IT takes just a few minutes with the Skoda Kodiaq vRS to realise that this car is something special.
And with a price tag of more than double that of the entry level Kodiaq it has to be.
With its dramatically macho appearance and powered by the most powerful production diesel engine in Skoda's history the vRS is a car with attitude.
Its price and performance means it's a car you won't see too many of. Even Skoda admits this is the niche model of the range, being built in small numbers.
But those lucky enough to get one won't be disappointed.
Like vRS versions of all Skoda models the Kodiaq vRS is a real powerhouse.
The 2.0-litre twin turbo charged diesel boasts 237bhp. Enough to rocket it from standstill to 62 miles per hour in just seven seconds and on to a top speed of 136mph. And remember this is a large seven-seater SUV designed as family transport not a sports saloon.
And with a massive 500Nm of torque this is one big car that excels in mid- range pulling power.
The size and performance of the car means you're not going to get the usual bumper diesel economy, but at 34-35 miles per gallon it's not bad either.
Skoda has pulled out all the stops with the interior of the vRS which is fitted with high backed rally-style sports seats in a plush Alcantara suede-like finish with red diamond stitching, aluminium pedals and carbon fibre-effect trim.
And as you would expect of a car of this price the front seats are heated and have a memory function in case there is more than one driver in the family.
There's a 9.2 inch infotainment touch screen in the centre of the dashboard and a Virtual Cockpit instrument panel in front of the driver which allows you to alter the size of the dials and elect to have computer information running between them or the map from the satellite navigation system.
Other notable features on the car tested included a vast opening panoramic sunroof (£1,175 option), 20-inch anthracite alloy wheels, a 10-speaker Canton sound system and dual exhaust tailpipes.
Like all seven-seater Kodiaqs there's an abundance of leg, head and shoulder room in the first two rows of seats but the third row is a little short on leg room.
With all the seats in place the luggage space beneath the power tailgate is quite small too at 270 litres but if you fold the third row seats into the floor it jumps to a hefty 630 litres.
On the road the vRS with its four-wheel-drive and seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox offers up-market comfort and ride quality combined with rewarding performance.
It quickly skips through the gears so you're in sixth at just over 30 miles per hour, making for relaxed driving and boosting fuel consumption. A further boost to economy is the coasting system which cuts in when you lift off the accelerator, effectively letting the car freewheel.
If you want to take more control you can use the paddles behind the steering wheel and let the revs hit the red line before changing up for sportscar-like performance.
Despite its size the vRS never really feels big from behind the wheel and there is very little body roll on corners particularly if you drive in the optional sport setting as opposed to eco, normal or comfort.
There's no denying you will be paying a hefty premium for the privilege of driving a vRS version of the Kodiaq. With options the car featured here was priced at almost £45,000.