For those of you unfamiliar with the Zafira, it's the best of the smaller breed of MPVs, not least because it can seat seven rather than the usual five, and because the rear pair of chairs fold flat into the floor when not needed. The Zafira also looks quite neat and drives tidily, making it that rarest of beasts - a Vauxhall that people actually want.

Supporting its tall exterior are the floorpan and mechanicals of the Astra, so when they decided to create a zippy Zafira it was relatively simple to plunder the guts of the turbocharged Astra Coupe. In the nose sits Vauxhall's 2-litre Ecotec turbo unit, producing 187bhp at 5400rpm and 184lb ft of torque all the way from 1950 to 5300rpm, outputs which should be ample for taking little Johnny and his mates down to the scout hut. Without woggle wearers aboard, the Zafira GSi is claimed to hit 60mph in 7.6sec and swoosh on to 137mph, performance that'll make dad (or mum, for that matter) all misty-eyed for the hot hatches of his (or her) past.

Out of respect for the family duties the Zafira will undoubtedly be asked to perform, Vauxhall hasn't dropped the ride height of the car, but it has stiffened-up the springs and dampers and fitted a set of cool-looking 17in alloys, modelled on those of the one-off, gullwinged Astra Extreme. Euro Zafiras, like our test car, also get OPC badges (it stands for Opel Performance Centre) but we won't see them in the UK.

The combination of those wheels and a bodykit boasting a deeper - and be-grilled - front spoiler, makes the GSi look suitably different to its less brawny brothers, yet stops short of exhibiting any go-faster crassness.

Colour isn't on the agenda in the Zafira's cabin (unless black is one of your favourite hues), but comfort is. Recaros replace the standard front seats and there's a fat-rimmed leather-trimmed steering wheel. Though the seats are sportily supportive, the fact that you sit high and upright means you never forget what type of vehicle you're in. Not even white-faced instruments and an alloy gearknob can convince you that you're in charge of a sports car. And while we're on the gearlever, let's point out that it's annoyingly positioned too far back, and the gearchange itself, especially first to second, is nothing special.

The engine's good, though. Gutsy, easy thrust is there for the taking anywhere above 2500rpm, and it spears the Zafira along with an enjoyable energy. There's no wheelspin, only the slightest amount of torque-steer, a good quality engine note all the way to the top, and sufficient pace either to thrill or terrify the kids. It makes for one swift MPV.

But it doesn't make for a sports car. The ride is firmer than standard but not well enough damped for hard cornering, allowing plenty of wallow and pitch when confronted by mid-bend bumps. And while the steering always points you in the direction asked, it does so without the conviction to inspire true confidence. The handling's fine for a seven-seater, but it's no GTI - at least, not a great one. Sure, you can cover ground very quickly and probably bruise the egos of bona fide sports car drivers, but the experience is ultimately unsatisfying. This Zafira will never inspire you to get up early and slip behind the wheel purely for kicks, so it's unlikely to provide you with any golden motoring moments.

It's wrong to expect such things, of course, because this is, after all, a people carrier. And as a carrier of people it's exceptionally good at its job, with flexible seating, an abundance of cubbies and other storage areas, and a huge boot when it's set up as a five-seater. Thing is, the cost of becoming what Vauxhall calls 'the fast family man' is high, just a fiver short of 20 grand. In other words, close enough to the price of a proper sports car to make you feel slightly resentful at spending all that cash and not having a sports car at the end of it. If the Zafira GSi were truly something out of the ordinary then you wouldn't mind so much, but at the end of the day it's just a very swift people carrier.

However, there is a solution for the family motorist looking for kicks when the kids aren't around. Buy a lesser, cheaper Zafira for weekday taxi duties and spend the change on a second-hand 205 GTI. Problem solved.