A stylish MPV with all the practicality you could ever need. But will it throw any second-hand curveballs?
The word Zafira is derived from the Arabic meaning ‘to succeed’.It was a good name for Vauxhall’s three-generation range of seven-seat people carriers, because that’s exactly what they did. I owned two – a Mk1 and a Mk2 – and appreciated their amenable driving manners and Flex7 easy-fold seat system.The Mk2 Zafira was launched in 2005 and clung on until 2014, two years after its posher sibling and the focus of this guide, the Zafira Tourer, arrived.That the old-stager lasted so long was largely down to its lowish price, but by 2014 it was easily outclassed. Still, if it’s a cheap and roomy MPV you’re wanting, a one-owner, 2014-reg Zafira 1.8 Design with 52,000 miles and a full history for £5750 looks like value.To its successor, then: the Zafira Tourer. It was launched in 2012, its job to offer an alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Sharan and Ford S-Max while keeping the flexible interior features that made the standard Zafira so popular.It shared its platform with the then current Astra, so was longer and wider and therefore roomier than the older Zafira, as well as sharper-looking, with a striking ‘boomerang’ front light arrangement.Inside, it remained impressively practical. In fact, it was even more useful than the Zafira thanks to the traditional centre row of seats being replaced by three individual and sliding chairs (on some models the middle one can be shunted out of the way, allowing the outer pair to move inwards a little) and the adoption of the sliding FlexConsole storage system.Practical, yes, but also sophisticated: plusher fabrics and soft-touch plastics, a large windscreen that floods the cabin with light and options including a suite of driver assist systems, a panoramic sunroof and FlexRide adaptive damping all made the Zafira Tourer feel special.If today’s mix of used ones is anything to go by, diesel and petrol Tourers sold in roughly equal numbers. Regarding the petrol engines, most buyers chose the 138bhp 1.4i Turbo over the non-turbo 1.8. Turning to the diesels, the change to Euro 6 (the emissions standard became mandatory in 2015) fell slap in the middle of the Tourer’s production run.It means the 2.0-litre diesels available from launch were Euro 5, but the excellent 134bhp 1.6 CDTi, introduced in 2014, was actually Euro 6, so not subject to current ULEZ charges.From 2015, the 2.0 CDTi also became Euro 6, but just one variant, producing 168bhp, was offered. Fortunately, it’s a good ’un: impressively torquey from 1300-3500rpm and capable of 0-62mph in a fair 9.1sec.The Tourer was facelifted in 2016. Out went the boomerang lights (they never came back…) and in came the nose from the seventh-gen Astra. The interior was also updated with the latest IntelliLink infotainment systems.Throughout its life the Tourer was cursed with a baffling array of trims, but you only need bother with the most popular: SRi, SE and Design. At this age, condition is worth more than baubles, but Design has all you could reasonably want, including parking sensors, alloys and air-con, while SE sugars the pill with lounge seating, intelligent technology and automatic lights.SRi has sports seats and bigger wheels. ‘Salam alaikum’, as they say in Arabic.Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 2012-2018 common problemsEngine: Beware a failing oil pick-up seal on Euro 5, 2.0 diesels. Low oil pressure, due to air in the oil, on cold mornings is a clue. Staying with the diesels, check the AdBlue level sensor isn’t illuminated.With the 1.6 CDTi engine or the 1.4i Turbo petrol, listen for noises from the timing chain and guides. Also with the 1.4i Turbo, listen for the engine squeaking. Remove the dipstick: if the squeaking stops, it needs a new crankshaft oil seal. Gearbox: If it’s a manual, check the action is smooth because sticky cables are a known issue, especially in winter. The cables are poorly sealed, allowing water to get in. Suspension: A recent MOT should pick up leaks, worn bushes and broken springs. If it’s the rare FlexRide system, check that all the modes work.Brakes: The rear brakes can corrode badly. If the rear of the car appears to shake or vibrate when you brake, a failed rear brake damper is the likely cause. Where fitted, check Hill Start works.Interior: Check the heated seats work, if fitted – owners have reported failed wiring looms, although a repair kit is available. Make sure all the seats slide and fold as they should. Check the carpets for damp caused by blocked windscreen drains, and failed door and tailgate seals. Test the infotainment system thoroughly.Body: Check the central locking works and that the tailgate closes securely (there have been reports of tailgates partially opening once on the move).
