Opel Zafira test drive since 2009 minivan

Frau Zafira

Adam Opel monitors his Zafira as a jealous spouse so that cosmetics do not look unnecessary and does not affect the reputation, but only helped to consolidate secular success. In any case, this was the case this time, when Frau was preheated, but so subtle and skillfully that the gaze clings, and what exactly you can’t understand at once. The face is well familiar, but it was clearly added to determination. The lattices dressed in chrome for the whole, the niches of the fog lights spread along the edges of the front bumper, as if under the pressure of oncoming wind, bixenon eyes slightly changed the shape and can look towards the turn. And behind it is now more expressive: the forms have been preserved, but the same chrome and stylish transparent blocks in lanterns appeared. The main thing is, perhaps, that this Madame is ready to fulfill all the appearance promised by appearance. Moreover, for moderate money when buying and subsequent maintenance.
Immodest
From the very moment of its appearance in 1999, this model proposed more than any other in the segment of compact Van: seven places and a patented and simple FLEX7 system. It was difficult for a practical person to resist the temptation to get a car that simple manipulations allow you to instantly turn from passenger into a commercial, with a flat floor. This feature of her turned out to be very in demand both by private and corporate clients. It is not surprising, therefore, immediately after the debut of Zafira began to lead in its class in the German market and some other European countries.
The second generation of the model appeared nearly three years ago: the car became longer, wider, but slightly lower and clearly more sports. This allowed Opel to release more than 450 thousand copies of Zafira and get 10% of the European compactive market. However, last year, Astra, on the basis of which Zafira was being built, went through restyling, and there was no reason to miss the possibility of refreshing the compact Van. As soon as this was done, the company announced the release of the two millionth Zafira just the other day, and invited journalists to familiarize themselves with the updated model in blessed Switzerland.
I catch myself thinking that in cloudy and vain Moscow one day to get acquainted with the novelty would be few. In a pacified and delightfully beautiful mountain region, where, it seems, time itself slows down enough running. Because there are impeccable highways here and dizzying serpentines, and there is a transparent, not clouding eye of the air. And on the back in the evening not a dust. So it was not difficult for me to strengthen the opinion that Adam Opel made the car truly universal. It is simultaneously practical, suitable for many needs, and is able to give pleasure from driving. Zafira can be a meek, and very immodest in the configuration, and truly hot in the OPC version. Only engines to choose from ten. True, six will be delivered to Russia, but there are among them economical, including diesel, and the most powerful in the range.
Temperament by order
Such a wide range of power plants should satisfy every taste. At the same time, I can say that, no matter what engine the future owner opens his choice, he can count on confident movement in any conditions.
In fact, Opel engineers are especially proud of new 1.7-liter turbodiesels with a capacity of 110 and 125 hp, and a 1.6-liter engine operating on gas. But just these units in our country will not be represented. For the simple reason that in Russia it is impossible to refuel fuel that meets Euro-5 standards. The situation with environmental standards is simply anecdotal: today there are Euro-3 standards but only for cars, and as for diesel fuel and gasoline, the corresponding technical regions were promised only in 2009.
But there is an opportunity in Russia to purchase Zafira with a new 1.6-liter EcoteC gasoline with a capacity of 115 hp. A very good option for economical citizens. Perhaps a car with such a motor will not conquer accelerated dynamics, but it will please the elasticity that the system of gas distribution phases of CAM-PHASE ensures. His destiny is a smooth speed set. However, there is always some opportunity to spur the engine, manipulating a lever of a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Zafira with a well -known gasoline engine of 1.8 liters, of course, is more frustrated. It is offered in versions with the same 5-speed manual transmission and with a semi-automatic EasyTronic box that also has five gears. True, I personally are not a big fan of Easytronic: to ensure even, without jerks and failures, it, in my opinion, requires unnecessary operations, such as dumping gas and simulating the clutch squeezing. But the matter of taste and habits.
The 150-horsepower gasoline engine with a volume of 2.2 liters is also endowed with smooth characteristics. But in a configuration with 6-speed mechanics, this is a completely different Zafira fast, which allows almost at any time to achieve a sharp acceleration, in a word, capable of delighting an active driver. The moves of the μT lever is quite short and clear, the clutch pedal is quite informative. The modification with a 4-speed automatic transmission is certainly more convenient in urban operating conditions, but it is noticeably calmer. Not the most modern automaton levels the potential of the engine, it is able to adapt to the driving style, but, let's say, without much hunting.
The same 150 forces, but from a 1.9-liter turbodiesel, make the character of compactwane much more fervent. Twisting at 320 Nm, already available from 2000 revolutions, gives a feeling of sports driving. The special charm lies in the fact that the gas pedal is responsive, but there is no need to unnecessarily promote the motor, only only overwhelming the gears of the 6-speed manual transmission. Very driver settings! Yes, and the machine gun in a pair of this diesel is offered a very quick, having the same 6 programs. True, it must be noticed that I tested Zafira with such a turbodiesel outside the official presentation in Switzerland, and there was not too much time. However, the impressions remained very good, so I would very much recommend taking a closer look at diesel versions.
Well, for real fans of speed, which are not embarrassed by the combination of the incompatible practical compactwane with the habits of the sports car, there are two hot modifications of Zafira. Auto recovery about them was told in sufficient detail (see AI No. 12 and No. 22 for 2005, the electronic version is always available on our website). Since then, the 200-horsepower and 240-horsepower Zafira has not changed. Both have only 6-speed mechanics, and both can travel very quickly, if desired is extremely. Nine seconds to hundreds, and even more so, up to the same mark on the speedometer in less than eight seconds guarantees very acute sensations. You are driving compactwane, not a rally shell. Of course ZAFIRA from ORS (Opel Performance Center) is something completely special, since all other mechanisms are seriously finalized for complete compliance with the potential of a turbocharged engine, including brakes and suspension.
When it comes to extreme compactwans, they often ask me and why do they need them at all? These are family cars. I think such versions are needed. Firstly, they support the image of the brand and indicate large, with a margin, capabilities laid down in the design of the car. It is on charged versions that you feel what the lowest center of gravity and the best aerodynamic resistance coefficient in the class means. Secondly, it is quite possible to ride any of these machines calmly, but if you wish, you, by injecting a portion of adrenaline into the blood. Not everyone can afford to keep two cars one for every day, and the other to satisfy the driver inclinations.
By and large, any Zafira is sharpened under an active ride. It is endowed with a completely intelligible steering control and a wonderful IDS Plus system (Interactive Driving System), where the IDS abbreviation means an adaptive chassis with a continuous control system of CDC shock absorbers (Continous Damping Control). Thanks to her, you practically do not feel in the steep turns of the body rolls, it seems that the pendants are ready in advance for any turn. The UCL (Understeer Control Logic) system will help a not very experienced driver with risky maneuvers when the insufficient rotation of this front -wheel drive car first slightly reduces the supply of fuel, and then slightly slows down the external front wheel. If it interferes, just press the button in the central console with the inscription Sport. The suspensions will become tougher, the steering wheel is tighter, and the reactions to the work of the accelerator pedal is sharper. However, all this is already known since the appearance of the second generation in 2005.
Four options
It's about four basic trim levels that will be offered in the Russian market Essentia, Enjoi, Cosmo and ORS. Of course, they are very different, even the seats in them are not the same, but, say, Cosmo suggests the presence of a panoramic (transparent) roof. But to learn more about this in the dealer center. I will only pay attention to the fact that all versions are united.
First of all, it is worth saying about the thoroughness of interior decoration, which once again demonstrates the quality of the German assembly. Now the interior has somewhat refreshed the chrome edges of the climate control and audio system controls, as well as a slightly modified decoration of the instrument panel and door panels. But here you still feel at home. Ergonomics is beyond praise, and the famous system of transformation of the salon, fortunately, did not disappear. A few seconds will be required to turn Zafira from the seven -seater (thanks to the third row of quite convenient seats in the trunk) in six, five, four, three or two -seater. There is no need to remove the chair from the salon. As an option, a front passenger seat is offered with a folded back, which makes it possible to transport a load of up to 2.71 meters long. If there are seven people aboard, the trunk is small, only 140 liters. But with the seats of the third row, it increases to 645 liters, and its maximum volume is 1820 liters. As a standard equipment for any version, a Safetec system with IDS, eight safety pillows, active head restraints, ISOFIX children's seats and a branded traumatic PRS pedal node are installed. By the way, with regard to safety: the Crash Test for Euro NCAP allowed Zafira to get the maximum five stars.
Prices in the Russian market start from 549,000 rubles. The most expensive only 962,000 costs, of course, Zafira OPC.
Zurich Moscow
 
Oleg Osipov
Photo Opel

 

A source: Magazine Automobile Izvestia [February-March 2008]