2013 Vauxhall Zafira Exclusiv 1.6 petrol

Summary:

Spacious and cheap to run

Faults:

Clutch, oil leak, and the rear seats adjusters broke.

General Comments:

Pretty dull Zafira from 2013. Bought this as a large family run about. That clutch replacement aside, it has been a cheap reliable car to service and repair.

Not bad to drive, 1.6 just about has enough power, except when fully loaded, it struggles a bit. Manages a solid 38 mpg however. If you need more power and fuel economy, try the diesels, but they are a bit more complicated and expensive to repair. The 1.6 is at-least an old school simple petrol engine.

Very spacious and comfortable inside, this Zafira's strengths really are in practicality and family friendliness, which is why people buy cars like this.

12 years old now but is in good condition and has lowish miles for its age; I'll keep it for another few years as a cheap run about so long as it stays reliable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th October, 2025

2013 Vauxhall Zafira Exclusiv 1.6 petrol

Summary:

Practical

Faults:

No major complaints - I always have the car fully serviced and it had full history when purchased. At the last MOT it passed with no advisory. I did have some work done to the brakes and suspension last year however.

Interior wise the rear luggage cover broke, and some electrical items can be a bit erratic.

General Comments:

In general this Zafira has been a reliable and comfortable practical family car for me. I have had it a few years and put 30,000+ miles on it.

Decent looking in blue. Inside is full of grey plastic - very dull but also very functional and spacious. Interior is the best thing about this car - so much room and good vision all round. Being the "Exclusiv" spec which is the lower range, you do not get much, not even electric windows in the rear, front only. Definitely would look at a higher spec if buying again.

Would also recommend a better engine (1.8 petrol or the later diesel's) this 1.6 petrol is a joke performance wise - feels very under-powered for a vehicle this size. It does return over 40 MPG if you take it easy though, not bad for petrol.

Overall it is a slightly better car than my old 2006 Ford Galaxy, but not by much. Definitely would recommend the Zafira however if you are looking for a spacious family car, but you should really only consider the higher trim level cars with better engines.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th December, 2021

16th Jul 2024, 11:06

I bought this 2013 Zafira Exclusiv from a careful driver who had it from new. I've owned it since 2015 & find the interior is lacking for a few reasons (my last car was a Hyundai Matrix 1600). Spoiled would be my response to the interior of the Matrix. I miss the smart cup holders and the quirky hidden compartments which are non-existent in the Zafira as both have the grey plastic interiors. The cup holder in the front is situated wrongly at the front of the console and when the handbrake is engaged, it tips the cup over, spilling its contents onto the console. Very annoying. Mechanical issues are inevitable, regular servicing is a must. This year has been eye opening as, apparent common faults have been occurring. My gearbox gave out, my driver's side wishbone failed as I turned left into a junction. It wasn't flagged at my mot in February. I'm just waiting for the next fault to show itself. I'm considering replacing the steering cradle, and track rods as a precaution. Better safe than sorry. The Zafira is not a racing car and shouldn't be treated as one, careful driving is essential. Converting from a 5 to a 7 seater is a brilliant idea, if not used, the large boot is perfect for many other reasons, it's a comfortable car to drive.

Overall, I would buy another taking into account the faults above being checked beforehand.

In reply to 16th Jul 2024, 11:06

25th Sep 2024, 12:07

The Zafira is decent enough if you just want family transport. The CDTi diesels suffer from the usual diesel issues, but are punchy and economical, and the petrols although both fairly reliable, the 1.6 and 1.8 don't do much more than 37 mpg in reality, which isn't great these days. Reviewer must have done a tonne of motorway cruising with the car empty to get 40 + mpg from petrol!