Opel Zafira has been reinvented from the ground and impresses today at least as much
as it did the original Zafira when it was launched in 1999.
The third generation of this model, the one that you see in the video, is called Zafira Tourer and is on the market
alongside the previous generation of Zafira, after the successful Astra and Astra Classic marketing model.
Opel Zafira Tourer, launched in the Romanian market in 2012, has the new Opel design –
with type wing or boomerang aesthetic elements. The interior is taken from Insignia
and Astra models, but slightly reconfigured. The instrument cluster and all other commands
are identical, but packaged in a slightly different dashboard.
Anyway, Opel is a little behind the rest of the brands from what the modernity of the liquid crystal
displays are concerned. They are... sort of... old school.
The way the interior of this third generation of Zafira was designed is downright spectacular!
The centered rear seat can be folded and its margins turn into a huge armrest.
In this car we have traveled 5,000 kilometers in ten days, from Bucharest to Paris and back.
The oversized armrest can be a good stand for the laptop, elbow, head
and even legs - if you get bored and want to stay in some unconventional positions in the car.
In addition, the rear seat backrests are adjustable.
To the functionality we can add of course the storage spaces. Zafira Tourer has 13 such closed spaces,
ten of them are opened, and six cup holders. Almost anywhere you can think
of putting something, in Zafira Tourer you have the possibility.
Of great show is the space between the front seats. At the base, there is a huge hole
where you can put 1.5 liter bottles, in the middle is a piece of plastic with cup holder,
and above there is the armrest. The two parts are mobile, for a maximum functionality.
The bad part is that these two mobile pieces are mediocre by design and creaks every time
you touch them or when the car runs on an uneven road. Neither the dashboard lines
align perfectly with the doors. Briefly, Zafira Tourer suffers a bit from what the
interior conception and execution quality is concerned.
The interior modern lighting, with LED red technology, saves a little the situation.
It is the most beautiful MPV lighting from in the segment, with lights inspired arranged in doors
and the central metal rail. A brown or beige interior is preferred.
It would better highlight the modern interior, even better than this black leather does it.
Let's not forget the third row of seats. The trunk seats are decent and also benefit of cup holders.
Much more useful is the trunk of 710 liters in the five seats configuration.
It is simply huge.
The tested car has top Cosmo trim level, without too many options, but with an engine
from top of the line: 2-liter turbo diesel of 165 PS/HP and 350 Nm. It is a very pleasant engine
to drive, and strong at the same time, so that you won’t
feel like pulling hard the car when it's loaded. To Paris and back, with four people aboard and
the trunk full of luggage, I have rarely felt the need of more power. It is a very proper engine for Zafira Tourer.
The average fuel consumption for 5,000 km was 6.2 l/00 km.
Zafira has suspensions and steering very close to those of Astra, so it is a very nice car
to drive, with a balanced and predictable behavior. It can lead you on curves
with pleasure... with speeds far beyond the affordability of the passengers’ stomach.
Zafira Tourer price starts at about 22,000 Euros including VAT, and an identical version
to the tested one has a price of about 30,500 Euros with VAT. It is an almost flawless family car,
practical and comfortable, and for those who find it too expensive or uninteresting,
there are serious alternatives to French and Japanese brands.