Vauxhall Zafira Range

Vauxhalls enormously successful Zafira is impressive in second generation guise. Andy Enright assesses its chances

Some cars offer a lot of scope for improvement. Vauxhalls Zafira, however, was never one of them. It fulfilled its brief brilliantly in offering seven seat family transport that was safe, affordable, reliable and enjoyable. Vauxhall subsequently reaped the rewards, the Zafira being the biggest seller of all European mini-MPVs, eclipsing the Renault Scenic in a market the French company once called their own.

Replacing the Zafira was never going to be easy, but Vauxhall have got the MK2 model just right.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

The one thing you can never have enough of in an MPV-style vehicle is space and sure enough, the tale of the tape reveals that the 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. Its still not ideally suited to a rugby sevens team and their kit, but for the larger family, its 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.

"The Zafira looks set to dominate the sales charts again"

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 thats 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. A wide range of engines are offered and the Zafira marks the debut of Vauxhalls 140bhp 1.8-litre ECOTEC powerplant. Sure to be a mainstay of their petrol powered engine selection, compared to the outgoing models 1.

8 unit, the replacement has 14 per cent more power, consumes four per cent less fuel, has improved flexibility and is a good deal more refined. The 140bhp power output means the new 1.8-litre engine is one of the most powerful in this class, but its far from being a highly-stressed race engine with peaky power delivery. Thanks to advanced valve and cam phasing technology, 90 per cent of the 175Nm maximum torque is available from 2200 to 6200 rpm.

This wide range ensures lively performance and exceptional pulling power even at low engine speeds, making everyday driving more relaxed with less need to change gear. Vauxhall pioneered the concept of the performance mini-MPV with the GSi Turbo version of the last Zafira and filling that niche even more emphatically is the Zafira VXR. From the VXR sub brand of high performance vehicles, this model can call upon a 240bhp powerplant that will rocket the car to 60mph in 7 seconds flat and on to a top speed of 144mph. With 320Nm of torque in reserve, this Zafira has as much muscle as a Porsche Boxster S.

If the growing family means that youve had to shelve plans for a sporty car, heres the perfect antidote. With a honeycomb grille, a larger front bumper (with a central air intake) and fog lights, the VXR has serious rear-view mirror presence. Deep sill extensions, twin tailpipes and 18-inch alloy wheels ensure that bystanders know what theyre looking at. The interior features Recaro sports seats and a sports steering wheel and gear lever.

With prices starting at £12,995 for the 1.6-litre Expression model, Vauxhall aims to put a big hole in the hopes of the budget contenders. Model for model, the Zafira looks to be around £350 cheaper than its predecessor at the lower end of the scale. Vauxhall even claim that a Zafira 1.

6-litre Life works out at around £1,000 cheaper than an equivalently specified Renault Grand Scenic. Thats not to be sniffed at. Trim levels run through Expression, Life, Club, Design, SRi, Elite and VXR and aside from the engines previously touched upon, theres also a 2.2-litre direct injection petrol, a 200bhp 2.

0-litre turbo and 1.9-litre common rail diesel powerplants of 120bhp and 150bhp outputs. Expect to pay just under £20,000 for the Zafira1.9 CDTi 150 in SRi trim.

Its hard to see how Vauxhall can get this one wrong. The last Zafira made a lot of sense but was only really deficient in terms of visual pizzazz and interior wow factor. The Mk V Astra has these qualities in spades and lending them to the latest Zafira isnt the work of a genius. Expect to see Vauxhall remain at the top of the mini-MPV sales charts.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Vauxhall Zafira range
PRICES: £12,995-£22,270 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-228g/km
PERFORMANCE: [VXR] Max Speed 144mph / 0-60mph 7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (average) 34mpg [est]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4467/1776/1637mm