However good this new Galaxy is, Ford knows it’s not going to sell in anything like the numbers achieved by its predecessor. It’s not that the world has woken up to the fact that huge MPVs are about as stylish as Slough — anyone with a pair of eyes has known this for years — it’s the fact that today there are many more palatable alternatives.

In the 11 years since the original Galaxy was launched advances in the art of packaging mean that seven people can now travel in reasonable comfort in a mid-size MPV rather than a full-size one. Moreover, a Land Rover Discovery will sit just as many people as the Galaxy while letting you turn up in public without a brown paper bag over your head.

So why make the Galaxy at all? Two reasons: although its market is shrinking, it still sells in sufficient numbers to justify a presence. Second, by making it share the same underpinnings as everything else from the next Mondeo to the Volvo S80 it’s cheap to make. You may also have spotted its visual similarity to the brilliant S-Max mid-size MPV: a Ford engineer told me that more than 70% of their components are shared.

The Galaxy is available with a 2 litre petrol engine and 1.8 and 2 litre diesel motors but the only sensible choice is the big diesel, with its 140bhp. Because the Galaxy is a lot lighter than it looks this engine gives the car unlikely performance, including a 0-60mph time of 9.9sec and a top speed of 119mph. It also boasts brilliant fuel economy, managing 43.4mpg.

And it even handles well. The Spanish roads Ford chose for us to try out the Galaxy were some of the most challenging in Europe, full of surface and camber changes and lightning-quick curves over blind brows. There are certain sporting cars that would feel out of their depth, but the Galaxy was not put off at all. It was actually fun to drive, for heaven’s sake.

Nor has it forgotten that its first duty is to cart a load of people and their luggage from place to place. Seven six-footers could find comfort here and because all seven seats slide and recline, an almost limitless number of interior configurations is possible. Yet if you want to turn the Galaxy into a van you don’t have to break your back lifting seats out and then wondering where to store them as you did with the original Galaxy: both the second and third rows disappear into the floor at the tug of a handle.

Fans of cupholders and cubby holes will think the Galaxy is heaven — Ford says there are 31 separate stowage compartments on board and while I know I should have counted every one, on this occasion I took Ford’s word for it.

However, there are limits to this car’s abilities. Ford is keen to suggest the Galaxy enables you to “travel first class”, and while I am not too familiar with that mode of transport, the last time I tried it I don’t remember my progress being punctuated by diesel rattles. While the 2 litre engine is quiet enough at a cruise, if you’re on a good road and using its standard six-speed gearbox to keep the revs up, it can be noisy.

All of which leaves me in a quandary. The Galaxy is an excellent example of its type, but should you even be thinking about buying a full-size MPV these days? In my view the answer is no, or at least not until you have ruled out smaller MPVs that will also still seat seven.

The principal reason not to buy a Galaxy is its sister S-Max, which is only slightly smaller but quicker, more frugal and £3,000 cheaper model for model. Yes, it has a little less space right in the back, but how many people really put large adults in the third row anyway? Children and small adults will be as comfortable in the rear of an S-Max as they are in a Galaxy.

So the Galaxy is the best full-size MPV there is. Just don’t buy one.

THE OPPOSITION

Model Renault Espace 2.2 dCi £24,375
For Looks good for a big MPV, versatile and spacious interior
Against Zero driver appeal, despite reasonable engine performance

Model Peugeot 807 2.2 HDi SE £23,390
For Electric sliding doors, reasonable handling
Against Lack of image, not the best built in class