every boy racer in town by leaving him standing at the lights.

Rather more outlandish in terms of style is the all-American Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Dedicated to stimulating the pulse as much as getting from A to B, its hot rod looks are matched by its decidedly warm performance.

Based on the latest Focus platform (along with such sporty efforts as the Volvo S40 and Mazda 3), it comes as no surprise that Ford's CMAX offers a fine drive with firm suspension and excellent road-holding.

All models are perky, but the 2.0 TDCi diesels are quickest of all, dashing to 60mph in just 9.6 seconds.

Only half-a-second slower is the Honda Stream - but then it does offer room for seven rather than the CMAX's five. There's only the one engine, a 2.0-litre petrol effort, but it is an absolute cracker.

Economy MPVs If you really don't give a monkey's what your car's origins are as long as it does exactly what you want it to, there are some superb MPV-style cars out there to meet your needs.

Citroen's Berlingo and Peugeot's Partner Combi may be derived from a single, shared van platform, but that can be an advantage in practical terms even if it doesn't project a particularly cool' image.

You're guaranteed to have space, reliability and engines capable of coping with a full load - qualities that all self-respecting vans need in abundance.

Even more significantly, you can be confident that you're not paying over the odds for refinements you don't really need.

Style isn't jettisoned entirely, either, as both models have gradually added kit and enhanced styling throughout their production cycles.

While there's only room for five adults to sit in comfort, you get the bonus of a large, regularly-proportioned load area (from 660 litres with the seats up to 2,800 litres with them down) to swallow countless cases, pushchairs and shopping bags. Fiat's Doblo performs a similar back-to-basics role.

If transporting the maximum number of bodies for minimum cost is on your wish list, then how about the Ford Tourneo Connect? Ford is flogging its van conversion under the banner Works like a van, drives like a car, tough as a truck' and it's hard to argue with such salt-of-the-earth abilities.

As a working vehicle during the week and a family utility car at weekends, it's just about unbeatable.

Off-road MPVs While no-one would recommend attempting to scale Ben Nevis in an MPV, there are a few rough and tumble choices out there for outdoors types.

As well as trendy backwoods styling, you can get genuine four-wheel drive to cope with all the gravel, grass and greenery nature is ever likely to throw at you and your family.

The chunky Renault Kangoo Trekka 4x4 comes with either a slightly underpowered 1.6-litre petrol or superb 1.9 dCi diesel engine to provide plenty of pothole-pounding grunt.

Suzuki's Grand Vitara XL-7 is a tried and trusted 4x4 that has increased its seating capacity from five to seven thanks to an extra-long wheelbase.

A torquey V6 2.7 litre engine leaves you in no doubt that the XL-7's mud plugging pose is not just a pose and a very long kit list comes as standard.

Land Rover's Defender 110 and Volvo's XC90 probably wouldn't like to be described as MPVs, but they'll both seat seven with ease and can handle themselves in the wild stuff with aplomb.

Quirky MPVs In recent years, Fiat established a reputation in the MPV sector as a maker of, well, loveable oddballs.

The Italian firm's Multipla has become as familiar a sight on British roads as such a wacky design ever could be, but look beyond the bubbly bodywork and you'll find a vehicle in which every quirk' actually serves a very useful function.

But the likes of the Seat Altea and Mitsubishi Grandis are on hand to keep the MPV market looking interesting.

Described in some quarters as the best-looking MPV ever made', the Altea is something of a curate's egg in that arguably it's not a people carrier at all.

It sits on the same platform as the Volkswagen Golf, looks like a concept car, has hidden windscreen wipers and is pretty much impossible to categorise.

The Grandis on the other hand seats seven and looks like a rocket ship, with boldly sculpted body panels and a beaky nose. It gives the impression of being enormous, but get your tape measure out and you'll realise that its dimensions are actually pretty manageable, making it a good left-field effort.

Badge busting MPVs Fancy driving an MPV with a premium badge but don't want to pay a premium price? Help is at hand, as long as you're willing to throw all the cliched ideas about premium brands out of the electrically-operated window.

Mercedes and Volkswagen both reflect the German virtues of quality, attention to detail and good, old-fashioned dependability.

Having the three-pointed star or the VW logo on your bonnet usually means investing a little extra cash, but that clout needn't cost the earth.

Mercedes's Vaneo has its origins in the established A-class. Don't let the name put you off, as this opulently-equipped mid-sized MPV is superbly built and surprisingly affordable for the entry-level 1.6 Trend.

In between, you'll find a comprehensive choice of specification levels and engine choices. Whichever model you go for, it will come with ABS, traction control, remote central locking, alarm, power steering, electric windows and split rear seats as standard.