2010 Vauxhall Zafira Energy 1.6 16v petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Spacious

Faults:

Air con wont work, new clutch but reverse is still difficult to engage for some reason, had some suspension work at last service, brakes need done again but no big deal at age and mileage. The car has had every service and I will continue to look after it, engine seems very quiet and smooth for the fact it is near the infamous 100,000 mile mark.

Interior is pretty rough, but it has been family used for 10 years before I bought it, air vents broke, rear load cover missing, etc.

The car looks very good for its age outside, no rust or marks whatsoever. A well used but well looked after car.

General Comments:

Bought this as a cheap family run around and it has been good. Soo much room in this car. Interior is very comfortable. Vision all round is superb.

Handbrake looks like the thrust lever on an airplane, very strange, but you get used to it. To drive it is not bad, handles OK for an MPV, does not feel too heavy at all, very car like.

1.6 is not a great engine, reliable but slow and only reasonably economical, I get around 40 mpg. Go for the 1.8 or a diesel.

Energy spec is pretty low range, nothing special. Has electric windows in the front and A/C, but that is all.

All in all a practical family vehicle, nothing to get excited about, but a reliable load lugger and you can get these real cheap now, paid only £2150 for mine couple of years ago, full history and MOT, general condition good, average miles, and never let me down so far.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th October, 2022

2010 Vauxhall Zafira Elite 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good car for a growing family

Faults:

Not much other than the usual wear and tear you get with mileage approaching 100K (suspension, brakes, etc)

Generally I looked after it and done all the oil and belt changes. It was recalled for the famous fire risk that may be caused by a faulty heater system, so I had peace of mind after that was dealt with.

General Comments:

Big. Dull. Boring. What to say about my Zafira? Well to be honest it's not a bad car, but if you like cars and driving, this is probably not your first choice. The 1.8 petrol engine is surprisingly fast and economical though; I believe it to be the same one in my previous Vectra SRi.

The Zafira is huge inside, which is what I needed with a growing family. Elite model is the top of the range - all the toys and leather seats. To drive other than the decent performance, it is pretty dull, but it is very comfortable, and all the controls are laid out logically, however the side pillars can cause quite a blind spot at junctions.

Pretty good to look at in a dark colour with the alloys and tinted windows - not exactly standing out from the crowd (they all look the same most modern MPV's) but at least it was not as ugly as some others you see on the road.

Had it for nearly 7 years so time to move on, I sold it last year and I was happy with it overall and had no major problems, to be fair. So it was a good car, just not a very memorable one unfortunately, but what do you expect from a family MPV these days.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st January, 2018

9th Jan 2018, 12:01

Regarding the heater recall - The general advice is not to use the heater blower at high levels (3 and 4) until you are sure the fault is fixed. If you're unsure, call a Vauxhall dealer with your car's registration handy; they will be able to tell you if you car is affected, and if it has been recalled and fixed already.

27th Jan 2018, 16:39

I don't think the heater speed matters - Apparently the resistor can blow at anytime. Either way, Zafira B owners will likely find the following link useful if they haven't had it sorted already - www.vauxhall.co.uk/zafiracustomeradvice.html

2010 Vauxhall Zafira Design 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good family car

Faults:

General wear and tear such as oil changes and belts changed.

Brakes discs and calipers done.

Heater system checked and repaired - very important this is done on all these Zafira cars as it may result in a fire which you probably heard about in the press a couple of years ago. All have probably been recalled and fixed by now, but double check if you are thinking of buying a Zafira that this has been done.

General Comments:

The spacious, airy, excellent designed cabin was why I bought this car - Good visibility and lots of room and storage areas, a genuine 5 seater in comfort, but the 7 seater option is really only for kids; at a push you could get 7 adults in though.

The 1.8 petrol is a good all rounder with decent acceleration and does close to 40 MPG if you drive carefully. Handles pretty well for a large family car, and gear change and brakes feel tight.

Design model is near top of range and has lots of equipment. Looks nice in a dark colour with tinted windows and alloy wheels. Handbrake is rather strange - it is a massive lever. Still, it is better than those electronic button handbrakes that are on most modern cars.

Overall not got much more to say about, it is what it is, just a good all round family car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th August, 2017