Revamped Vauxhall Zafira Tourer
While SUVs are more popular than ever MPVs still appeal to a large number of buyers. So, do you want to take a guess at Britain’s favourite 7-seater MPV? Well, if you said it was the Vauxhall Zafira then you’d have guessed right. To help it keep its special place in the nation’s hearts Vauxhall have treated it to a little revamp.
It’s lost its distinguished boomerang headlamps for a new corporate pair and has a wider grille just like you’d find on the Astra. However, it’s inside of the car that you’ll find the biggest change. The old model had loads of old and quite fiddly hard to read buttons but everything has been simplified on the new version with the majority of buttons situated in the central console. It also comes with an easy-to-use touch screen which is far more intuitive and cleaner. However, the button that we are most fond of is the one situated over your head. One press and you are connected to Vauxhall’s OnStar service. OnStar is Vauxhall’s kind of concierge service and comes fitted as standard. What it does is connect you to somebody who can help you with all kinds of things.
With the facelift, Vauxhall has cut the number of trim levels from seven to six. However, the line-up is still quite confusing with some desirable equipment offered on some trims but not on others. The entry level Design trim gets alloys, front and rear parking sensors, a colour touch screen with Apple Car play and Android Auto and also the OnStar service. We’d avoid the Sri trim and the top spec Elite trim and go for the mid-range Tech Line which adds sat-nav and Flex Rail which is basically “extra console storage” to you and us.
What isn’t quite so brilliant is the functionality in the Zafira. The French MPVs are definitely better when it comes to practicality and while Vauxhall say there are over thirty different type of cubby holes and storage areas, let’s just say that not all of them are as useful as they could be. Yes, there are good sized door bins and really good sizes cup holders but the glove box is absolutely tiny. In fact, the whole idea of practicality just isn’t as well thought out as with the French MPVs.
With many other MPVs the Vauxhall Zafira doesn’t have any sliding doors which is a real shame because they do make getting in and out with a family so much easier. However, once you’re in the back then you’ll find that there’s plenty of space about for both adults and children. You get two sets of iSOFix points and while you’re not going to get three full sized child seats along back, overall we wouldn’t say that the space in the back isn’t as good as then Citroen Grand C4 Picasso. To get into the back you’ll need to push the seats forward which isn’t really something that the children are going to attempt to do on their own as it’s so heavy. As for getting into the back seats let’s just say it’ll be a tight squeeze!
Around at the boot you’ll find the tailgate very light and easy to use and it reveals a really good load space. Obviously, when you’ve got the car in full seven-seat mode you’ll have a very small load area but that’s the trade-off you have to make with an SUV. However, there are some really great touches in the boot. For example, we like the carpet that neatly folds over the two seats in the back row and also the compartment under the floor to store the carpet when you’re not using it. Unfortunately, when you stand back and take a good look at the actual width of the boot opening you’ll see that it’s fairly narrow so you could struggle getting larger buggies and bigger bikes into the back of it.
Although the specifications are a little confusing the engine line-up certainly isn’t. There’s just one petrol and two diesel options available both in manual and automatic guises. The Zafira Tourer is certainly a comfortable car to drive. There’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and also in the seats which is brilliant for those long holiday journeys. Also, the ride itself is subtle enough and while the steering is light it’s accurate although the gearbox could be that little bit slicker. When you factor in the minimal wind and tyre noise overall being behind the wheel is a really nice experience. However, there are a few problems. Don’t be tempted by the higher spec models because they’re not only more expensive but they also seem to miss out on key equipment. For example, a reversing camera which can be seen as essential on large 7-seat MPVs is an option on every model. Surprisingly, visibility isn’t great in this car. Looking out of the front is fine but at the back, thanks to some large pillars, reversing into spaces can be a bit tricky even with the parking sensors.
While the Zafira is certainly good enough to drive it’s not as good to drive as the Ford S Max and not as cossetting to drive as the C4 Picasso. Although looks aren’t too important for this type of car you can’t help but remind yourself that both the Citroen and the Renault Grand Scenic do the job just as well but with a bit of style too. However, despite the negatives the Zafira is still a very good all-round MPV and should definitely be on your list.
