What if the best seat in the latest Opel Zafira Life offering wasn’t the one occupied by the driver? Well that is the driving force behind the advertising campaign for the latest German people mover, and they might just be right.
Although it may be late to the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) party on local soil, the fourth generation Opel Zafira Life hopes to ruffle some feathers in its segment and possibly entice mid-size SUV buyers away from the unnecessarily embellished off-roaders for school runs or shuttle services.
Instead of spending the day trundling around running errands through city streets, us journalists were able to enjoy the newcomer on the open country roads between Gauteng and the North West province. The Stellantis product is very simply divided into two offerings: the base spec Edition and the top spec Elegance. Nothing differentiates them from the outside nor in the powertrain department and they are aesthetically and mechanically identical, however, the extra cash spent on the top spec becomes immediately apparent when entering the interior.
It’s not common practice to kick a DRIVEN review off with an impression of the interior but bear with me, because this is one of the MPVs standout features. You see, Opel have moved away from ludicrously cool OPC tuned Zafiras that were a hoot to drive and transcended the 20+ year old nameplate into a larger and more practical people mover. Interior space and comfort is the primary focus of the paradigm shift and both derivatives satisfy this wholly; however I must just note that I don’t think the amenities and finish on the Elegance justify its R120 000 increase over its base sibling.
On the topic of pricing, the Edition will cost R749 900 while the Elegance will set buyers back R869 900. This price point puts the newcomer in a competitive position against the likes of the futuristic looking Hyundai Staria and the ageing Ford Tourneo Custom – particularly when comparing pricing for the most luxurious spec of each. That being said, the Elegance swaps out an eighth seat for only seven which are finished in cloth material as opposed to leather.
Keyless entry, heated front row seats, an HUD and a panoramic sunroof are some of the differentiating interior amenities of the top spec Elegance which make the Edition seem better value for money. Although it will be a tough sell explaining why your children can’t have a folding centre table on the second row and a skylight above their heads. Both models are equipped with the same IntelliLink Infotainment System and 7-inch smartphone projecting touch screen which displays a 180° Reverse Camera. The Elegance also has ten loudspeakers with an amplifier as opposed to the Edition’s six.
Opel has strategically positioned each derivative of the model at different target audiences. The better equipped and more luxuriously finished Elegance is aimed squarely at business customers requiring comfortable shuttle services while the Edition looks to be better equipped for growing families who require the convenience of seats and space. Its value-for-money and spaciousness proposition might make it a popular choice in the e-hailing industry as well, ferrying groups of inebriated party goers to and fro during the weekend.
While the new Opel Zafira Life is aimed at passenger comfort, the experience commanding the vehicle from its high driving position is equally as enjoyable. Both derivatives are equipped with a 2,0-litre turbo diesel engine which delivers 110 kW and 370 N.m offering the torque from as low as 2 000 rpm. Mild low-down turbo lag can inhibit brisk getaways of the sizable people-mover before the turbo comes into boost. Both models also employ an eight-speed automatic ZF gearbox which can be controlled by plastic column mounted paddles.
The automatic gearbox seamlessly and intuitively keeps the engine rpm in optimal range depending on driving style and sedate use can reward as little as 6,3 L/100km. Our uneconomical exploits on cars that had less than 200 km on the clock saw this number closer to 9,0 L/100km after our day-long journey.
The new Opel Zafira Life has grown considerably in size over any vehicle that has preceded it and that is partially why the interior is so commodious and versatile in its application. It boasts some of the largest exterior dimensions in its class and because of this also includes an impressive boot capacity of 1 060-litres.
It may not look as modern as its competitors nor offer the cheapest price tag, but the new Opel Zafira Life range provides good value for money and a strong proposition for both business and personal use.
Pricing and Model Line-up
The Opel Zafira Life range is available as follows;
Opel Zafira Life Edition – R749 900
Opel Zafira Life Elegance – R869 900
All models come with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services take place at 15 000km intervals, and a standard 5-year 100 000 km service plan applies.
