Introducing the all-new Opel Zafira Life

By: CAR magazine

A single name sums up a minivan that manages to be beautiful, flexible and practical all at the same time: Zafira. Twenty years after the huge success achieved by the first generation, the Opel Zafira chronicles continue with the fourth generation of the model. The Opel Zafira Life is a minivan that’s as fun to drive as it is comfortable.

The Zafira Life meets all needs, offering reconfigurable interiors, very high levels of comfort, advanced driving aids, not to mention a state-of-the-art infotainment system, heads-up display and an adaptive cruise control system with camera sensors and radar. Technical sophistication goes hand-in-hand with a pleasing line, well-proportioned volumes and short overhangs, combined with a typical Opel front end. Driver and passengers benefit from a two-piece panoramic roof and a tailgate with opening window.

Zafira Life for all needs

The Opel Zafira Life MPV offers two models to the South African market with seven- or eight-seat configurations.

Opel Zafira Life Edition is targeted at families, empty nesters, outdoor adventurers and more, offering eight seats and the versatility of comfortable cloth interiors. The second and third seating rows each contain three full-size seats on rails with individual seat belts making every seat in the Zafira house, the best seat.

Opel Zafira Life Elegance is a more luxurious offering aimed at business customers or those families seeking more comfort rather than outright seating practicality. With full-leather treatment, the second-row seating is reduced to two individual seats with arm-rests and a VIP sliding and folding table in the centre for a truly reconfigurable lounge. Natural light floods the interior thanks to the panoramic roof -“ a large two-part glass roof that extends to over the driver, passenger and first row seats of the Zafira Life.

Design

The Zafira Life offers muscular, broad proportions combined with body-coloured contact points and chrome accents. The dark-tinted side windows stretch into the back of the third row, giving those inside not only a high level of comfort with plenty of daylight but also privacy from onlookers and protection against excessive sunlight.

Zafira Life models are equipped with sliding doors, with the Elegance model featuring Electric Handsfree sliding doors allowing the driver to open the doors remotely.

The Opel Zafira Life Edition and Elegance models are fitted with halogen headlamps, front fog lamps, and Automatic Headlight function. The Automatic High Beam Function is only available on the Elegance model.

The Opel Zafira’s light design reflects the Opel DNA and displays sculpted details, enhancing the feeling of precision and solidity. The high bonnet with two crisp lines flows from the windscreen to the grille, framed by distinctive headlights with LED running lights in Opel wing design that provides a cohesive face.

The Zafira Life comes standard with a glazed rear tinted tailgate with heated rear windscreen and a single wiper for the rear window.

Interior

The new Zafira Life offers a functional and elegant cockpit with loads of storage spaces and ergonomics designed to quickly access manageable controls even when concentrating on the road.

Zafira Life offers cupholders and a cooled and lit glove box along with a storage tray for intelligent devices.

The Zafira Life Elegance is equipped with front heated seats for both the driver and passenger for greater comfort. Sunshade Curtains are available on the side windows as a standard feature, enhancing passenger comfort by providing shading on hot summer days.

Dual-zone Electronic Climate Control air-conditioning system (ECC) as well as separate rear air-conditioning are controlled by multi-zone sun sensors to adjust the ECC according to sunlight intensity, while controlled particle air recirculation prevents windows from fogging up. The particle and odour filter keeps air recirculating, preventing allergy-provoking pollens and bad smells.

Elegance is also equipped with Keyless Entry and Start for added comfort and convenience. The Keyless entry allows the driver to open both front and rear doors when the key is within range of the vehicle.

The Zafira Life models have the option to fit front and rear park sensors with a 180° reverse camera, which sends a top-view 180° image of the back area. When the vehicle approaches an obstacle, the system automatically zooms in on the remaining space to accurately display the remaining distance. This allows for more accessible parking and improved visibility for the driver.

The Zafira Life Elegance model features a Head-up Display that projects the driver’s speed, Speed Sign Recognition, Forward Collision Alert, and Navigation directions offering increased safety and ease of driving.

Infotainment

The new Zafira Life’s infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen intellilink infotainment system, the Zafira Life multimedia system offers connectivity via USB, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Zafira Edition is equipped with six speakers, while the Elegance is fitted with an upgraded sound system comprising 10 speakers.

Specific to the Elegance model is the multimedia Connected Navigation system, providing the driver with information on various destinations, traffic alerts, local weather, and embedded voice control.

Safety and security

The Zafira Life offers optimum passenger safety by equipping front and side airbags for both driver and passenger as standard. Zafira Life Edition models are also equipped with Driver Attention Alert with coffee break, which alerts the driver via the instrument panel after two hours of uninterrupted driving and sends a second alert if the driver continues driving for another hour.

Zafira Life Elegance has a Driver Attention Alert with a road behaviour feature. This system monitors the driver’s behaviour via a camera and steering wheel movements and sends an audible and visual alert if a loss of attention is detected. In addition, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with lateral correction alerts the driver when the vehicle crosses a line without using the indicator. The system also detects unintentional lane departure and provides the driver with alert and visual feedback on the instrumental panel.

The Elegance model features Speed Sign Detection, which through the camera detects speed limit signs and provides the driver with this information on the instrument panel and via the Head-up display. Blind Spot Detection gives the driver an audible warning if a vehicle is detected in an adjacent lane.

Zafira Life Elegance models are also equipped with Forward Brake Assist that can help prevent a collision with mobile or fixed obstacles and pedestrians at speeds under 30km/h. At speeds above 30km/h, the vehicle’s speed is reduced before impact.

Drivetrain

Both Opel Zafira Life Edition and Elegance models come with a refined and powerful 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with stop/start technology. Developing 110kW at 4 000 r/min, the Opel Zafira Life has plenty of performance, whether around town or on the open road.

Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Zafira Life offers exceptional fuel economy, largely thanks to 370Nm of torque being available from 2 000 r/min. With a correct gear choice always available, the Opel returns just 6.3 l/100km on a combined cycle with low CO2 emissions of 165 g/km.

Pricing

Opel Zafira Life Edition R749,900

Opel Zafira Life Elegance R869,900

Picture/s: Quickpic

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