October 2001 Volume 82 Number 10 "serving the protectors"
Motoring
By Jim Barnett

Rugged Zafira for Oz

With its unusual name, Holden’s latest people-mover, Zafira, is a damn good package. Conceived in Europe, it shows some of the styling influence of the Astra and Vectra models.

A specialist Holden engineering team has developed Zafira - already a huge success in Europe - into a more rugged vehicle for Australia and the Asia Pacific. Holden engineers also brought it into production at a new GM plant in Thailand.

Zafira comes in just one, well-equipped specification level. For a seven-seat, multi-purpose wagon, its entry price ($31,990) represents good value for money. Automatic transmission adds $2,000, and the only other option is metallic paint. Standard equipment includes:

• Dual airbags.
• Four-channel ABS brakes.
• Traction control.
• Heated, power mirrors.
• Cruise control.
• Front power windows.
• Six-speaker, single-CD audio system.
• Air conditioning.
• Remote locking (operating interior lights, all doors, tailgate and fuel-filler door).

With its flexible seating arrangements, Zafira offers excellent performance and class-leading versatility. It is built on a long wheelbase with short front and rear overhangs, and its long, sloping windscreen gives it a cab-forward design. Large doors open wide for easy access, while the high-lift tailgate reveals a low cargo bay for easy loading.

It easily transforms into a five-seater, a two-seater or a seven-seater.

A lively 2.2-litre DOHC, four-cylinder engine, drives the front wheels. This perky engine - which offers 108kW of power and 203Nm of torque - proved its worth on test, with a strong performance and good fuel economy. The manual version travelled slightly more than 500km and used just three quarters of its 56-litre fuel tank. Holden quote figures of 9L/100km (city) and 6.8L/100km (highway).

With useable power all the way to redline, the engine is one of the smoothest and quietest “fours” we have seen. It’s powerful enough from standstill, and will not run out of puff on a long hill - even with a full load. Steering and suspension are well sorted, providing ride comfort levels and cornering stability not normally found in this type of vehicle.

Zafira is cleverly designed and laid out, but let down by cheap-looking carpet. Seats are generally supportive and comfortable - the driver’s offers height adjustment. The second-row seat has a 60/40 split-fold design and can move backward or forward up to 540mm. This provides up to 640 litres of additional cargo space.

Maximum cargo capacity is achieved by folding the second-row seat against the backs of the front seats. This reveals a long, flat floor capable of carrying a massive 1,700 litres of cargo.

Most impressive is the design feature of the third-row seats: they stow away into recesses in the cargo floor. One accesses them by sliding the second-row bench seat forward and removing the cargo-bay floor mat. Each third-row seat can be simply pulled up concertina-like from the floor. The second-row seat can then slide backward into any position, allowing flexible legroom for the second- and third-row seats.

On longer trips, the two rear seats would only be suitable for children.

Thanks to large windows, all-round visibility is good. Of concern, however, are wide front A-pillars and the sweep of the front wipers, which causes a blind spot, particularly on the driver’s side.

Typically European, the dash and gauge layouts are good, but the indicator stalk is fitted on the left side of the steering column, while the wiper stalk sits on the right. Holden has persisted with fiddly cruise-control buttons on the end of the indicator stalk, and no illuminated warning appears when cruise is engaged.

Other worthwhile features include:

• Height-adjustable headlamps.
• Rear fog lamps.
• Plenty of storage pockets, cup-holders and bins.

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