At home on the road

The Vauxhall Zafira is one of the most popular MPVs. Ten years on from the launch of the first Zafira, Paul Carter discovers if it deserves its reputation

Chances are, if you’ve been out in the car today, you will have seen a Vauxhall Zafira. Since its launch in 1999, it has become one of the most popular “mass-market” MPVs in the country.

On the road, the Zafira didn’t quite feel as comfortable as other vehicles in its class at lower speeds, with the ride overly stiff and slightly awkward. However, once it was allowed to pick up towards the upper ranges, the car seemed much more at home. The acceleration was definitely its biggest plus point, with the car offering plenty of power underfoot without feeling overbearing.

Responsiveness was also surprisingly sharp for a car of its size, while the brakes felt reassuringly solid.
Rear visibility could be better, with the “A-pillar” structure of the car creating a large blind spot. This, combined with its relatively long rear-end, meant reverse parking required optimum concentration, especially in restricted spaces such as supermarket carparks.

Another bone of contention was the handbrake design. Rather than the traditional push button, the Zafira’s handbrake resembles something that would be used to drive a tube train or fly an aircraft, and seemed to require almost herculean strength to take off.

That aside, the Zafira represents a good choice in terms of accessibility. It was one of the first MPVs to introduce flexible seating, and so its variety of seven seat options provide versatility for both people and equipment. However, the back two seats are really only suited for children, and can’t be adjusted.

As it borrows heavily from the chassis of the Astra, getting in and out of the Zafira remains as positive an experience as it does with its smaller cousin. Both the front and rear sets of doors open up to a pleasingly wide angle, while the door sills are relatively low for a car of its size.

Unfortunately, the Zafira also adopts the same interior as the Astra, which, as was referred to in a previous Road Test, is one of the least attractive dashboards you could ever wish to see, with far too much plastic and a confusingly laid-out array of buttons and controls. However, the rest of the interior is bright and airy, with plenty of internal storage and highly-adjustable driver and passenger seat positions.

Although not without its drawbacks, there is a very clear reason why the Zafira is so ubiquitous among MPVs. It remains a reliable, decent, well-thought-out car that, although it may not be the greatest or most exciting on the market, provides very good value for money, even without the frills and spills.

The Vauxhall Zafira is available on the Motability scheme in a wide range of engine sizes and trim options. Prices range from an advance payment of £149 for the “Life” 1.6 petrol manual, to £2,599 for the 1.9 CDTi “Elite” diesel automatic