Vauxhall Zafira 2.0i 16v Turbo > Reviews (4)

2 years ago, I found myself in the same boat as pretty much every other owner of a Zaffy GSi Turbo... we needed a reliable & practical car which could cope with 6/7 people, swallow large loads when going on holiday or trips to the tip, but at the same time I wanted a car which when I was driving on my own could be exciting & rewarding to drive.

Now there are a few options, including the Ford S-MAX2.5T, and the newer Zafira VXR, but 2 years ago there was only 1 choice which fulfilled my brief - the Zafira GSi Turbo.

This car really is the forerunner to the Zaffy VXR Turbo. The flex7 seating (which I'm sure you'll find lots of info about in the other Zafira reviews) has been carried over practically as-is to the newer version, and the VXR engine is actually the same unit as in the older GSi Turbo model, but with a new turbo charger to increas the power output.

Not that the older (& lighter) version which this review relates to was exactly slow... The original version produced 192 bhp, and the later versions (from 2003 onwards, and sporting the newer silver centre-console inside) had a revised turbo actuator which increased the output to 200bhp, which is good for a 0-60 sprint in 7.6 seconds, and onto a top speed approaching 140mph.

The car's standard features are impressive - electric windows & mirrors all round, air conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, CD player, 17" alloys, half-leather Recarro seats, Traction Control & Stability Control (an essential safety feature which in my opinion should be standard on every car!).

My car doesn't have any options, though some have Sat Nav, Climate Control & a roof mountedDVD player.

From the outside, the car doesn't look much different from a standard Zafira (unless you go for the bright metallic blue), save for the subtle roof spoiler, side mouldings & alloys. Whilst this might not appeal to the Max Power brigade, it does make this car a great "street sleeper" as it's devastating acceleration is quite capable of surprising unsuspecting BMW drivers who natrually assume you're driving a slower 1.6/1.8 Zafira!

Inside there is lots of black (unless you choose one with the red leather), and it can be quite oppressive on a dull day. To overcome this we had a spoiler sunroof fitted and the light from above did make a difference. There is plenty of soft-touch material on the dashboard, and it feels well screwed together. The controls are also very logically laid out, and the stereo controls on the steering wheel is a joy to use.

The driving experience is best described as a compromise. The accelleration in a straight line is eye-opening given the dimensions of this car, but in an effort to maintain levels of comfort, the car is run at standard ride height, on slightly stiffer springs. This means that it's not quite up to hot-hatch standards on a twisty B road with a fair degree of body roll. Some owners have lowered the suspension to improve handling, but this is at the detriment of passenger comfort, so I have chosen to keep mine unmodified.

It's still far more sports orientated than a normal MPV, though I'd say it's happier on fast A roads.

We bought the car at 20,000 miles, and it's currently run up 60,000 miles. In that time it's been reliable, though has suffered from problems with the air-flow meter which is nothing major but can cause turbo boost fluctuation which results in an irritating flat-spot on accelleration. It seems that they pretty much all suffer from this, and as they've used the same flawed part on the newer VXR version, it's just as likely to crop up on them also. A replacement Air Flow Meter costs about £80 and you can fit it yourself, though from experience within 20-40,000 miles it will need changing again.

That aside, it's been fairly cheap to maintain, if not to run. The tyres last about 30,000 miles on the rear, and 20,000 on the front. Replacements can cost anything between £40-£100 each depending on brand & tread pattern. The wheels are easily kerbed, so care should be taken when parking!

Servicing has been fairly reasonable at the local Vauxhall dealer - coming in at about £150 for a minor & £250 for a major service. The cambelt needs changing every 36,000 miles, but costs a fairly reasonable £160. The dealer has been OK - they don't seem the most knowledgable about the GSi version of this car, and I've had to do a bit of research on the web to get all the answers I needed.

The fuel economy can come as a bit of a shock. If you drive the car hard you can see returns of just 26mpg, and on the motorway I tend to manage around 30mpg. As a result of this (and the rising cost of petrol) I've booked mine in for conversion to run on LPG, which will result in fitting a gas tank where the spare wheel is. I'll keep the spare in the boot most of the time, and will carry some tyre-weld for the occasions when there's 7 in the car.

As you may see if you read my other reviews, I've had fast cars (Escort Cosworths, Clio V6 etc.) and practical cars (Scenic, Fiat Estate etc.). The Zaffy GSi Turbo is a compromise - a best of both worlds package which means you can transport the family around when you need, and have some fun when you want. For that brief it fits the bill perfectly, and I will not be parting with this car for some time to come!