Test drive Opel Zafira 2006 - 2008 Minivan

Update - carefully

Since the beginning of production in 1999, Opel-Zafira has already made 2 million cars. The main advantage of the updated backwater is that it is modernized to a minimum degree, Anatoly Fomin believes. Photo by the author and General Motors.
 
The mini-wen market began rapid growth in the USA in the early 1980s, but their popularity has reached a noticeable delay to Europe. Today, in the New World, these cars are rapidly losing their positions, but on our continent, competition, on the contrary, is increasing. Opel has three single -crews. Safira is the largest and only seven -seater.
Less liters, more strength
Modernization of Safira is, first of all, motors. Two new diesel engines - a reduced volume. The base gasoline engine 1.6 liters thanks to adjustable phases of gas distribution and intake pipelines of variable length added 10 hp. and 3.3 N.M, removing fuel consumption by 4.3%. The technology of laser processing of cylinders, instead of traditional hining, made it possible to reduce friction and oil consumption. Diesels of 1.7 liters correspond to the current development trends of Opel - typical downsizing, a decrease in the working volume at the same or higher power and torque. The current 1.7-liter diesel engines with a capacity of 110 and 125 hp Replace the previous 1.9 liters with a capacity of 100 and 120 hp, without at all losing in the maximum torque. The new generation of engines with injection Nakmon Reil corresponds to the euro V and consumes in a mixed cycle of 5.7 l/100 km. However, these motors are not yet too interesting to us - their supplies to Russia are not planned. But the most powerful diesel will come here - 150 -horsepower, with a volume of 1.9 liters. With him, Safira, promise, will demonstrate a maximum speed of more than 200 km/h.
Traveling to Syrndia
Switzerland - banks, watches, chocolate and cheese. The test route leads from the financial center of the country of Zurich to the small town of Stein, famous for cheeses.
What to go for cheese? At the site are sauna with new 1.7-liter diesels and gasoline motors: atmospheric with a direct injection of 2.2 liters and 2 l with turbocharged. Let's start with the middle car, especially since from the point of view of the photo, the photo will win from silver metallic both on the narrow streets of ancient cities and against the background of snowy peaks. A COSMO set with a glass roof will focus on the wealth of equipment.
The engine with direct fuel injection, if you listen, can be identified by a characteristic noise at idle - high -pressure nozzles, of course, are not as noisy as diesel, but still much louder than usual. But in direct engines, as a rule, the response to the gas pedal and good craving on the bottoms are better.
The hundred -fingered engine is quite suitable. It seems that a six -speed gearbox is a bit too much - a traction motor could do even four. That's just ceremonial indicators in this case will suffer greatly, because the range of gear rates exceeding five times is difficult to cut largely.
In this situation, the help of an on -board computer is useful: in the mountains to determine the optimal mode of movement and transmission is much more difficult than on the plain. I just don’t want to do this at all, because the management of the logging is much more fascinating than you can expect from a family car. Perhaps on our roads the suspensions will seem harsh, but now it is much more important that the drill is followed by a turn, and not a roll of a car! The electro -hydraulic steering successfully connects the spent design of the hydraulic power steering and fuel saving thanks to the electric pump.
The fact that on Russian roads looks inappropriate and unnecessary athletes, you perceive in the Alps correctly. Unless sometimes massive front racks interfere in especially intricate left -wing turns. Only an incendiary motor is missing. However, there is no one to blame - he himself was flattered by a fiery colorer and a glass roof two -liter turbo - a completely different matter! But there is also an OPC with a 240-horsepower engine! Just this time
How about seven in the cabin? The layout of the backbone can rather be called 5+2. It is convenient to remove folding rear seats to the floor, but the adult does not consider a long journey in the third grade comfortable, although even those who are slightly higher than average are enough there. For many hours of traveling, the rear passengers will be too bent knees. The middle row is easily rival with the business class of the regional airliner, there are enough space and scores. Three fit in width, recall the university course - by transitional landing. That is, if everyone has the admission to the plus, the minimum gap turns into a minimum interference. With seven on board the Safira, there will still be a place for a couple of not the largest suitcases. It is difficult to expect a larger car with a length of 4.5 m long.
A successful car is not easy to improve. Sharpening and grinding is dangerous. After all, even a hoping in the updated motor replaced laser processing. However, some roughness should be to give personality.
A good car should be updated carefully. This is exactly what the creators of the current Opel-Zafir did.
Summed lean
The minimum sail with a 1.6 liter engine (Essentia equipment) and a manual gearbox is sold in Russia for 549,000 rubles. True, in the car you will have to do without air conditioning, electric rear windows and trunk shelves. Enjoy equipment with a 1.8 liter engine will pull 619 thousand with a mechanical gearbox or 20 thousand more with a robotic Izitronics transmission. Finally, prices for a car with a 2.2 liter engine, 150 hp. With hydromechanical automatic transmission and in the richest Cosmo configuration begin from 819 thousand rubles. Even the fastest in the world of a mini-ven OPC with a 240-horsepower engine, capable of reaching 231 km/h, will still cost less than a magical million. For the first time in Russia, a diesel version with the most powerful engine (150 hp) performed by Cosmo for 799 thousand rubles is available. At present, a very attractive offer.
READ CAREFULLY!
Even the basic backfill in standard configuration has seven places and the original Flex7 transformation system. The press release says that the emission of a greenhouse CO2 is the most environmentally friendly version of the car operating on natural gas is less than 20 g/km per passenger. Please note: not for the car! The car turns out 138 g/km - an excellent indicator. But without a hint of sensation. I would like to see in technical data a capacity of 16 hp, and on the price tag: 89 thousand rubles - for each of the seven
 
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"