Practical family cars have always been a mainstay of the Vauxhall range and the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer very much fits the bill. Sold until 2019 it offered five and seven-seat configurations, offering family buyers a car not much bigger than an Astra on the road, but with a more adaptable, spacious interior.
Like many such people-movers or multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), the Vauxhall Zafira’s place has since been filled in the Vauxhall range by variations on the SUV or crossover theme, but if you’re shopping used, then there’s still a lot to recommend the Zafira Tourer. It’s not the most versatile MPV, nor the best to drive, and it’s not as stylish as a Vauxhall Mokka or Grandland - but it’s a solid all-rounder, and good value for money too.
If you’re in the market for a Vauxhall Zafira then other cars you might consider include the Ford C-Max and S-Max, the Renault Scenic, Citroen C4 Spacetourer, and even new or nearly-new versions of today’s seven-seat equivalent, the Dacia Jogger.
The original Vauxhall Zafira debuted at the end of the 1990s, and if the TV adverts starring Griff Rhys Jones didn’t put you off, then there was a lot to like about Vauxhall’s entrant in the small MPV segment. It was neatly styled, good to drive, and unlike some of its rivals, Vauxhall had squeezed an extra pair of seats in the back, making it an occasional seven-seater.
The Vauxhall Zafira has grown over time and in 2012, it became the Zafira Tourer, with swoopier styling and a longer body that gave that rearmost row of seats more space than ever. Frugal engines and a useful level of standard equipment kept it relevant, even as the public’s demand for SUVs and crossovers overtook more practical SUV shapes like the Vauxhall Zafira.
So while a used Vauxhall Zafira may not be as stylish as a crossover, it may still work for you as a used buy. Even though it’s not the most spacious car in its class, the upright and roomy cabin, flat floor, and child-friendly third row of seats (which pop up from the boot floor) give it plenty of utility, and as a five-seater the 710-litre boot is far bigger than most family SUVs - the Vauxhall Grandland makes do with a maximum of 514 litres, for instance.
The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer drives well. It’s a little firmer than some rivals, but not to the point of discomfort, and this firmness does mean it feels controlled around corners, with responsive steering and minimal body lean. The engines are good too - they’re frugal, and even the 1.4-litre petrol feels perky, while both diesels (especially the 2.0 CDTi) are well up to the job of hauling people and cargo, and don’t produce too much noise either.
Bear in mind that Vauxhall’s relatively short warranty means most Zafiras will now be out of warranty. And while the Zafira is good, we do think some of its rivals are even better - the Ford S-Max is a more satisfying drive, the Citroen C4 Spacetourer is more stylish, and the Volkswagen Touran has a stronger image. The Vauxhall does give you a lot for your money, though.
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Engine-wise, the best used Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is probably one of the models with the 1.6 CDTi. The mid-range engine gives more effortless performance than the 1.4 Turbo petrol, but is more frugal, and less expensive than the 2.0 CDTi. The bigger diesel’s extra performance is nice, but you’ll only miss the extra shove occasionally.
The Zafira’s range of trim levels is pretty confusing but the Tech Line is probably our pick. It builds upon the well-equipped SE trim and came with satellite navigation (which shouldn’t be too out of date just yet), but they were quite affordable when new, so used prices are likely to be softer too.
Vauxhall Zafira 1.4i Turbo: With a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, the Zafira made 140PS with the option of either a manual or automatic gearbox. With the manual it covers the 0-60mph sprint in 9.9 seconds (10.2 for the auto), with 44.1mpg combined economy (auto 40.9mpg).
Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 CDTi: The 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel makes 134PS, and is manual-only. Economy depends on wheel size, but with the smallest wheels Vauxhall claimed up to 62.8mpg, with 0-60mph in 10.4 seconds.
Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 CDTi: The biggest diesel came with either a manual or automatic gearbox, and produced 170PS. That meant 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds manual or 9.3sec auto, and up to 57.7mpg (46.3mpg with the automatic).
It’s fashionable these days to offer just a handful of trim levels but for Zafira Tourer shoppers it was like being back in the 1990s, with several trim lines all offering slightly different levels of kit. This does make it a little confusing to discern the differences - particularly when even the basic Design features much of the equipment you’d want - but below we’ve listed the key differences to make things a little clearer.
The Vauxhall Zafira Design was the most basic Zafira Tourer, but wasn’t too badly equipped even so. Standard kit included a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone compatibility, air conditioning, cruise control with a speed limiter, 17-inch alloy wheels, and LED daytime running lights.
The Vauxhall Zafira Energy added navigation to the infotainment system, privacy glass for the rear windows, and front fog lights.
The Vauxhall Zafira SRi came with a few sporty features over and above the Design spec, with a tilting and four-way lumbar adjustable driver’s seat (and a sports seat design), fancier steering wheel trim, sports pedals, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Vauxhall Zafira SE introduced a ‘FlexRail’ centre console with a moveable storage bin, passenger underseat storage, an electric handbrake, chrome exterior details, climate control, automatic headlights, and rain-sensing wipers.
The Vauxhall Zafira Tech Line Nav featured similar equipment to the SE, but added the navigation system found in the Energy trim.
The Vauxhall Zafira Elite is Vauxhall’s equivalent to Ford’s Ghia or Vignale trim, so you get leather seats, extendable seat base cushions for the front seats, heated front seats, a panoramic windscreen and sunroof, and a different 18-inch alloy wheel design.
The Vauxhall Zafira’s dimensions are:
Length: 4666mm
Width: 1884mm (without mirrors), 2100mm (with mirrors)
Height: 1685mm
Ground clearance: N/A
The Vauxhall Zafira’s boot size is:
152 litres (seven seat mode)
710 litres (five seat mode)
1860 litres (two seat mode, to roof)
Since April 2017, all petrol and diesel cars have been subject to a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, and it’s the case for the Zafira Tourer too. You’ll pay £180 per year for both the petrol and diesel models, and no Zafira Tourer got close to the £40,000 mark when new, so shouldn’t attract a surcharge. Prior to April 2017, VED was based on CO2 emissions, so the 1.6 CDTi will be cheapest to tax, thanks to low CO2 ratings.
A basic Zafira Design with the 1.4-litre Turbo petrol engine started in group 15 when new, and engines made more of an impact on insurance costs than trim levels, so at its absolute highest, the 2.0 CDTi reached group 22 in all trim levels - apart from the Tech Line Nav, where it was one group lower.