WITH a fresh look and plenty of onboard technology, the latest Vauxhall Zafira Tourer offers all the practicality expected of a family car these days.

For example, it has seven seats so can easily adapt when extra passengers need transporting and it also features all the latest connectivity systems.

The car has recently undergone a mid-life facelift and now has new adaptive LED headlights, extra chrome trim and a new-look interior which is clutter-free with less buttons and controls.

The Zafira Tourer is eye-catching with its upright design and the look is completed with 17-inch alloys, front fog lights, silver roof rails, dark tinted rear windows and LED daytime running lights.

Move inside the spacious cabin and there is plenty of technology at your disposal, including a seven-inch touchscreen, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to connect to mobile phones plus Vauxhall's impressive OnStar service which links to a control centre based in Luton where you will speak to a ‘real' person.

This service is great for finding out directions or details about local restaurants, fuel stations and services etc., but it also has a more important role to play should the vehicle be involved in an accident. If the operator at Luton cannot get a response from you, then the emergency services will be contacted and directed to your location.

Other creature comforts include a six speaker sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, automatic lights and wipers plus plenty more besides.

This car was powered by a 1.6-litre 140ps diesel engine was priced at £26,675 although a few optional extras bumped up the asking price to £28,415.

As such the Zafira Tourer can reach from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, max out at 120mph and according to official figures deliver combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg with carbon emissions of 119g/km.

With tough competition in the family car segment from the likes of the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso and Ford S-MAX, the Zafira Tourer needs to be flexible and it certainly achieves that on all counts with three rows of seats, a generously sized boot, door pockets, cup holders, a central bin and a storage facility underneath the front passenger's seat.

When it comes to performance the Zafira Tourer is very capable too. It offers excellent levels of comfort for all occupants with good all-round visibility thanks to the high seated driving position.

The acceleration through the six-speed manual gearbox is smooth with ample levels of power on tap and although the car is not the fastest kid on the block, it can perform well in busy city centres and out on the faster motorways and country roads.

There is a little engine and road surface noise when travelling at higher speeds, but generally the car remains well protected from the outside world.

You can also expect to notice a little body roll if pushed into bends but once again, it's not a major concern in this type of vehicle.