Used Vauxhall Zafira Tourer (2012-2018)

Vauxhall Zafira prices from £4,995   Finance from £101 per month

The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer isn’t only a terrific family car, it’s a footnote in the history of consumerism. When sales of the third-generation Zafira were ended in June 2018, Vauxhall said there wouldn’t be a successor because most drivers are only interested in buying Sports Utility Vehicles. In other words, if you want a Vauxhall MPV, you'll have to buy used.

Which is a shame. Because when approaching a family car like this with the head in control of the heart, there is plenty to recommend about the Zafira Tourer.

One of its most appealing features is that it has seating for seven. In fact, the original 1999 Zafira introduced the concept of a third row of seats that fold into the floor – known in Vauxhall speak as Flex7.

Something else that families will doubtless appreciate is that the Zafira Tourer is relatively affordable. 2015 registered cars start from £6,699, which is bang on the money when it comes the typical amount a UK family spends on a car.

Also in that price range are equally practical cars including the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, Ford Grand C-Max, Renault Grand Scenic and Volkswagen Touran. And if you need something bigger still try the Ford S-Max, Seat Alhambra or VW Sharan; they will be older, higher mileage cars for the same money as a Zafira Tourer, but there’s more room for passengers and in the boot.

The car underwent a facelift and simplifications to the engine range in 2016. There are three core engines for used car buyers – a petrol and two diesels, which will have differing appeal depending on your usage. Most will be happy with the smooth and economical 1.6-litre diesel, which Vauxhall calls a 'Whisper' diesel.

Admittedly, there are some people carriers that feel less like a half-asleep parent, and are a little bit more stimulating to drive. The Ford S-Max is the best in that respect.

However, when sitting at 70mph on the motorway the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer makes a good case for itself as a long distance cruiser, as it's quieter than the Renault Grand Scenic or Ford S-Max.

The most important factor in a family people carrier is space and practicality and in this area the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is right up there. Pockets and compartments abound. The seats all fold flat into the floor but when in use the middle seat in the second row is narrow and there's a hump in the floor that’s annoying. The rearmost seats too aren't really large enough to seat adults for any meaningful duration, but that’s an issue in common with most cars in this class.

And even though there's a large, panoramic windscreen, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer's small windows and dark trim means it feels less airy and spacious than the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.

At the forefront of the mind of anyone buying a car for their family is whether it’s safe. In the Zafira’s case, it’s extremely safe, scoring a maximum five star EuroNCAP rating, with a 94% adult 83% child occupant score. But it can only be had with two Isofix mounts for child seats, on the two outer chairs of the middle row. That’s less than some rivals that manage at least three locations for child seats.

Owners say good things about their Vauxhall Zafira Tourers in the annual Driver Power survey, and so far it's proved to be a sturdy, reliable car.