Vauxhall Zafira Tourer MPV (2011 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer might be ‘just’ a people carrier, but its design team has done an excellent job of making this MPV attractive and purposeful. British design director Mark Adams told us his team sought inspiration from the Japanese Bullet Train and wanted to make it cut through the air as easily as possible. As a result the Zafira Tourer spent over 600 hours being honed in the wind tunnel and is currently the most aerodynamic vehicle in its class. At the front there are distinctive ‘Boomerang’ headlights, while a flush-fitting rear window and lights add to the sleek appearance of the Zafira Tourer. The result is a car arguably better looking than the Ford S-MAX, Grand C-MAX, Volkswagen Touran or SEAT Alhambra it competes with.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

In a bold move, Vauxhall is releasing the Zafira Tourer alongside the Vauxhall Zafira which has been on sale since 2005. The new model shares nothing with that car and its interior trumps it in every respect. But, Vauxhall expects the old model to continue selling to buyers seeking value and a more utilitarian interior. This has allowed Vauxhall to target more luxurious competitors with the Zafira Tourer’s  interior and it does feel much more expensive inside. The dashboard has well-placed switches and is generally attractive, while an aluminium central rail is a neat touch on top trim levels. The rail has three layers for storage, cup holders and an armrest, which can be slid back and forth independently or removed altogether. Red strips of ambient lighting dotted around the cabin emit a relaxing glow at night. For the first time in a Zafira you don’t have to have a black and grey interior – an optional beige interior is hoped to give a more contemporary and luxurious feel.

Our rating: 3

3. Practicality

When it was launched in 1999 the Zafira was the first compact MPV featuring seven folding seats, which didn’t need to be removed from the car to liberate maximum boot space. It revolutionised the way we think about an MPVs flexibility and the latest version of Flex7 is even better. The middle row now has three individual seats, which slide backwards and forwards, recline through four positions and fold away. SE and Elite trim levels also feature a ‘Lounge’ configuration which turns the middle seat into a large armrest and sees the outer middle seats move backwards and inwards. The result is a four-seater with limo-like rear space. The rearmost two seats flip up out of the boot floor and can be used by teens or small adults, even for longer trips. With all rear seats folded there’s a huge 1,860 litres of space (40 more than the Zafira), shrinking to 710 litres with five seats in place (65 more than Zafira). It’s an exceptional package, which can be adapted within seconds. A FlexFix bike carrier is available, which slides out of the rear bumper and is now available to carry either two or four bikes, weighing up to 20kg each. The bike carrier tilts backwards to allow access to the boot, even when fully loaded.

Our rating: 5

4. Ride and handling

Vauxhall tells us the Zafira Tourer has been honed for comfort and relaxation – so it’s perhaps not directly aimed to dethrone the sporty S-MAX. It certainly has an impressively smooth ride, despite our test car riding on huge 19-inch alloy wheels, and remains hushed at higher speeds. It’s steering is a little less involving than the Ford’s, but its grip and stability gets close – the Zafira Tourer providing plenty of poise over challenging roads. Thanks to its long wheelbase it’s also pretty unflappable on the motorway. We found the standard suspension to be a good compromise, but FlexRide is also available, offering an adjustment between Tour (the best ride comfort), standard and Sport (the best handling) modes. These settings also make adjust the heft of the steering and the sensitivity of the throttle. The S-MAX is still the top drivers’ choice – just – but the Zafira Tourer is every bit the equal of the Grand C-MAX, Touran and Alhambra.

Our rating: 4

5. Performance

The venerable 2-litre CDTi already fitted in the Astra and Insignia has been tuned for use in the Zafira Tourer and gets either 110, 130 or 165bhp, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Choose petrol and the entry-level model is a 1.8-litre with 140bhp with a five-speed manual gearbox, while a more advanced 1.4-litre turbo is available – also with 140bhp, but a six-speed manual gearbox as standard or auto ‘box as an option. At its first launch we sampled the most powerful diesel, which is pleasantly quiet and offers good acceleration from low revs (0-60mph in 9.1 seconds). It’s also the only diesel in the line-up available with an automatic gearbox.

Our rating: 4

6. Running costs

Available shortly after launch, the ecoFLEX CDTi 130 offers emissions of just 119g/km of CO2, making road tax incredibly cheap for a seven-seat MPV. Its fuel economy of 63mpg also gives it a long touring range – an attractive feature in this type of vehicle. All three power outputs of non-ecoFLEX diesel Tourer’s average 54.3mpg and emit 137g/km of CO2. The 1.8-litre petrol  consumes 39.2mpg and emits 169g/km, while the 1.4 turbo manages 42.2mog and 158g/km as standard or 44.8mpg and 148g/km if fitted with stop and start technology.

Our rating: 4

7. Reliability

While the Zafira Tourer is an all-new car, it uses engines and gearboxes found to be reliable in other Vauxhall’s. As with all Vauxhall models, the Zafira Tourer has spent thousands of hours being tested to destruction during its development, which seems to have paid off as the Tourer feels well-built, with an interior tough enough to withstand family life.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme and airbags are standard across the range. Optional safety equipment includes Vauxhall’s Front Camera System, which provides Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition and High-beam Assist (where Adaptive Front Lighting is fitted).

Our rating: 4

9. Equipment

There are five trim levels: ES, Exclusiv, SRi, SE and Elite. ES gets Flex7 seating, rear power outlet, DAB digital radio, CD stereo with seven speakers, cruise control and 16 or 17-inch steel wheels. Exclusiv has 17-inch alloy wheels, air-con, front fog lights, central armrest, ambient lighting, front and rear electric windows, USB connection and black roof rails. SRi gives the Tourer a sporting treatment, with 18-inch alloys, sports suspension, alarm, front and rear parking sensors, leather steering wheel, sports seats, sports pedals and tinted rear windows. SE is more luxurious and has a sunglasses holder, leather gearknob, chrome trim, aluminium console rails, electric parking brake, enhanced ambient lighting and 17-inch alloys. The range-topping Elite is fitted with leather upholstery and a panoramic windscreen with glass sunroof.

Our rating: 3

10. Why buy?

Cohesive design, both inside and out, makes the Zafira Tourer a compelling choice. The vast number of  possible seating layouts allows for almost every situation, and changing between them doesn’t require a body builder’s physique.

Our rating: 5