Zafira tops safety tests

Vauxhall’s new Zafira MPV has become the latest car to scoop a top five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

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Vauxhall Zafira
Overall 4/5 stars
Front impact 88%
Side impact 100%
Child protection 76% 4/5 stars
Pedestrian test 44% 2/4 stars

Vauxhall’s new Zafira MPV has become the latest car to scoop a top five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

On sale from the end of July, the Zafira joins the Renault Scenic, Seat Altea, Toyota Corolla Verso and Volkswagen Touran compact MPVs, which also won five stars. The previous-generation Zafira earned three stars.

While overall passenger protection was good, the Zafira only scored two out of a possible four stars in pedestrian impact tests.

The body of the Zafira proved to be extremely strong, suffering minimal deformation. The driver’s door could be opened following an impact, and airbags and seatbelts worked well.

The footwell showed little deformation and risk of injury from pedals, but the driver’s legs struck the steering column and adjuster lever.

An impressive side-impact protection system includes seat-mounted thorax airbags and a head curtain airbag, and also protects those sitting in the rear. Maximum points were achieved.

The children were reasonably well protected although, in the frontal impact, the chest load on the older child and the neck load on the younger child were a little high.

The car’s front offered reasonable protection. The Zafira’s bumper met test requirements and the bonnet top gave cushioning where a child or adult pedestrian’s head would most likely strike it. However, the bonnet’s leading edge gave no measurable protection.