Used Ford S-Max vs Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

What will they cost?

When the S-Max version we’re testing here was new, it cost £25,995. However, our Target Price team said it could be bought for £24,061. Now, the same car in excellent condition and with an average mileage for the year would cost you approximately £15,995.

By contrast, the Zafira Tourer we are testing cost £23,690 when new, with a Target Price of £21,725. Now, a good example, with the same criteria as the S-Max, can be found for a mere £10,995, making it the much cheaper car of the two. That’s a substantial saving that is particularly paramount when buying a used car at this age.

On top of that, the Zafira Tourer is cheaper to service, tax and insure, and our True MPG real-world economy tests saw the car record an excellent figure of 51.5mpg, against the S-Max’s 43.6mpg.

Both cars come with 17in alloy wheels, air conditioning, a DAB radio, all-round electric windows, front and rear parking sensors and a multi-function steering wheel as standard. The Zafira Tourer adds sat-nav and cruise control, while the S-Max counters that with keyless start and a heated front windscreen.

On the safety front, both get six standard airbags, but automatic emergency braking wasn’t available on the Zafira Tourer, even as an option; Ford charged £450 for it when the S-Max was new.

According to security firm Thatcham Research, the S-Max scored highly in its tests for resistance to being driven away and for avoiding a break-in. On both counts, it performed slightly better than the Zafira Tourer, which was hampered by the fact that Vauxhall charges extra for an alarm, unlike Ford, which offers one as standard.