Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTi: Test Drive Review

The headline figures for Vauxhall’s completely new 1.6-litre diesel engine that makes its first appearance in the Zafira Tourer are seriously impressive – doubly so when you consider that this is a full-size seven-seater.

For starters, the CO2 stands at 109g/km while the official fuel figure is 68.9mpg, numbers that help to put the Zafira Tourer, which remains unchanged in all other ways, in the same 16% benefit-in-kind band as the Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi, the class leader for diesel efficiency. However, the Zafira is significantly, and usefully, better on performance. While most rival engines offer no better than 120hp, the 1.6-litre CDTi diesel produces 136hp, which means 0-60mph comes up in 10.4 seconds with a 125mph top speed. The new engine also shows significant improvements in noise reduction.

So at this point you’re thinking there’s got to be a catch. And you’d be right: the price is £1100 more than the 130hp 2.0-litre diesel that is already offered (and will continue to be offered) in the Zafira Tourer. However, this premium is more than offset by the fuel-saving alone (over 60,000 miles) as the 1.6 is 24% more efficient than the 134g/km 2.0. And for fleets there are significant savings on tax too.

What, then, seems odd is that Vauxhall believes the 130hp 2.0-litre diesel will remain the best-seller in the range, although you can’t help thinking this prediction will change as soon as they see orders come in for the very efficient 1.6 CDTi, which not only is the best engine in the line-up but also makes the Zafira Tourer a winner over rival seven-seat MPVs.