Used Vauxhall Zafira review 2005-2015 review

MPVs might have fallen out of favour in recent years as people flock to trendy SUVs, but when the second generation of Vauxhall Zafira was launched in 2005, the market was positively booming.

As with the original, the Zafira is essentially a stretched version of the Astra hatchback with a more upright body that allows enough space for a pair of seats to fold out of the boot floor. Tuck them away, however, and the boot space is vast, while a one-piece sliding rear bench means that those in the second row have plenty of leg room.

Admittedly, newer people carriers are more flexible still with their clever cubby holes and individually sliding rear seats, but for its time the Zafira was impressive, particularly considering its low asking price.

Being based on a hatchback means the Zafira is also pretty decent to drive, resisting excessive body roll in corners and gripping well. And if the basic petrol or diesel models feel too slow, there’s always the unlikely 237bhp VXR to consider, although you’ll have to be prepared to accept a ride that’s considerably firmer than in other Zafiras.

The raised driving position and good all-round visibility also find favour with owners, as does a five star Euro NCAP crash test rating, although it’s worth noting that curtain airbags weren’t standard across the range until 2007.

The reason Vauxhall sold so many Zafiras, however, and indeed the reason it remained on sale for three years alongside its theoretical replacement, the Zafira Tourer, was that it was so keenly priced when it was new. And that’s an advantage it carries into the used car market, whether you’re looking at an early car or one of the post-2009 facelift models.

You could spend as little as £600 on a Vauxhall Zafira, but we’d recommend increasing your budget to £1,500, which will open up a wide selection of decent early 1.6-litre petrols, while the more powerful 1.9-litre diesel starts at just under £2,000. The sporty VXR models, meanwhile, are relatively rare, and hold their value better than other Zafiras, so expect to pay at least £5,000.

Prices for post-2009 facelift cars start at about £3,500, and the market tops out at £10,000, although note that the same sum will buy you a newer and far better Zafira Tourer.

Real-world fuel economy of about 40mpg for the 1.9-litre diesel compared with 30-35mpg for the various petrol engines might look attractive, but, in reality, you’ll quite likely lose any savings you might make not only in the extra purchase price, but also potentially expensive repairs.

If you do want a diesel, then better to opt for the 1.7-litre engine that was added to the range as part of the 2009 facelift. It might be down on power (110bhp versus up to 147bhp for the 1.9), but there’s still enough to pull the car along when fully loaded, and its lower CO2 emissions of 139g/km mean it’s also £55 per year cheaper to tax.

The most attractively priced Zafira uses the 1.6-litre petrol engine, but again it’s worth looking for a post-2009 facelift car if your budget will stretch, because power, fuel economy and CO2 emissions were all improved.

Larger petrol engines such as the 1.8- and even 2.2-litre units were offered, but their high emissions make tax costs prohibitive in relation to the value of the car. The latter also requires frequent oil changes to avoid timing chain problems that can wreck the engine.

Servicing should be carried out at least one every 12 months. Costs are cheap, however, and because the Zafira was sold in such quantities, most independent garages will be familiar with working on them.

With the diesel engines liable to particulate filter problems at best, it makes sense to look at a cheaper petrol Vauxhall Zafira, and of those, the most cost-effective to run is the 1.6. Note, though, that early cars make do with just 105bhp and thus feel sluggish when fully loaded, so it’s better to go for a the later VVT version of the engine from 2009, with a perkier 113bhp.

The Zafira was offered in a staggering number of trims and special editions throughout its life, from sparsely equipped Expression to the racy VXR or top-of-the-range Elite with its leather seats, climate control and MP3 player connectivity.

However, it’s the mid-range Design that we’d recommend. Not only does it include equipment such as air-conditioning, alloy wheels, electric windows and a CD player, but it’s also in plentiful supply

Our favourite Vauxhall Zafira: 1.6i 16v Design

The Vauxhall Zafira is far from alone in the compact seven-seat people carrier market, and if its reliability track record has you worried then a Mazda 5 could be a good alternative. Its sliding rear doors make for easy access and it handles well for this kind of car.

Speaking of cars that handle well, the Ford S-Max is another popular contender and the clear winner for enthusiastic drivers. It’s a newer car than the Zafira, and slightly bigger, so you won’t find such low starting prices, but it’s a fine seven seat people carrier.

Sensible family motoring can also be found in the Kia Carens, which is large and well equipped, if ultimately rather dull.

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