
The Vauxhall Zafira has style, versatility and gives a dynamic driving experience. An innovative package, the Vauxhall Zafira offers a roomy interior, stylish exterior, performance and all round value.
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vauxhall Zafira reviews by year of make: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Read all reviews
vauxhall Zafira car video reviews, adverts and promotional videos. These car vidoes will allow you to see the vauxhall Zafira in action and let you hear the opinions of all the top road test experts. Featuring car videos from MSN cars, Top Gear and other top sites.
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Lovely sized-car, but had nothing but problems inside 12 months. Car began losing power and would not change up through gears and the emission light kept coming on and Vauxhall dealership said they had fixed that during first service around six weeks ago. Then car started losing power again, same problem back so off it goes for a second time. They spent two weeks telling me it was the EGR valve and that no parts were available (due to this being a common fault). When it arrived and was fitted, they then told me that the EGR valve problem had knackered the rest of the exhaust system and that it needed a full replacement. Which is on order. And has been for another two weeks and is still not available. Crap build, shoddy after-sales workmanship at local dealership. Needless to say I will not be replacing with a Vauxhall car when this car reaches its third year. Is it any surprise that GM are in trouble?
Submitted: 10/06/2009 09:47:48
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Owned a Vauxhall Zafira for 6 years. Good family car, plenty of room for going on holiday. Doing 25-35 mpg - not so good, and having problems with egr valve. Just been diagnosed with the same problem again which will be my third egr valve. High revs and cutting out, drinking fuel for fun, juddering when power is applied. These problems have put me off Vauxhall’s.
Submitted: 08/06/2009 10:05:43
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Absolute waste of time! After all the hype I bought a 2-litre diesel - it was OK for the first few months; the usual minor problems like a light staying on the dash, then when you went over a bump it went out again. Mine was a turbo, it was very quick when it finally decided to kick in, but boy did you nearly s--t a brick when you were overtaking, also I never prayed as much! Please be aware the starter went on me exactly 2 weeks after the warranty ran out, and it cost me £345 in a garage in Boston in Lincolnshire. I still have the receipt to prove it.
Submitted: 03/06/2009 09:39:22
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Fantastic family car, lots of room, smooth, efficient and excellent performance.
Submitted: 01/06/2009 09:33:07
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Bought this car just under a year old with only 18 miles on the clock. Nothing wrong with it apart from being hopelessly underpowered. Struggles to get up the slightest of hills and was downright frightening trying to negotiate Pembrokeshire coast. With just the driver very good performance; upwards of 45 mpg. When carrying 3 passengers this drops to 30-32 mpg. Seating system is fantastic and versatile but with all seats occupied there is room in the boot for one Tesco carrier bag! I am getting rid after a year. Shame really I’m sure the 2.0 would be excellent.
Submitted: 26/05/2009 10:11:42
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Same thing happened to me last year mine failed it MOT on emissions and the garage said the same as yours. I got the CAT changed by someone else and got through the MOT. It ran perfectly until now - has been into a Vauxhall dealer twice so far; £750 and they still don’t know what’s wrong - CAT has disintegrated. I have refused to pay anymore money. I took it to them because it was misfiring; they put in new plugs, EMU and have said the CAT was blocked even though it wasn’t there. Now very upset and looks like I have a battle on my hands. They even charged me £170 for diagnostic check, they are now looking at it free of charge. Kwikfit will do the CAT for about £320.
Submitted: 29/04/2009 08:43:58
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The car was 3 years old when I bought it with just 27K miles on the clock. Ex mobility. Nice looking car, love the ease at which the rear two seats fold into the floor. Just have ongoing issue with the car and that is the ’Engine light’ has been lit for three and a half years. Two months after I got it it appeared, took it back to the garage who used computer diagnostic, apparently nothing wrong so they reset the on-board computer management system. A month later it appeared again, took it to Vauxhall and was charged £60 plus VAT and same diagnosis (nothing wrong) and resolution (reset computer). A month later it was back on. Having checked the handbook it said if the light is flashing you need to take it to the garage, as it was not I have continued to drive without any problems. DOWNSIDE at 30-35 mpg it is a very thirsty car. OK if like me you don’t do excessive mileage.
Submitted: 22/04/2009 08:41:21
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This car has so much going for it, the 2 rear seats are a great idea, its cheap (ish), runs OK, loads of space... Bought mine second-hand about 8 months ago, its only done 38k, full Vauxhall dealer history, even had GM washer fluid... BUT, its also had a coil pack, head gasket, thank %^&* for warranties! Blew an inlet manifold... then there is the poor MPG (partly my fault, should have got the 1.8...) You can’t get two child seats in the back with a passenger... Can’t disable the air bag (Vauxhall went crazy at the thought...) But overall its so much better than the Scenic I had before, cost me 4x as much as I paid for the car on repairs.... Shame Galaxy’s are so expensive to insure...
Submitted: 20/04/2009 10:22:14
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With a wife, 2 kids and a dog, the space offered within the Zafira is ideal. However the build quality certainly leaves a lot to be desired. I have just had the EGR valve fail for the second time in 14 months. My local Vauxhall dealership are telling me that there are so many EGR valves failing at present that there is a large order back log. In fact they are suggesting that it could be up to 2 months before they get the replacement valve in stock. They have at least loaned me another Zafira. As the car will be out of warranty later this year and with serious concerns that the EGR valve will fail again in the future, I’m not intending to stay a Vauxhall owner for too much longer!
Submitted: 20/04/2009 10:19:52
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Where do I start my tale of woe? Oh yes, when I bought it.. 2006. Day one...car judders every couple of months quite unnerving + burning smell, stops out of gear, continues back in. Ok next day.. Garage can find nothing. This carries on for a couple of years.. meanwhile I put up with abysmal fuel consumption. I moved to Ireland 2007.. eventually car packs up, towed away. They replace the turbo, the computer control system various others then modify the EGR valve. This has no effect. They then replace the swirl actuator. They then replace the the EGR valve, thank the lord for a warranty. Ok none of this works, car goes back in after numerous emails, test transmission oil, looks bad chaps, OK, they replace the whole transmission!!! £5k they say. Ok it is done, I get the car home, the even washed the filthy thing, guess what our demon friend the judder is back, oh yes, and I have 2 weeks left off warranty!! Any one any ideas? I only did 22k miles! My advice even though this is my 2nd Zafira is avoid at all costs!
Submitted: 09/04/2009 16:36:00
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We have had our Zafira for five years now, it was three years old when we got it as an ex mobility car. I had to pay to have a three year warranty on it. Just before this expired I had to have the EGR valve replaced and one of the back doors was not locking. A year later I had the sane problems many are having with the loss of power when you go over 40 miles an hour. After three mechanics looked at it and bypassed the EGR valve, the problem was not fixed. I went back to Vauxhall who took it in for the day to find that it was the wires leading to the EGR valve that needed replacing. The engine management light did nit come on after this and touch wood, it has been driving OK since. My back door also is not good as the metal bracket has come away from the door, must be a weakness there. Hope this helps.
Submitted: 09/04/2009 09:20:54
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After 70k service I drove off garage forecourt and power steering pacted up. Was this checked in service I wonder? Garage said they would not charge to rectify problem then when car came back they wanted £200.00. steering had been fine before service, are garage at fault? Please could someone help, thanks.
Submitted: 08/04/2009 10:02:28
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I purchased this car a month ago and so far am happy with all aspects of the Zafira, except the fuel consumption. I am disappointed with the 31 mpg which I get on a combined run. Before buying the car I read the road tests, which claimed it would return 35 mpg.
Submitted: 30/03/2009 09:51:49
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I have a Zafira 2001 1.6 16 valves and it has had loads of minor and major problems but the one thing not to do is go to the Vauxhall you got it from. Mine was used and it has 7500 odd miles on it but way before that it still had loads of problems. I took it to Vauxhall and they said it was the egr valve and one day my wife was picking our son up from school and the engine blew up. She pulled over with no power steering, shouting get out to my other son and daughter - it was the starter motor. We STILL have it and now there’s a problem with the acceleration. It is like a tractor and when you’re at about 60mph and brake (which is what my wife had to do on a motorway) - it cuts out! Don’t buy a Zafira!
Submitted: 16/03/2009 09:55:58
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I also bought a second hand Zafira, problems from day one, engine management line being on, had a new coil pack, erg valve replaced, still hasn’t corrected the problem. Car is stuttering too, scared to go out and about in it in case I make it worse; the garage doesn’t have a clue if its piston rings or burnt valves. They say they’d have to strip the whole engine down to see what the problem is, and he reckons we’d be cheaper putting a new engine in, heart breaking. Anyone have any ideas what could be wrong, or similar problems?
Submitted: 24/02/2009 09:48:52
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The only redeeming quality I think through my rose-tinted glasses is the flexible seating; the ability to transform from a school bus to a DIY van without having to carry seats in and out of the house was brilliant. As for the reality of living with the Zafira 2.0 Td Elegance: new brake pads and discs needed all around 3 weeks after having purchased it from a Network Q dealer. New MAF, radiator, leak off pipes soon after. Rattles and creaks were a constant companion, the AA man became a familiar friend and the local Vauxhall dealership were "%7H*(&? - my previous BMW 3 series was cheaper to service at a BMW dealer and I got a BMW courtesy car too! The door check straps cracked away from the door and the power window motor died too... I feel too many painful memories coming back. I have vowed to never by GM or Vauxhall ever again. The oil consumption was very high and the fuel economy for a diesel was terrible - barely 30mpg. I miraculously managed to get to 40,000 miles and sold it... but we did have some great trips in spite of this.
Submitted: 23/02/2009 10:14:12
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I love my Zafira - it is the best car I have ever had. I bought it 12 months ago and have had no problems whatsoever. I have four children and the Zafira has lots of room for them and their mates plus the shopping. I think if you’ve got a red herring; you are unfortunate but I think they are fab.
Submitted: 16/01/2009 15:02:16
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Good looking car and a good driver when it goes. In the last 18 months we have had to replace turbo twice and had a new radiator fitted - off the road for seven weeks in the last 18 months. Not impressed by reliability.
Submitted: 07/01/2009 11:31:06
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Like everyone says Vauxhall should do something about the quality of this car. Well maybe they are. Crawling to the government for a multi billion hand out to keep producing these heaps of c**p. DO NOT BUY ONE!
Submitted: 18/12/2008 16:22:59
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Good points - excellent drive and a good looking car. However, buyer beware, the fuel consumption on my car barely reaches 35mpg overall - way below Vauxhall figures and surely one of the most expensive cars in it’s class to run. As for the trip computer mpg - well ignore it - those of you out there who think it’s accurate do some manual checks - you will be shocked by both the inaccuracy of the so-called on board computer and how much fuel you are actually using. Zafira = thirsty!
Submitted: 13/11/2008 15:12:07
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I am achieving 42-46 mpg without being light on the old right foot! My route is far from flat and has both town and motorway and just about legal speeds so I would recommend going for the 120ps as it’s far from slow and ride and stability is fine as long as you don`t think its a sports car. On a twisty road you wont have any trouble. The rear seats are as expected for small people or short drop- off’s. Having changed from a BMW 330 petrol I expected to be tearing my hair out but I am pleasantly surprised. Would recommend to all new dads of multiple children - only thing that bugs me is the stupid touch indicator stalk - why did Vauxhall put these on!! Its the only bad thing on the car!
Submitted: 12/11/2008 09:23:00
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Problems with engine management light since bought as used in 2006. Despite 5/6 trips to the dealers this is still not sorted but loads of probably unnecessary parts fitted. Brought to original dealer this week who informed me that the car might need new throttle or ECU or 2 new front wheel bearings. SAID THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHICH PART WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT ONE OF THEM SHOULD DO IT AND ALL FOR A PRICE OF £1500 + LABOUR. Absolutely fuming. Wondering if anybody else has had similar problems.
Submitted: 03/11/2008 09:45:34
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Pro’s:- Reasonably quick 140ish BHP. Great flexible seating. Sports suspension on the SRI particularly on sports mode is great around corners and doesn’t roll much. ESP and traction controls also very good. Good sound from stock stereo. Sports seats on SRI very comfortable. Cons:- No CD mp3 player as standard (just normal CD player) even in SRI. Rear seats (very rear), don’t give enough room for larger teens or adults to sit comfortably. Fuel Economy - gas guzzler extreme!!! At best driving very lightly at around a constant 60mph 32mpg. On average I get around 26 - 29mpg which means filling up every 300 miles. Even on a recent trip to Spain of over 2000 miles (mainly motorways), I only averaged 28.2 mpg. Around town expect 18 - 19mpg!!!
Submitted: 14/10/2008 15:57:02
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The car is roomy and a beautiful family car. Have had problems of it just cutting off at slow speeds with sporadic bursts of power. Been fixed now and running very well and am hoping it stays that way.
Submitted: 08/10/2008 11:31:50
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The best car we have ever used. Very versatile inside - space for family use. Packs well and drives well loaded. Vauxhall in Stockport have been exceptionally helpful in warranty period replacing an EGV valve 2 weeks after warranty finished. Never needed any repairs. Original battery and exhaust after 80000 miles. Stands up to round town wear and tear. Daughters learnt to drive in it and handles well for them. Cruises well on open roads. Climbs hills. Second gear very responsive. Only downside is that the ECO engine burns oil by design fault and that front post visibility is poor. Would buy again but we are going to move on and downsize.
Submitted: 14/08/2008 12:59:50
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I have had nothing but problems with this car - I have had 3 starter motors, the stereo has locked and I can not get the code. I had diesel leak back into the engine; I wish I had never got it - spent more time off road than on it. One word describes this car - C**P .
Submitted: 13/08/2008 10:53:07
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Looking at some of the other reports the newer Zafira’s aren’t so good. My 2.2 petrol is gas converted and presently has 191,000 on the clock and is as comfortable to drive today as when new. There were problems at 45,000 and 83,000 requiring top end rebuilds but both were covered by warranty. Since then only had to replace one front wheel bearing assembly and an ERP valve other than normal wear and tear. Can’t believe so few people are on LPG. Presently runs at less that 10p/mile. Excellent towcar, workhorse and family vehicle.
Submitted: 11/08/2008 08:47:06
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Lots of room inside the Zafira. Probably the only real problem with the car is the amount of fuel you can go through. You get between 25 -35 mpg or roughly 400-450 miles to a full tank of petrol. If you use your car a lot like myself its definitely not a car that I would recommend. Sorry.
Submitted: 11/08/2008 08:43:27
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Over-heating on short journeys.
Submitted: 04/07/2008 14:47:56
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I bought the car when it was 6 months old and have not had a single problem. I am now looking to upgrade to a newer model as it is the best family car on the road..... I love them!
Submitted: 03/07/2008 14:09:12
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I have a Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 VVT petrol, its only a year old and twice I’ve had my car condemed unroadworthy by the R.A.C. I have choosen the Zafira as I am a single parent of 4 children - I have two disabled children. Have I picked the wrong the car?
Submitted: 23/06/2008 09:04:28
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I have the Vauxhall Zafira 51 Plate 2001 model 1.6 Club. I have the same cut out problem which makes the car untrustworthy and unreliable. Vauxhall should do something to remedy its effects.
Submitted: 17/06/2008 10:17:32
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Very good car from a design point of view, very practical, very versatile, good looking etc... Reliability and quality is the complete opposite. Ongoing issue with chemical fumes of some description. Initially thought to be fuel related but actual origin still unknown. We are on our 2nd car now in 2 months and both are the same. It seems to be related to a batch of Zafiras. My pregnant wife refuses the drive the car (quite rightly) not to mention not allowing my 8 year old and 1 year old in the car either. Definitely going back to Vauxhall... may be sooner depending if dealer sorts out the Zafira problems.
Submitted: 12/05/2008 13:46:36
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The vehicle is an excellent all rounder with the ability to swallow up a large family comfortably. I would highly recommend to anyone - supplying dealer (Lookers St Helens) had a tremendous salesman who looked after the order from start to finish (8 week special factory build because of the extras lad called John Ashcroft). Only downside is that the vehicle has a cut out, normally when coming off a motorway and for an Automatic could be dangerous because you lose all power, including steering. Not happened for a while now (Thankfully) Vauxhall state, no fault found. Have this logged with the dealer in any event, because it could prove dangerous if my grandchildren were in the car.
Submitted: 14/04/2008 10:49:00
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I no longer have my safe and 100% reliable Zafira due to my own fault. I was driving through a double lane country road heading up hill to a right hand turn at night time , a car came towards me with its full beam on in which case dazzled me, before I knew it, I hit the banking to my left and my Zafira rolled , lucky enough I was wearing my seatbelt and the airbag worked otherwise I would not be writing this report. I suffered minor injuries so this is why I say that Zafira’s are the best of m.p.v vehicle.
Submitted: 29/03/2008 15:28:56
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I got my second Brand New Zafira in September 2007. After getting a strong smell of petrol I took it into local dealer ship and was told it was unsafe to drive and could have caught fire at any moment. There was a split in a hose - I am concerned there could be a problem with this current stock and would like others to be aware of this potential problem/disaster. Apart from this I love the design - drive and price of the Zafira although it is not economical to drive around Town and is better suited to longer journeys.
Submitted: 28/02/2008 10:15:59
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Fuel economy of the 150BHP (Euro IV) CDTi engine is extremely poor. Average economy is 20% BELOW the manufacturer’s official NCAP figures, costing me over £1,000 in extra fuel over 4 years. Average mpg varies between 28 and 35mpg, when driven moderately in town (urban) and country roads. My Saab 9000 2.0liter (1998) automatic gives me only 4mpg less, when driven comparably. On a motorway cruise at 70mph, my Zafira returns between 40mpg and 45mpg. But this is way below the manufacturers concocted NCAP figures (measured on a rolling road, with artificial ECU settings) of 36/54/46 mpg (urban/extra-urban/combined). I am sure the Euro IV Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) doesn’t help the economy, but these figures are appalling. Vauxhall have tested my car and verified engine/vehicle is running normally! Which is a shame, as the car is excellent in all other respects. Especially with the Active suspension CDC (Continuous Damping Control) optional upgrade with IDS+, the handling is outstanding. This is helped by the SRI suspension set up and standard 225/45/17 wheels/tyres. The room for a family of 5 is top class, with the Flex 7 seating arrangement which is unbeatable, especially if you have minimum space to store removable seats of some competitor cars. My only recommendation is - avoid the CDTi (150BHP) engine at all cost. The 2.0 Petrol model gives similar economy and performance in real life. Other users have reported similar poor economy, but it does seem to vary between different cars. I will never believe a manufacturers ’combined’ figure again and therefore will never buy new again - until NCAP figures become realistic again.
Submitted: 11/01/2008 15:05:52
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I would love a nice diesel car that i could take the childrens friends to school in.
Submitted: 08/11/2007 08:56:32
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Is the Zafira the best family car? Yes, by far. The versatility is a joy and it is impossible not to come up with a seating arrangement that is perfect. This is due to the fantastic Flex-7 system which I cannot praise highly enough. I previously owned a Meriva with which I was very happy but a rapidly expanding family required a larger vehicle so I thought I would stick with Vauxhall. The Zafira takes all the plus points of the Meriva and improves upon them. The space that is available inside makes it feel like a mobile home. Safety was also a priority for me and the 5 star EuroNCAP rating was the final confirmation I needed to purchase this MPV. The price is also spot on giving you fantastic value for money.
Submitted: 30/10/2007 17:12:27
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This car is exceptionally roomy, even with five children in the back. It has some clever space storage ideas and the flexibility of the seating makes life so much easier. Drive wise it’s very solid and smooth and very economical. The driver’s area isn’t very exciting but it’s very practical, which is what you want in a vehicle like this. I’m very pleased with it.
Submitted: 09/08/2007 12:23:45
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Average driver rating ( based on 13 reviews )
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Average driver rating ( based on 13 reviews )
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Average driver rating ( based on 13 reviews )
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