Vauxhall Zafira 2.0T SRi : STEALTH AND EFFICIENCY

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Vauxhall's Zafira 2.0T SRi is a family griendly car with an unexpected dose of attitude as standard. Andy Enright reports

By and large, mini-MPVs don't offer too much to those who enjoy driving for the sake of it. They excel at the family duties but when the kids are dropped off at school, there are only a handful of models that will encourage you to take the long way home. Most don't sell very well. Vauxhall think they've found a formula that will not only put a glint in the eye of the family motorist who hasn't totally surrendered to middle aged mediocrity but also makes some sort of sense on the balance sheet. It's called the Zafira 2.0T SRi.

Weighing in at around £21,500, the SRi isn't at the budget end of things and you've really got to be committed to the cause to purchase one of these over, say, a £13,000 Zafira 1.6 and blow the remaining £7,000 on some sort of tasty used sports coupe. A quick trawl through the classifieds will turn up fun items like a Porsche 944 S2, a BMW M3 or, if you're loyal to Luton, a Vauxhall Astra Coupe Turbo. The trouble comes when you try to justify such indulgences to a sceptical other half, especially when there are family holidays, kids shoes and school expenses to fork out for. Nobody wants to look like they're in the throes of a mid life crisis. That's where the Zafira 2.0T SRi works so well. With its long equipment list and sheer practicality, it's an easy sell. You may want to keep the fact that it packs a 197bhp wallop to yourself, or at least sell it as a feature that makes overtaking safer. Likewise the fact that the SRi runs on lowered and stiffened suspension means that it's more composed through corners and less body roll means less chance of car sickness, right? This is such a considerate choice.

"With some serious turbocharged power, the Zafira 2.0T SRi is a people mover and a hot hatch rolled into one"

So you've seen the kids disappear into classes and you've got half an hour to yourself. You know a sweet back route home and with the 2.0T SRi, you have a partner that's game for a giggle. The first straight will see it jet to 60mph from standstill in just 8.4 seconds. The 197lb/ft of turbocharged torque gives the Zafira some serious muscle in the midrange and the acceleration just keeps coming until over 140mph is showing on the clock. The really neat part is that insurers don't recognise Zafira SRi owners as headless hoons, rating the car at Group 13. That's quite a bargain for a model that develops almost as much torque as a Porsche Boxster. Another thing the SRi isn't shy of is standard equipment. It's a step down from the flagship sporting model, the VXR, but it may well be a better buy overall. ESP stability control comes as part of the deal, as do sports front seats and chromed instrument surrounds. A leather-trimmed sports steering wheel and a matte-chrome effect centre console lift the cabin while aluminium door sill covers and pedals are a nice touch. A sports suspension system is also offered with a button to switch between comfort and sports modes. 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with 225/45 low profile tyres give the SRi a bit of attitude. The tale of the tape reveals that this generation Zafira has succumbed, if not to middle age spread, then at least a little loosening of the belt. This is perhaps understandable given the fact that with utility vehicles like the Meriva mopping up sales in the supermini-MPV class and no recognised full-sized MPV contender, there was a vacuum into which the Zafira would be drawn. Six inches longer, 1.5 inches wider and a shade taller than the outgoing car, the latest Zafira retains the seven-seat configuration, with a middle bench seat offering three berths and two seats in the back that also fold flat into the floor. What has changed is the amount of legroom on offer to the occupants. Whereas the old car would have been hideously cramped with all seven seats in use, the latest model offers a little more breathing space. It's still not ideally suited to a rugby sevens team and their kit, but for the larger family, it's close to perfect. As before, the seating system is so versatile that the Zafira can be configured in two, three, four, five, six or seven seat guises in a matter of seconds. Most buyers will run in five-seat format, and in this mode the Vauxhall can cope with 620-litres of luggage - fully 20 more than the old car. Depending on the trim level, the Zafira can also boast up to 30 storage compartments. The `Flex Organiser' luggage bay stowage system that has proved a success with Astra Estate buyers is also available on the Zafira. It is to the Astra that the Zafira owes many of its exterior design cues. Whereas the old Zafira was clearly related to the Astra Mk IV, the current model looks for all the world like a MkV Astra Estate that's been attached to a garage airline. A particularly interesting feature is the optional panorama roof. With four large glass panels, this system offers passengers a light, airy atmosphere in the back, while tinted glass and a powered shade protect against dazzle. A centre console running the length of the ceiling has a number of overhead compartments. The Zafira 2.0T may not be the most honest vehicle ever built but it's a model that earns a lot of respect. Being a parent can be tough. Let's not begrudge harassed mothers and fathers a little quality time.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Vauxhall Zafira 2.0T SRi
PRICE: £21,530 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 228g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 140mph / 0-60mph 8.4s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 29.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4467/1776/1637mm