Opel Zafira Life (2022) Launch Review

The all-new 4th-generation Opel Zafira has touched down in South Africa. It’s another addition to a rejuvenated Large MPV segment… is it worth a closer look?

Quick, name all the German brands in the South African new-vehicle market… That’s easy – Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Ah, but wait, you forgot Opel! Alas, the former stepchild of the General Motors flock is no longer the household name it once was. Sure, petrolheads will tell you about the performance-biased OPC-badged Opel products, but those were fringe offerings. We’ve been asked about “Opel’s demise” on many occasions, but, in truth, the brand never left SA… Even after GM’s departure at the end of 2017, a dealer group imported the brand’s products to the Republic.

In the meantime, PSA (Peugeot and Citroen) bought Opel from GM and, early last year, the Stellantis Group was formed, which combined the French multinational’s brands with those of the Fiat Chrysler Group. Suffice to say Opel’s fortunes have turned around dramatically since then! A raft of new products has helped the brand, which once seemed to be languishing, to roar up European sales charts. 

Opel, now distributed by Stellantis South Africa (formed in August 2021), will introduce several new models in Mzansi this year. Without going into specifics, you can expect to see a few Opel SUVs, but the latest iteration of the Astra is unlikely to arrive, which is no surprise, given the decline of the medium hatchback segment. First out of the blocks is this model, the Opel Zafira Life people-mover…

What does the Opel Zafira Life offer?

The Opel Zafira Life is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel that delivers 110 kW/370 Nm and drives the MPV’s front wheels via a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission. There are 2 levels of trim, but whereas the entry-level Edition offers seating for 8, the flagship Elegance is a 7-seater, with the central row adopting VIP single seats and incorporating a cleverly packaged deployable table. 

The Elegance’s pair of individual middle seats can be rotated to face towards the rear of the vehicle and the table can be shifted backwards to create the effect of “seats arranged around a table”. Opel suggests that one could host business meetings back there, but we think a more realistic application would be a friendly family picnic. Clever design or a gimmick? We’ll leave that up to you to decide.

If you recognise this face, that’s because the Opel Zafira is a collaboration between Peugeot (Traveller), Citroen (SpaceTourer) and Toyota (ProAce). The Edition derivative is evidently geared towards business operators, while the Elegance features some family-orientated “lifestyle” touches.

Trim Levels

Zafira Life Edition

Multi-zone automatic air conditioner
10 cupholders
11 storage compartments
8-seats covered in cloth material
Manual sliding doors
Tyre pressure monitoring
17-inch alloy wheels
180-degree reverse camera
Front and rear park assist

Zafira Life Elegance

Dual powered sliding doors
Automatic high beam
Fixed panoramic glass sunroof
Full leather trim
Sunblinds for passengers
VIP 2-seat 2nd row
Driver and passenger heated seats with massage functionality
Foldable sliding table
10-speaker audio
Adaptive cruise control
Onboard navigation
Heads-up display
Speed sign detection
Active lane departure warning

What is the Opel Zafira Life like to drive?

Our test unit’s odometer reading was 98 km(!) so we expected the Opel’s engine/transmission combo to feel a bit “tight”. However, the Zafira Life’s powertrain felt perky and well up to the task of hauling the ‘bus around. In-gear acceleration was fair, but then again, there were only 2 occupants (and no luggage) aboard at the time. The real test will be when the vehicle’s loaded up with a family and their detritus. 

The driving position is excellent – it avails a commanding view of the road. The model features a rotary transmission selector instead of a traditional lever, which makes the fascia look neater and quite chic. 

Our test-drive route took us mostly on some open roads around Gauteng and the North West. Some of those sections of tarmac the Opel traversed were in very poor condition (the road was riddled with potholes and pockmarks) and the Zafira Life’s suspension seemed to battle to soak up the jolts, which resulted in some creaks and rattles emanating from the cabin.

In its defence, most passenger cars (let alone those based on commercial-vehicle underpinnings) would struggle to absorb those bumps, but the cabin was reasonably quiet and refined nonetheless. The newcomer rides on 17-inch alloys and, once the quality of the road surface improved somewhat, the ride quality turned out to be quite satisfactory. For example, the Opel coped well with speed bumps.

Pricing and after-sales support

The Opel Zafira Life range comprises the Edition derivative (an 8-seater), which retails for R749 900, and the Elegance flagship, which is listed at R869 900 (March 2022). A 3-year/120 000 km warranty and 3 years’ roadside assistance are standard, as is a 5-year/100 000 km service plan. For detailed specifications, see Opel Zafira Life (2022) Specs & Price .

Summary

The 4th-gen Opel Zafira has landed right in the middle of a well-populated segment… The Hyundai Staria is raking in many sales, thanks to its futuristic design, refinement and good value, while the Toyota Quantum  remains the most popular model. Premium offerings, such as the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and the VW Kombi/Caravelle are still there, but they’re fringe players on account of their lofty price tags. 

With a well-thought-out lineup, there’s a Zafira Life to suit both business and private needs. We’d say that the new model’s pricing is fair given its admirable level of standard specification, but we’re looking forward to testing out the newcomer when it’s fully loaded with occupants – and their luggage – on an extended road trip. That would be the ideal way to evaluate the talents of Opel’s fresh-faced MPV! 

See also:  Buyer’s Guide: Multi-Seater MPVs