Which zafira to buy

Surprisingly, perhaps, the car can make efficient and reasonably enjoyable cross-country progress. The ride can be a little on the firm side, though, especially on the larger wheel options, but the car deals well with big troughs and crests, and remains nicely composed over road irregularities. The diesel engines are a bigger issue, because they sound a little rough, especially when you work them hard. Inside is an interior of obvious intelligence and neat design. The driving position is excellent and visibility in all directions good.

The dashboard and its surrounding controls are logically laid out and pleasing to the eye. This may be one of the cheaper MPVs around but there is plenty of evidence of soft-touch plastics, chrome detailing and glossy plastics to lift the overall feeling of quality inside. Space is good, too. However, three adults will find it a squeeze across that row because the centre seat is narrower than the others. Tech Line Nav and Elite Nav models get lounge seating, allowing you to fold the central seat in the middle row into an armrest and giving more space to the two outer seats.

Access to the third row is reasonable, but grown-ups will find it uncomfortable for long journeys, so it's best to leave it for the kids. The boot is a reasonable size and a handy shape, with good access, and all five rear seats can be folded flat to increase the space available. If you're interested in buying a used Zafira Tourer, check out our used car classifieds section here. What Car? For more information on the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer, read the interior , practicality , driving and specifications sections of our review over the following pages.

The Flex7 seating system is really clever, but you have to wonder why more thought didn't go into making the cubbies a bit more useful.

There are many ways to rearrange the rear seats — when the middle seat is folded down you can fold up the side bolsters of the backrest and have a pair of long, padded armrests for passengers in the back.

The two outer seats can also be manoeuvred inboard for more elbow room. The rearmost seats, like in most MPVs, are only really suitable for children, but access is very easy thanks to the sliding middle row. A VW Touran is better in this regard — it has over 40 storage areas scattered around its interior. The comparatively small load space is not helped by a narrow floor and a low parcel shelf.

Once you fold the seats down the 1, litres that open up are still behind the S-Max or Alhambra at max capacity that can pack 2, and 2, litres respectively. The Zafira takes corners with limited body roll while remaining cosseting on the motorway — a great balance of abilities.

The 1. Much like the seating possibilities, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer comes with a good number of powertrain options. Vauxhall has ditched the asthmatic non-turbocharged 1. The new 1. The larger engines are inevitably less fuel efficient. However, it became clear that the market for spacious people carriers simply isn't there anymore thanks to the monumental popularity of SUVs, so the Zafira was quietly taken out of production in So if you want to make use of one of the most practical cars there ever was, you'll have to buy a used one.

Which is a shame. Because when approaching a family car like this with the head in control of the heart, there is plenty to recommend about the Zafira Tourer. One of its most appealing features is the third row of seats that fold flush into the floor, meaning you either have seven seats, or a huge amount of boot space. You'll like be looking at older, higher mileage models for the same price as a Zafira Tourer, but you get much more overall space for passengers and luggage.

The car underwent a facelift and simplifications to the engine range in There are three core engines for used car buyers — a petrol and two diesels, which will have differing appeal depending on your usage. Most will be happy with the smooth and economical 1.

Admittedly, there are some people carriers that feel less like a half-asleep parent, and are a little bit more stimulating to drive. The Ford S-Max is the best in that respect. However, when sitting at 70mph on the motorway the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer makes a good case for itself as a long distance cruiser, as it's quieter than the Renault Grand Scenic or Ford S-Max.

The most important factor in a family people carrier is space and practicality and in this area the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is right up there. Pockets and compartments abound. And even though there's a large, panoramic windscreen, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer's small windows and dark trim means it feels less airy and spacious than the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.

The Zafira also scored a maximum five star Euro NCAP rating when it launched, but it only features two Isofix mounts for child seats, where several rivals will offer three. Early cars were available with a 1. Originally the Zafira Tourer was available with a 1.

The 1. There was also a 1. This gives really good economy and is smooth, making it the pick of the range.