Sheriff
5th January 2006, 12:42 PM
www.autoexpress.co.uk
Date: January, 2006
By: Piers Ward
There's no doubt that Vauxhall's speedy Zafira GSi brought new excitement to the MPV class... but now its successor, the VXR, has taken the blend of performance and practicality to a new level.
Big alloys, electric blue paintwork and spoilers beef up the looks and make the VXR a sportier beast. Inside there are part-leather seats in the front, with huge side bolsters.
And there's also some mock carbon fibre trim to spice up the dash plus a chunky steering wheel, while Vaux- hall's Flex7 seating system boosts versatility. Compared to the GSi, this Zafira is quick too - reaching 60mph from a standstill in 7.2 seconds and offering a 144mph top speed.
However, the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, shared with the Astra VXR, isn't particularly smooth or refined. While the four-cylinder unit revs easily enough, the turbo's effect on power delivery isn't as gradual as we'd like. It's almost avalanche-like at times, and on uneven roads the seven-seater suffers from torque steer as it scrabbles for grip.
However, nicely weighted steering and stiff suspension mean the VXR handles much better than you'd expect for a car of this size. Equally, the ride isn't as harsh as you'd have thought thanks to electronically controlled dampers which allow it to drive like a hot hatch through corners, but remain relatively comfortable over potholes. So is the VXR better than the GSi? If you like your family cars red hot, there are few better choices.
First Opinion
It's good to see that the VXR badge hasn't been toned down to suit the Zafira's practical nature. This is a genuine hot hatch MPV, born from the same mould as Vauxhall's Astra VXR, and a fine achievement. The newcomer is practical, looks good, handles well and delivers blistering pace.
At a Glance
* Vauxhall hopes to shift around 1,000 VXRs a year, matching sales of the previous GSi version.
* Engine: 2.0 4cyl, 237bhp
* 0-60mph: 7.2 seconds
* Price: £21,995
Date: January, 2006
By: Piers Ward
There's no doubt that Vauxhall's speedy Zafira GSi brought new excitement to the MPV class... but now its successor, the VXR, has taken the blend of performance and practicality to a new level.
Big alloys, electric blue paintwork and spoilers beef up the looks and make the VXR a sportier beast. Inside there are part-leather seats in the front, with huge side bolsters.
And there's also some mock carbon fibre trim to spice up the dash plus a chunky steering wheel, while Vaux- hall's Flex7 seating system boosts versatility. Compared to the GSi, this Zafira is quick too - reaching 60mph from a standstill in 7.2 seconds and offering a 144mph top speed.
However, the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, shared with the Astra VXR, isn't particularly smooth or refined. While the four-cylinder unit revs easily enough, the turbo's effect on power delivery isn't as gradual as we'd like. It's almost avalanche-like at times, and on uneven roads the seven-seater suffers from torque steer as it scrabbles for grip.
However, nicely weighted steering and stiff suspension mean the VXR handles much better than you'd expect for a car of this size. Equally, the ride isn't as harsh as you'd have thought thanks to electronically controlled dampers which allow it to drive like a hot hatch through corners, but remain relatively comfortable over potholes. So is the VXR better than the GSi? If you like your family cars red hot, there are few better choices.
First Opinion
It's good to see that the VXR badge hasn't been toned down to suit the Zafira's practical nature. This is a genuine hot hatch MPV, born from the same mould as Vauxhall's Astra VXR, and a fine achievement. The newcomer is practical, looks good, handles well and delivers blistering pace.
At a Glance
* Vauxhall hopes to shift around 1,000 VXRs a year, matching sales of the previous GSi version.
* Engine: 2.0 4cyl, 237bhp
* 0-60mph: 7.2 seconds
* Price: £21,995