Test drive Opel Zafira 2003 - 2005 Minivan

Opel Zafira: a new "face", new image

Due to the emergence of numerous competitors, Opel decided to slightly refresh the appearance of its bestseller - the seven -seater UPV Zafira. The car produced since 1999 received a slightly trampled appearance and a new list of options.
It is difficult to name this process with full restyling or modernizations - for example, a light tightening of the face. Judge for yourself: of all external changes, the potential buyer is noticeable only to a new false radiator grille, which now, regardless of the version and modification, has a chrome decoration. Which, by the way, was very positively affected not only by the appearance of Zafira, but also on its image. If earlier this single-collar was more associated with something utility, now, thanks to the chrome on the front line, Opel Zafira is identified as a business luxury version at first glance.
Even the updated backwaters have changed a little - the rear lights have changed - slightly, but still. All other changes affected only a list of additional equipment. Now the buyer can order chrome door handles, wheel wheels and handles of the rear, fifth door. Chrome was added inside - the order of the central console for aluminum and chrome -based edges of the devices are offered to order. In principle, the update is finished for this. And options such as xenon headlights of head light or climate control, for Opel Za-Fira were available before restyling ...
Barrel of honey ...
Of course, the main advantage of Opel Zafira, both pre -sustaining and the current one, is its seven places with a unique system of folding additional seats. None of the competitors have such a chip yet, and in the near future, apparently, the appearance of a global competitor is not expected. And above all, because many of the new ones sin overly compact external dimensions, so they cannot provide a normal, worthy supply of space for the rear passengers. This is not a reproach for competitors, this is a statement of fact: Zafira, being the first of the compact, but seven -seater, did not try to hide her true size. And it benefited her. A rather compact (for its class) outside, inside Opel Zafira flaunts a very spacious salon, which is able to provide the equally high level of comfort for both five and seven passengers.
But Opel, apparently, is not going to rest on his laurels, glancing from above at competitors trying to shift him from the throne in this market sector. Before the appearance of a completely new model, which has not yet been announced, the manufacturer will try to hold the leading position with all kinds of measures. The first step is Feyslifting, the consequences of which you can observe in the photographs. Very subtle and competently, unobtrusively and almost imperceptibly, designers returned the form of Zafira to former freshness. Moreover, they did this, as you see, literally a few strokes, which once again proves - a successful, relatively modest design does not get old for a very long time.
In addition to the external appearance, the interior was ennobled. But the main thing - the mechanism of folding/laying out additional seats has become even more convenient! True, mainly due to more successful handles, heads of the seats folding process. Otherwise, inside Safir remained almost the same. And this is right, since in ergonomics this model is still not inferior to any of the competitors. And already, if we talk about the convenience of using anti -popular chairs ...
The whole secret of Opel Zafira is that the designers managed to make it two -faced. When the car is five -seater, nothing in its interior gives out that, if desired, two more passengers can accommodate with a high level of comfort. On the other hand, in the seven -seater version, Zafira does not look half a wool, Gda six and seventh chairs are too additional. On the contrary, the very rear places in terms of comfort are almost in no way inferior to the middle row seats, and this is especially noticeable after you pass for comparison for at least twenty minutes in the rear seats in any of the competitors. The middle sofa is regulated in the longitudinal direction, which means that the rear passengers have where to put their feet. The seats of the third row themselves are a full -fledged design with normal proportions, and not a truncated scheme, the dimensions of which are maximally reduced for the sake of folding.
Without a doubt, it’s good that additional places in Opel Zafira are always available: the third row of seats is not taken out and is not dismantled, like competitors. Again, you do not need to pay extra for additional chairs - they are part of the design of the car. In addition, the mechanism of their folding is so perfect that one person can engage in transformation of the salon, even if it is a fragile girl. Yes, and the trunk in any case can please with a huge useful space, even with the upwarded rear seats.
... and a spoon of tar
Unfortunately, there are in Opel Zafira and disadvantages, although it should be noted that they are visible only with direct comparison with competitors. Yes, Zafira is still invincible in its seven-seater hypostasis, but on this its advantages as a passenger car almost end. For the same reasons why Zafira easily bypasses competitors in the nomination comfort and ease of transformation of the cabin, it is inferior to them in running qualities and controllability. Just Zafira suspensions, designed for full load (and seven people are considerable weight), is physically not able to clearly work out all road irregularities, as Mazda Premacy does, for example,. Although, on the other hand, the unloaded Opel has simply impenetrable pendants - such a hole is nothing.
But most of all claims are the engine - a 1.8 -liter gasoline engine, which was installed on a tested copy, is not at all suitable for such a car. Firstly, this motor has absolutely no bottoms - at idle and low speeds he openly refuses to go. Secondly, even when the motor comes out at the moment, its thrust is still not enough for normal movement, especially with complete or even partial loading of the machine. For a normal, not even very dynamic start, it’s not enough just to let go of the clutch and press the gas - Zafira 1.8 just twitches ... and will stall. For confident touching from the place, it is necessary to play the turns and the clutch pedal, preventing the engine to stall, at the same time not allowing him to burn the clutch with excessively high speeds. But even having moved from the place to relax early: for confident acceleration, the engine needs to be twisted almost to the speed limiter - it wakes up somewhere after 4000 rpm. And only then does Opel Zafira begin to accelerate as it is appropriate to do a car with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine. But this pleasure does not last long, since the programs are relatively short, so barely reaching optimal turns, the engine almost instantly rests against the limiter. In general, a 1.8 -liter gasoline engine is far from the best choice for such a car. It is better to buy with a diesel engine: it is more economical and more painful. Yes, and then selling, after a couple of years, the turbodiesel zafira will be much easier than gasoline.
Total ...
And what in the end? As a result, we get a pretty good car: spacious, inexpensive, comfortable. All claims concern mainly the engine and only partially - steering settings and pendants. Although, of course, to scold the steering for non -informativeness, and the suspensions are not entirely correct for excessive condness, because we must remember that we are dealing with almost the only seven -seater van on the market. And even despite the fact that several more models have now appeared, in which the number 7, Opel Zafira is still invincible in the column of passenger places in the column of passenger places. At least, among those models that we managed to test, only Safira has pronounced seven -sevenness, and all the rest in two additional places sometimes represent the so -called +2, as is written for cars with a body compartment. That is, these two additional places seem to be, but there is practically no real benefit from them. Zafira has all seven places very comfortable: even on a long trip, the sixth and seventh passengers will not complain about crowding and an uncomfortable landing. So, if you need exactly a seven -seater car, but you do not want to buy a bulky minibus, Opel Zafira suits you in all respects: it is cheaper, and more comfortable, and more elegant ...

A source: Autogazet / N 25 (417) dated 08.07.03