Holden Zafira Reviews

Transporting a family always presents parents with a dilemma, the bigger the family the bigger the dilemma. Many parents have resorted to driving their families in big, heavy four-wheel drives, which seem to have become the station wagon of the 21st century.But there are other, more efficient means of getting the family members to where they need to be. Vehicles like the Holden Zafira compact peoplemover, which was cleverly conceived to transport up to seven people, large and small, as well as the gear they need to take with them in a flexible package that covered most family transport needs.MODEL WATCH While four-wheel drives, some people call them SUVs or Sports Utility Vehicles, have become the fashionable mode of family transport they come with lots of downsides. They’re big, heavy, and with all of that four-wheel drive gear underneath they guzzle fuel like there’s no tomorrow.Having bought them many families fall out of love with them when they realize they steer like the Queen Mary and are about as big as the mother ship when they have to navigate their way through the morning school rush or the supermarket grand prix.If that’s not enough to put the wind up them, the shock that comes with every stop at the servo is surely enough to put them off their juggernaut. Of course they always have the ability to drive their four-wheel drive offroad on that long dreamt of trip of a lifetime, the one they never seem to get around to.In the meantime they’re driving the extra drive gear under the front of the car, and using up fuel for no reason. Four-wheel drives, SUVs, are an inefficient, expensive way of getting the family around if you don’t need to leave the blacktop.Holden’s Zafira was conceived by Opel in Europe, but built in Thailand, before undergoing a badge transplant and an ‘Australianisation’ program to emerge as a Holden. It’s the European interpretation of family transport.The Zafira was based on the Astra platform with its compact external dimensions, but the compact exterior didn’t compromise the interior efficiency, which boasted a flexible seating layout that would accommodate up to seven in three rows of seats.Holden called it the ‘Flex 7’ seating system because it could be altered to be a two-seater, a five seater or a seven seater through a simple, but clever folding system. By folding one or more of the seats the Zafira’s interior could be rearranged to accommodate all sorts of items of luggage, sports gear, camping equipment or whatever was needed to transport home from the shops, hardware store or wherever. Being based on a passenger car platform the upright Zafira was relatively easy to get in and out of, there was no climbing up into the cabin as there is with a high-riding four-wheel drive.There was one engine, a 2.2-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder, offered in the Zafira. Its peak power was 108 kW developed at 5800 revs, while it developed its maximum torque of 203 Nm at 4000 revs. It could be linked to either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic.For a family’s peace of mind the Zafira came with an impressive complement of features, both safety and comfort. Among them were ABS antiskid brakes, traction control, dual front airbags, air, cruise, power steering, power windows and mirrors, adjustable steering wheel, central locking and six-speaker CD sound.An update in 2003 brought even more interior flexibility with a 40/20/40 split-fold second row seat. Comfort was improved for the driver with a height adjustable seat. At the same time Holden released an additional model, the Equipe, a limited edition model with extra gear, including 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, roof racks, power rear windows, trip computer and a cargo blind for security.IN THE SHOP Owners say they have little trouble with the Zafira, which suggests it was a well-built car that is holding up well as time goes by. The camshafts in the 2.2-litre engine are chain driven so there’s no maintenance required as there would be with a belt. Check cars thoroughly for wear and tear caused by tots; also check for collateral damage from its life in the tough unforgiving world of the school and supermarket.IN A CRASH The Europeans rated the Zafira three out of five in their NCAP test, which is a pass, but not a great result. The Zafira does have a comprehensive package of passive and active safety systems, including ABS antiskid brakes, traction control, and dual front airbags. It also has lap/sash seat belts for all occupants, as well as pyrotechnic seat belt pretensioners and belt force limiters. Child restraint anchor fittings were standard.AT THE PUMP Around town you could expect the Zafira to return around 11 L/100 km, but that should drop to around 8 L/100 km once you hit the highway.OWNERS SAY Rodney Teague bought his Zafira Equipe manual in 2004 after determining what he wanted the car to do. At the time he had one child aged four and another one on the way, and wanted a small car with plenty of space for the kids and their gear, and enough room left for the family when they visited. It would be used mainly for local trips with an occasional trip around his home state of Tasmania. He found the Toyota Avensis motor was too small, the Honda Odyssey was too expensive and the child seat attachments were impractical, station wagons were too large, and other cars like the Daewoo Nubira had too little space. The Zafira was by far the most practical car for the Teagues at the time. It’s now four years old, having done 40,000 km. The car has been excellent for all jobs, he says. It goes well, has good torque for the local hills around Hobart and is fuel efficient on the longer trips, especially using the cruise control. Being high sided and with an upright seating position the Zafira is not too long so it is good for city parking etc. and with 650 kg trailer towing capacity it is easy work for the small towing job like landscape supplies etc.With three children, and often a friend along for a ride, Cathy Cockshott wanted a Zafira from the moment she saw the ads on TV. Eventually she bought a one-year-old car, and says she loves it. It's so versatile, with its flat-folding rear seats, and semi-flat-folding second row, it can even be used to transport small items of furniture! It's very simple to change the seating arrangements to suit your passenger load and/or luggage space. She says the only problem has been with a catalytic converter that was replaced under warranty. She likes the looks and finds it much easier to maneouvre than the Magna she previously owned. It fits into tight parking spaces and visibility is good.Barry Hofert and his family are very impressed with the performance, economy and ease of handling of their 2003 Zafira. He says they find that the seat height is great for entry and exit, and the shape of the body makes it easy to park. Fuel economy averages about 8.6 L/100 km. The only complaints they have are the thick A-pillars that cut into visibility and the hardness of the seats on a long trip.LOOK FOR • good visibility from upright driving position• very flexible interior• capable of carrying seven• good performance• average fuel consumption• easy to manoeuvreTHE BOTTOM LINE Gone, and unfortunately forgotten, the Zafira is a good family transport solution.RATING 80/100

The folk at Fishermens Bend are building an unbeatable lineup in the showrooms as well, which is reflected in Holden's sales results.  It's not just Australia's top-selling car, the Commodore, keeping Holden at No. 1.Star cars imported from Europe extend the Team of Champions all the way from the baby Barina, through the Astra and Vectra ranges, to the range-topping Statesman.  Add another name, the Zafira mini people mover, to the list.People movers have never really taken off in Australia; traditional seven-seaters such as the Toyota Tarago and Chrysler Voyager often being too expensive for families with more than two children.  That is probably why locally built station wagons and car-like four-wheel-drives such as the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester sell well.However, in Europe sky-high petrol prices have limited the availability and affordability of big-engined alternatives and opened the way for mini people movers based on mainstream small cars.  Renault began the trend with its Megane-based Scenic, its huge sales forcing most of its rivals to follow suit.The French brand, which only returned to Australia this year, missed out on any potential early advantage in the segment Down Under because the Scenic's arrival coincided with a barrage of similar rivals: the Mazda 323-based Premacy, Daewoo Tacuma, the Zafira and the Chrysler PT Cruiser.Most of these cars offer more comfort and convenience than the ones they're based upon and only slightly less seating and luggage space than traditional people movers. So it's little wonder families are flocking to these cars and taking advantage of the $20,000-plus saving over a dedicated people mover.The Zafira matches its bigger rivals for seating and is only just short on peak power, yet it comes in at $31,990 for the basic five-speed manual and comes standard with a long list of features that would be options on bigger people movers.The Zafira is based on the Astra and, though the hatch and sedans are imported from Europe, it is built in Thailand in a new General Motors factory.Its Astra heritage can be seen with both cars sharing the same basic face through the grille and headlights.  But, apart from that, the Zafira needed to be considerably longer and taller than the Astra to convert it into a people mover.It has a more steeply raked and larger windscreen, bigger doors and side windows and a wagon-style rear end with a top-opening door.  But the Zafira's major advantage is that it is the only car in this small segment to have seven seats, thanks to an ingenious system called Flex7.There are two front seats, a middle bench capable of seating three and then two seats in the rear compartment. Unlike some of its rivals, whose seats need to be removed, the Zafira's back seats fold flat into the floor to create more luggage room.The middle bench, which has a 60-40 split fold capability and a through-loading centre hatch for long items, can be folded up and moved forwards by up to 540mm to transform the Zafira from a people carrier into a mini van.  Holden claims the Zafira has 150 litres of storage space when all seven seats are in use and 1700 litres when the back two rows are folded flat.The Zafira also has the biggest engine in its class with an aluminium 2.2-litre four cylinder replacing the 1.8-litre from the Astra.  The engine, which also powers the Opel Speedster, produces peak power of 108kW at 5800 revs and maximum torque of 203Nm at 4000 revs.It has been recalibrated to suit Australian conditions and driving requirements, which even includes switching the air-conditioner off temporarily for maximum torque during take-off.  Like the Astra, the engine drives the front wheels through either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox.It has a Holden-designed torque converter for improved launch and a "neutral idle'' feature which increases fuel economy by selecting neutral when the brake pedal is applied and the car is stationary.The Zafira also borrows the basic MacPherson front strut and torsion beam rear-end suspension design from the Astra, although it has been retuned for the Zafira's extra weight and cargo-carrying requirements.Safety-wise, the Zafira comes standard with anti-skid brakes, traction control, dual front airbags and a patented pedal release system.  Inside the cabin, Holden has included CD sound, electric front windows, cruise control, remote central locking and plenty of hidy-holes and storage bins.  Apart from the self-shifting gearbox, the only option for the Zafira is metallic paint at $240.DrivingTHERE'S quality in every aspect of the Zafira. The comfortable seats are covered in dark, inoffensive fabric and the dash is simple and well laid out.  The front seats are set up high and there's not a lot of under-thigh support, but the advantage is excellent vision all around.The seats are a bit awkward to fold flat or reposition upright for first-time users, but once you get the system sorted out it becomes simple.  There's not a lot of luggage space behind the rear seats when they are in use, but the boot is generous when the seats are flat.The engine is quiet, refined and fuel-efficient; the tacho needle moves swiftly and effortlessly through the rev range and there's plenty of mid-range torque on tap.  The manual gearbox is slick and solid and the clutch is well-weighted for stop-start city work.The suspension is second to none. In fact, the Zafira handles better than some sporty hatchbacks despite its taller body and centre of gravity.  The cabin is extremely well iso lated from wind, engine and road noise, giving the passengers better quality sound from the decent, but not spectacular, sound system.It's not easy to find fault with the Zafira, which easily makes it the best choice of the new-age mini people movers.  It's more powerful and seats more people than its rivals; it oozes quality and has a suspension package that could have come straight off a more expensive car.Score 4/5/ Seating; overall quality.* Easily the best of this new bunch of mini people movers.* Hard plastic dash; dark interiorHolden ZafiraPrice: $31,990Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder with double overhead camshafts and fuel injectionPower: 108kW at 5800 revsTorque: 203Nm at 4000 revsTransmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel driveBody: Five-door wagonDimensions:Length: 4317mm, width: 1999mm, height: 1684mm, wheelbase: 2694mm, tracks 1470mm/1487mm front/rearWeight: 1460kgFuel Tank: 56 litresFurl Consumption: 8.7 litres/100km average on testSteering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: Fully independent with front MacPherson struts and torsion beam rear with coil springsBrakes: Four-wheel anti-skid discsWheels: 15x6 steelTyres: 195/65 R 15Warranty: Three years/100,000kmRivals Mazda Premacy *** (from $27,690)Renault Scenic *** (from $25,878)Chrysler PT Cruiser *** (from $35,200)Honda CR-V *** (from $31,990)