Their default shape will be tall with a short, sloping bonnet, a huge windscreen, square edges and maybe an extra side window towards the tail: they’re called MPVs.
Now, MPVs are revered because of their many talents - besides lugging the family, relatives and friends around, it can also be used as a cargo van. But here’s another issue though: they say your life stops the moment you buy yourself an MPV. You’re now relegated to a non-exciting life.
Well it seems engineers are out to change that mindset by making MPVs really purposeful. Slap on a turbocharger, sharpen the handling department and tadaa… you not only arrive at places quicker, you also get to do it with a little tinge of fun. Volkswagen's Touran is one fine example.
Which also explains why Tourans are selling by the truckloads locally.
Lately though, the MPV segment is slowing down rather drastically. Try recalling a new MPV that was launched within the past six months or so – notwithstanding Mazda’s 5, this segment is practically quiet.
Until the arrival of this latest Opel Zafira.
Exterior
For a start, the Opel Zafira looks rather different when compared to the sea of MPVs available in our market today. As mentioned earlier, it is tall (1,685mm) and rather square; but those headlamps truly adds a stylish touch nobody else in this class has ever dared.
Now, MPVs are revered because of their many talents - besides lugging the family, relatives and friends around, it can also be used as a cargo van. But here’s another issue though: they say your life stops the moment you buy yourself an MPV. You’re now relegated to a non-exciting life.
Well it seems engineers are out to change that mindset by making MPVs really purposeful. Slap on a turbocharger, sharpen the handling department and tadaa… you not only arrive at places quicker, you also get to do it with a little tinge of fun. Volkswagen's Touran is one fine example.
Which also explains why Tourans are selling by the truckloads locally.
Lately though, the MPV segment is slowing down rather drastically. Try recalling a new MPV that was launched within the past six months or so – notwithstanding Mazda’s 5, this segment is practically quiet.
Until the arrival of this latest Opel Zafira.
Exterior
For a start, the Opel Zafira looks rather different when compared to the sea of MPVs available in our market today. As mentioned earlier, it is tall (1,685mm) and rather square; but those headlamps truly adds a stylish touch nobody else in this class has ever dared.
Ok, so the black 'tear' dropping down into the foglamp's housing might polarise opinions, but match that to a pair of very detailed headlamps, classy grille and huge windscreen and the Zafira scores highly in the exterior aesthetics department.
There are other stylish details around the car still. For example, those side mirrors that are fixed onto the doors instead of windows - you usually see them only on sports coupes.
17-inch alloys, wrapped in high-performance 225/50 R-17 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A rubbers is the icing on the cake.
There are other stylish details around the car still. For example, those side mirrors that are fixed onto the doors instead of windows - you usually see them only on sports coupes.
17-inch alloys, wrapped in high-performance 225/50 R-17 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A rubbers is the icing on the cake.
Interior
We are, after all, living in the era of interiors. The Zafira’s space and airiness are further complimented by the modern design of the interior layout – it feels expensive and substantial, and has marginally a more interesting fascia than the Japanese’s offerings.
It also beats the bane of too many modern cars: that airbags-and-side-impact-system-that-eats-into-storage-space syndrome. Thankfully, the Zafira gets for itself two useful gloveboxes and a plethora of storage spaces within the cabin.
The front seats are instantly comfortable, with soothing rather than aggressive quantities of lumbar and lateral support giving an adequate driving position. The steering wheel is nicely sized, as is the gear stick, which gives a nice feel when your palm is holding on to it. Unfortunately, you do not get a set of paddle-shifters here.
The second row has the ability to seat three average-sized adults shoulder to shoulder without a hitch (the good quality leather should impress too), with a good amount of legroom to spare. However, the third row is best reserved only for children – seriously, children only. Not even a teenager.
Like all MPVs, the Zafira’s interior is flexible for any occasion. Helping a friend move homes? Simply fold the second and third row down. Grocery shopping with the missus? Fold the third row, and there you have it, a boot capacity that’s even bigger than a sedan’s.
We are, after all, living in the era of interiors. The Zafira’s space and airiness are further complimented by the modern design of the interior layout – it feels expensive and substantial, and has marginally a more interesting fascia than the Japanese’s offerings.
It also beats the bane of too many modern cars: that airbags-and-side-impact-system-that-eats-into-storage-space syndrome. Thankfully, the Zafira gets for itself two useful gloveboxes and a plethora of storage spaces within the cabin.
The front seats are instantly comfortable, with soothing rather than aggressive quantities of lumbar and lateral support giving an adequate driving position. The steering wheel is nicely sized, as is the gear stick, which gives a nice feel when your palm is holding on to it. Unfortunately, you do not get a set of paddle-shifters here.
The second row has the ability to seat three average-sized adults shoulder to shoulder without a hitch (the good quality leather should impress too), with a good amount of legroom to spare. However, the third row is best reserved only for children – seriously, children only. Not even a teenager.
Like all MPVs, the Zafira’s interior is flexible for any occasion. Helping a friend move homes? Simply fold the second and third row down. Grocery shopping with the missus? Fold the third row, and there you have it, a boot capacity that’s even bigger than a sedan’s.
In terms of equipment list, our test car came with a panoramic glass roof, making it perfect to keep the little ones amused over extended road trips. And that’s not all: the Zafira also gets blindspot indicators on both wing mirrors, a lane deviation warning system that beeps the moment the car sways out of lane, a collision warning system and also parking indicators and sensors - items you will not get from the VW’s Touran or even the Peugeot’s 5008.
The Drive
In this 140bhp form, the 1.4-litre turbocharged lump feels more willing than expected. Paired to a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission, the Zafira gets itself along well - not with any brutal kicks, but with a steady wave of soft sounding urge.
It’s not free of turbo lag - I give you that - but once you get the engine spinning past 2,500 rpm, you just feel the car darting forward without much hesitant all the way to the redline.
While the six-speed auto box is not built for mind numbing performance, the shifts up are smooth and calibrated well enough that you seldom notice the absence of a seventh ratio and equally rarely feel the need for one.
Although it's no CVT unit, it does so smoothly. The tiptronic mode is a cinch to use, but it's quite surprising to see that noticeable lag from the time you shift a cog, to the time the gearbox actually engages the selected gear.
The Zafira’s electric steering can be considered a brilliantly engineered unit, this side of the league. At low speeds, it’s light enough to make parking a cinch. Then at expressway speeds, it weighs up nicely, communicating with the driver - a rarity in an MPV.
In this 140bhp form, the 1.4-litre turbocharged lump feels more willing than expected. Paired to a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission, the Zafira gets itself along well - not with any brutal kicks, but with a steady wave of soft sounding urge.
It’s not free of turbo lag - I give you that - but once you get the engine spinning past 2,500 rpm, you just feel the car darting forward without much hesitant all the way to the redline.
While the six-speed auto box is not built for mind numbing performance, the shifts up are smooth and calibrated well enough that you seldom notice the absence of a seventh ratio and equally rarely feel the need for one.
Although it's no CVT unit, it does so smoothly. The tiptronic mode is a cinch to use, but it's quite surprising to see that noticeable lag from the time you shift a cog, to the time the gearbox actually engages the selected gear.
The Zafira’s electric steering can be considered a brilliantly engineered unit, this side of the league. At low speeds, it’s light enough to make parking a cinch. Then at expressway speeds, it weighs up nicely, communicating with the driver - a rarity in an MPV.
Also surprising is how the Zafira come to its own on winding roads. In these circumstances, it is hard to separate the car’s qualities because it melds into one impressive whole, even disguising the fact that it is a front-wheel drive. No matter how hard you throw the Zafira into those sharp bends, the nose will still point towards the intended direction amid the screeching rubbers.
Out on straight roads, the Zafira is pliant and at the same time surefooted, willingly absorbing road irregularities of sorts with aplomb.
Conclusion
A much-needed Opel product in the MPV market, what the Zafira is displaying here is a competent vehicle that is practical for daily usage. It offers the best interior space with good flexibility when compared to the likes of the Toyota Wish, Honda Stream and Mazda 5. On top of that, it’s a tidy and trusty handler when the road turns twisty.
But it has quite a task in its hands still – to swing buyers away from the class favourite Touran and into its direction. But for a start, its high equipment level should already impress.
Out on straight roads, the Zafira is pliant and at the same time surefooted, willingly absorbing road irregularities of sorts with aplomb.
Conclusion
A much-needed Opel product in the MPV market, what the Zafira is displaying here is a competent vehicle that is practical for daily usage. It offers the best interior space with good flexibility when compared to the likes of the Toyota Wish, Honda Stream and Mazda 5. On top of that, it’s a tidy and trusty handler when the road turns twisty.
But it has quite a task in its hands still – to swing buyers away from the class favourite Touran and into its direction. But for a start, its high equipment level should already impress.
