FIRST DRIVE: Opel Zafira Life

FIRST DRIVE: Opel Zafira Life

You know half its name but here’s an Opel Zafira you’ve not seen before. We drive the new-to-South Africa Opel Zafira Life. 

Yes, Zafira Life is the product name of this new-to-market van. It is indeed a van now, no longer the smaller, innovative MPV of yesteryear but still offering a practical alternative in a segment that is seemingly on the up. 

But wait….Opel? You’ve been wondering what they were up to haven’t you? What was once such a commanding brand in South Africa, is now in a position where it is building once again. Under the Stellantis Group it seems that Opel has a strong base and strategic support but you wouldn’t be wrong to question why they’ve been so quiet on the market in the last few years. The truth is, they have. 

After taking over the brand in 2020, the local team spent a year working through strategy, building a new team and distribution structure before kicking off in 2021 with the launch of the new Opel Corsa, Opel Crossland and Grandland X. On product alone, these are good prospects but thanks to the crazy world order, the local team has since struggled with stock shortages to a point where sales figures don’t quite paint the full picture of brand trust and product demand. Only time will tell. 

Enter new-Opel’s fifth on-sale product nameplate, the new Zafira Life. The large MPV joins a segment that has been quite busy of late with the Hyundai Staria and KIA Carnival recently launched in SA to some fanfare, if social media can be considered that. The segment also includes the likes of Ford’s Tourneo, Volkswagen’s Kombi and Mercedes Benz Vito and Toyota Quantum Bus. So what is Opel’s play? 

The Opel Zafira Life is looking to be considered as the value-for-money alternative for the business need as well as the family looking for a practical and versatile vehicle. As such, Opel has launched the Zafira Life in two trims: The Edition and the Elegance. 

The Edition is the base spec version. It doesn’t shout much in the way of premium materials but it boasts a number of features nonetheless. On the safety front: Front, passenger and side airbags in the front; ABS; ESP; EBD; and front Emergency Braking. Add to this Hill Start Assist; Blind Spot Monitoring; 180-View Reverse Camera; Tyre Pressure Sensors and Cruise Control. Then add 7-inch touchscreen audio with phone mirroring and climate control…there’s a lot of standard spec here, packaged to be practical, versatile and functional. If you like plastic, you’ll find a lot of it in here. 

The Elegance Version spruces things up, covering up some of the plastic with leather and slightly better materials. The Elegance speaks luxury with a more pleasant cabin for both the driver and its passengers. Heated massaging seats? Yes these are included and though they are nice-to-have, the massage function itself is fairly mild but it’s a good depiction of the difference in spec between the Edition and the Elegance. The Elegance includes Adaptive Cruise Control and onboard Nav as well as full leather trim, keyless entry, an improved sound system and some added exterior aesthetic details. 

Most notable on the differences between the two cars are the rear seating choices and the split tailgate. The Elegance version is offered in leather-bound 7-seater configuration with two individual seats in the middle-row, between which is a practical folding table. The Edition trim contains a full 3-seat middle row instead allowing up to 6 rear passengers seated on cloth trimmed seats. 

On the whole, the cabin is practical and versatile enough with removable and swivel seat options offering loads of space, particularly considering the 1 060-litres of boot space with all the seats in place. 

Opel offers the Zafira Life with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel mill mated to a ZF, 8-speed automatic transmission. Outputs of 110kW and 370Nm are good to propel the MPV with competent urge and efficiency. Our test route allowed us a modest 8,8l/100km but I am almost certain that the Zafira will indeed match the claimed fuel consumption of 7l/100km and 165g/km of CO2 emissions. 

Zafira Life’s most commendable qualities from our brief driving stints at launch are its competent drivetrain and its price versus value comparison. It sits comfortably as one of the most affordable within the segment. Looking for value, this is a good alternative. 

Pricing of the Opel Zafira Life:

Zafira Life Edition retails at R749 900  

Zafira Life Elegance retails at R869 900