All aboard

What if the best seat in the latest Opel Zafira Life offering wasn't the one occupied by the driver?

- Alex Shahini

OPEL ZAFIRA LIFE 2,0 TD ELEGANCE ETA: NOW

Price: R869 900 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4 cyl, turbodiesel Transmission: 8-speed, automatic Power: 110 kW @ 4 000 r/min Torque: 370 N.m @ 2000 r/min 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: n/a Fuel consumption: 6,3 L/100 km CO2: 165 g/km* Rivals: Ford Torneo Connect, Hyundai Staria, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Volkswagen Caravelle

Although it may be late to the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) party on local soil, the fourth-generation Opel Zafira Life hopes to ruffle some feathers and possibly entice some mid-size SUV buyers away from the overly embellished off-roaders for school runs or shuttle services.

Instead of spending the day trundling about, running errands through clogged city streets, we journalists were able to enjoy the newcomer on open country roads between Gauteng and the North West province. The new Stellantis product is simply divided into two offerings: the entry-level spec Edition and the top-spec Elegance.

Nothing differentiates them from the outside, nor do they differ in the powertrain department, and they appear aesthetically and mechanically identical. However, that extra cash spent on the top spec becomes immediately apparent in the interior.

It's not common practice to kick off a driving impression with thoughts about the interior, but bear with me, because it is one of the MPV's standout features. You see, Opel has moved away from the ludicrously cool OPC-tuned Zafiras that were a hoot to drive and transcended the over-20-year-old nameplate into a larger and more practical people mover.