By Sala Masindane

The popularity of multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) in South Africa is growing and Opel SA wants their piece of the pie with the new Zafira Life. The German newcomer enters the fray that has some strong contenders which have cemented themselves in the hearts of many South Africans. We recently drove the range-topping Zafira Life Elegance to see if it’s worth considering.

Eye-catching design

After spending a week traversing Mzansi, “living the Zafira life”, we’ve received a lot of compliments from curious onlookers. The Zafira Life Elegance boasts an elegant design which is accentuated by a grille with chrome accents, halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels.

VIP interior

While the exterior design is very similar to the entry-level Edition grade, the interior of the top-spec Elegance sets itself apart with a luxurious cabin. Getting inside is made easy thanks to dual-powered sliding side doors. Inside, you are met by a luxurious full-leather interior. The driver and front passenger have the benefit of electric, heated, and massaging seats while the second row features comfortable two individual swivelling VIP seats, a folding table in the centre with cup holders and a split panoramic sunroof. Packing luggage for a lengthy getaway wasn’t an issue thanks to its 1 060 litres luggage capacity

Its infotainment is intuitive and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Your favourite tunes are blasted on the amplified 10-speaker sound system. The only con for us is the rather small 7-inch touch screen, which you also get in the lower spec Edition and a single USB port upfront for the entire MPV.

Driving the Zafira Life

Powering the MPV is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine which develops 110kW and 370Nm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed transmission. The 2-litre engine carries the Zafira Elegance well. It’s smooth and power is available on demand. Of course, we didn’t expect it to handle as a hatch, however minimal body roll was felt when we got excited on the open road. As a matter of relief though, fuel consumption is forgiving as our stint had us averaging 8.9l/100km.

Overall, the Zafira Life Elegance is a compelling offering for business or family requirements. It is priced from R869,900.