Thanks to a car-like driving position the Galaxy is comfortable to drive and the thin windscreen pillars mean visibility, especially at junctions, is good. The layout is neat, if not particularly adventurous, while the silver centre console adds a touch of finesse. The stereo and air conditioning controls are all easy to use, although it’s a little less intuitive on cars with the optional sat nav and touchscreen fitted.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and seat plus the gear lever is positioned high up, giving an almost sporty feel. We’re less convinced by the quirky handbrake handle that resembles the throttle in an aircraft, however, an electronic handbrake is available as an option. Facelifted cars from 2010 get LED interior lights that offer brighter illumination.

Thanks to the tall shape, there’s plenty of space in the Galaxy and even those relegated to the rearmost seats get good headroom and adequate legroom – although they are only ideal for children in terms of long distance travel. All the seats in the back slide and tilt individually, but they are quite firm and there seems to be a lack of padding and support.

The firm ride also takes the edge of overall comfort levels, although this is less noticeable on the motorway. The 2010 facelifted models were fitted with thicker windscreens meaning wind and road noise drops to a minimum, making the Galaxy extremely quite at high speeds. All on board get plenty of space with the two rows of rear seats benefiting from improved space in all directions over the previous Galaxy model.

Additionally all seats, even those in the third row, can slide backwards and forwards and the seatbacks can be tilted to give better occupant comfort. An optional glass roof lightens the interior for rear passengers too. The front seats adjust for all shapes and eight-way electrically adjustable seats can be specified.