01/11/2017
Is the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer a Good Used Buy?
If you're in the market for a versatile and practical family car, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer might be high on your list. As a popular choice in the MPV segment, it promises to blend spaciousness with a comfortable driving experience. But when considering a used model, it's essential to understand its strengths and potential weaknesses. This article delves into what makes the Zafira Tourer a compelling used car option, exploring its style, driving dynamics, interior versatility, running costs, and overall reliability.
The Style of the Car
The Zafira Tourer presents a more contemporary and stylish design compared to its predecessors. Vauxhall managed to package a spacious seven-seat layout into relatively compact exterior dimensions, making it manoeuvrable for its size. The design features large windows that contribute to a bright and airy interior, enhancing the sense of space for all occupants. Furthermore, these large windows, combined with a high driving position, provide excellent all-round visibility, a crucial factor for both city driving and long journeys. The doors and boot open wide, which is a significant advantage for loading luggage, groceries, or even stowing away the occasional pushchair, minimising the hassle of everyday use.
How it Drives
When it comes to the driving experience, the Zafira Tourer prioritises comfort and relaxation. Its suspension is tuned for softness, absorbing road imperfections to provide a smooth ride, especially over longer distances. Noise levels are kept to a minimum, contributing to a serene cabin environment. The available petrol and diesel engines are noted for being both quiet and responsive, offering adequate power for most situations. For those who frequently navigate urban environments, the smooth automatic gearbox is a particularly attractive option, making stop-start traffic less fatiguing. On the road, the Zafira Tourer feels surprisingly compact and easy to manage, aided by its light steering. This ease of handling, coupled with its commanding driving position and excellent road visibility, makes parking a straightforward affair. For families who enjoy outdoor pursuits or need to transport trailers, the Zafira Tourer is also a capable towing vehicle, particularly the models equipped with the more powerful diesel engines.
The Interior: Space and Versatility
The five-door, seven-seat Zafira Tourer is a testament to clever interior packaging. Its true strength lies in its exceptional spaciousness and the ingenious Flex7 seating system. The middle row of seats can slide forwards and backwards, creating a significant amount of legroom for passengers, even for adults on shorter journeys. When the third row is needed, it folds quickly and easily from the boot floor, providing accommodation for two children. While the third row is best suited for younger passengers, they still benefit from more legroom than found in many rival MPVs.
Vauxhall has equipped the Zafira Tourer with a multitude of family-friendly storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin. These include numerous cubbies, trays, bins, and drinks holders, many of which are lined to reduce noise from rattling items. When the third-row seats are folded away, the boot space is impressively large. You'll find it easy to accommodate three large suitcases and a pram, making it ideal for family holidays or airport runs. Even with the third row in place, the boot offers a respectable amount of space for an MPV of this size.
The cabin's ambience is further enhanced by a pleasing mix of materials. Soft-touch surfaces, chrome and aluminium accents, double-stitched trim, and subtle orange illumination create a reasonably high-quality feel. Despite some initial concerns about visibility due to the car's bodywork, the slim, twin A-pillar design actually aids forward visibility in practice. Many models also come with a reversing camera as an option, further easing parking manoeuvres.
Seating Reconfiguration Explained
One of the Zafira Tourer's standout features is its flexible seating system, which allows for various configurations to suit different needs:
| Configuration | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Seats Up | All three rows are in use. | Maximum passenger capacity for family trips or carpools. |
| Five Seats Up (Third Row Folded) | The third row folds flat into the boot floor. | Significantly increases boot space for luggage, shopping, or larger items. |
| Four Seats Up (Third Row & Middle Seat Folded) | The third row and the middle seat of the second row fold. | Creates a more individualised seating arrangement and improved access. |
| Lounge Seating | The outer seats of the middle row can be slid inwards, and the backrests of the middle seats fold forward to create armrests. | Enhances comfort for rear passengers, creating a more executive feel. |
The outer bolsters of the middle row's backrests cleverly fold upwards when dropped forward, creating a pair of comfortable armrests for the occupants of the outer seats. Even when the sliding seats are positioned further forward, passengers enjoy good legroom and foot space. The design of the Zafira Tourer's floor architecture allows the seat cushions to support legs more effectively, improving comfort on longer journeys.
Trim Levels and Equipment
The Zafira Tourer was available in a range of trims, each offering a different level of equipment and styling. This variety means you can find a used model that perfectly matches your budget and requirements:
- Design: As the entry-level trim, it still boasted a generous amount of standard features, including 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, parking sensors, and LED daytime running lights. Inside, you'd find air conditioning, Vauxhall's IntelliLink infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and the OnStar emergency assistance system with a Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Energy: This trim added satellite navigation, front fog lights, and some exterior chrome detailing.
- SRi: Focused on a sportier feel, SRi models typically came with larger alloy wheels, sports seats, and a three-spoke steering wheel. The SRi Nav version also included sat-nav.
- SE: Positioned as a mid-range option, the SE trim introduced more intelligent technology, such as climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, and the aforementioned lounge seating.
- Tech Line: This trim essentially added satellite navigation to the already comprehensive SE equipment list.
- Elite: The range-topping Elite trim offered the most luxurious features, including the panoramic windscreen and sunroof, plush leather upholstery, and heated front seats.
All Zafira Tourers are well-equipped, with even the entry-level Design models offering features like air conditioning and an easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. Higher trims, such as the Tech Line Nav, add climate control and satellite navigation, while the luxurious Elite models provide leather trim and heated seats for added comfort.
Running Costs and Reliability
One of the key factors that make the Zafira Tourer an attractive used buy is its affordability in terms of both purchase price and running costs. The attractive pricing, combined with a high level of standard equipment, offers excellent value for money. The fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines contribute to affordable running costs, with low tax bills also helping to keep ownership expenses down. Servicing costs are generally comparable to its main rivals, and the widespread availability of Vauxhall dealerships ensures that finding a place for maintenance is rarely an issue.
Crucially, the Zafira Tourer has earned a fantastic reputation for reliability. It even finished as the runner-up in the MPV category of the JD Power dependability survey, a testament to its build quality and long-term dependability. Safety is another strong point, with the Zafira Tourer being awarded a five-star rating by Euro NCAP, indicating a high level of occupant protection.
How it Compares with Similar Cars
Vauxhall's Zafira Tourer is positioned as a mid-sized MPV, fitting neatly between the smaller Vauxhall Meriva and the larger, van-based Vivaro Life. In terms of driving dynamics and comfort, it often comes out favourably against competitors. It's generally considered more comfortable than the Ford C-Max and more engaging to drive than the Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer. The Zafira Tourer has garnered numerous accolades over its lifespan, including the What Car? MPV Award, underscoring its appeal in the segment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Vauxhall Tourer better than a Zafira?
The "Tourer" designation refers specifically to this generation of the Zafira, distinguishing it from earlier models. The Zafira Tourer is an evolution, offering improved styling, a more refined interior, and enhanced practicality, building upon the legacy of the Zafira nameplate.
Are Zafira Tourers reliable?
Yes, the Zafira Tourer has a strong reputation for reliability and safety, achieving a five-star Euro NCAP rating and performing well in dependability surveys.
What are the running costs of a Zafira Tourer?
Running costs are generally affordable due to fuel-efficient engines, competitive servicing costs, and low tax bills. Specific costs will vary depending on the engine, age, and driving conditions.
Which Zafira Tourer trim is best?
The "best" trim depends on your priorities. For maximum comfort and luxury, the Elite trim is excellent. For a good balance of features and value, SE or Tech Line Nav are strong contenders. The Design trim offers a solid entry point with essential modern features.
Is the Zafira Tourer good for long journeys?
Yes, its soft suspension, quiet engines, and comfortable interior make it a very relaxing car for long distances.
Conclusion
The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer stands out as a highly competent and practical used MPV. Its stylish exterior, versatile and spacious interior with flexible seating, comfortable driving experience, and strong reliability and safety credentials make it a compelling choice for families. With a range of trims and engines available, it's possible to find a used Zafira Tourer that perfectly suits your needs and budget. If you're looking for a car that can comfortably transport seven people, adapt to various family needs, and offer peace of mind through its dependability, the Zafira Tourer is certainly worth a closer look.
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