New Opel Zafira Life: The Benchmark Enters its Fourth Generation

• Opel’s next generation multi-purpose passenger car
• One model, three sizes, each with up to nine seats
• Bold design and balanced proportions
• Lounge comfort with movable leather seats and panorama roof
• Sliding doors open electrically in seconds via foot-movement
• World premiere at Brussels Motor Show on January 18, 2019, for order in February
• Opel Zafira Life all-electric version follows in 2021

New Opel Zafira Life

Attractive, flexible and practical vans are named Zafira. Twenty years after the success began with the first generation, the story is now continuing with a newly developed fourth-generation model. The Opel Zafira Life is a fun-to-drive as well as comfortable multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that the German carmaker will offer in three lengths, tailor-made to customer requirements: the 4.60 metre “Small”, the 4.95 m “Medium” and the 5.30 m “Large” – each of which comes with up to nine seats. The “S” version of the Zafira Life is about ten centimetres shorter than the current Zafira, while the “L” is around 65 cm longer and therefore nearly as big as the Opel Vivaro Combi passenger van. Opel Zafira Life thus covers up to three vehicle segments and represents a new benchmark among multi-seat MPVs.

Opel Zafira Life meets all demands – from the versatile interiors, high comfort and sophisticated driver assistance systems, to state-of-the-art infotainment, head-up display, camera and radar-based active cruise control. The advanced technology is paired with a bold look, balanced proportions, short overhangs and the typical Opel fascia. Driver and passengers benefit from a two-piece panorama roof and an opening window in the tailgate. The Opel Zafira Life will make its world premiere at the Brussels Motor Show on January 18, 2019 (public days January 19-27, 2019). The order books will open in February.

For the best traction on loose surfaces, the Zafira Life is equipped with the advanced IntelliGrip traction control. A 4x4 version will also be available to order from the start of sales. The all-wheel drive system is supplied by the off-road specialists at Dangel. Opel will offer a purely electric version in early 2021, another milestone on the journey to electrifying the brand.

“With the new Zafira Life, Opel continues to implement the PACE! strategic plan”, says Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller. “By the end of 2020 we will bring eight all-new or refreshed models onto the market – including the next generation of the bestselling Corsa. We will already open the order books for two electrified models in the first half of 2019: for the all-electric version of the Corsa, which will become a real electric car for everyone, and the Grandland X as a plug-in hybrid. Opel is going electric.”

The company is investing above all in profitable, growing market segments with high volumes. Opel will soon have one of the youngest product portfolios of all volume manufacturers.

One model, three sizes: Opel Zafira Life for every purpose

Opel Zafira Life “Small” competes with compact vans but offers considerably more room and space for up to nine occupants – unrivalled in this class. It also features a small turning circle (11.3 m), good handling and two sensor-controlled sliding doors that open electrically with a movement of the foot, similar to the tailgates of the Astra Sports Tourer and Insignia Sports Tourer – also unique in this market segment. Opel Zafira Life “Medium” (likewise the Opel Zafira Life “L”) has a 35 cm longer, 3.28 m wheelbase and thus more legroom for the rear passengers, which makes it a competitor of midsize vans in the D market segment. Compared with the competition, the Opel also features a larger tailgate and easier access for loading/unloading, plus a higher payload of more than one tonne. Opel Zafira Life “Large”, with a luggage capacity of around 4,500 litres, is a rival for even bigger vans.

Stylish, highly equipped shuttles are in great demand in this market segment. Opel therefore offers leather seats on aluminium rails that allow full and easy adjustment for all versions of the Zafira Life. Five, six, seven or eight leather-seat configurations are available. The folding back of the front passenger seat allows the transportation of objects up to 3.50 m in length. Folding the third row seats increases the luggage capacity of the Zafira Life “S” to 1,500 litres (to roof level). The removal of the rear seats (which are equally easy to reinstall) raises the total cargo capacity to as much as 3,397 litres.

Luxurious “Lounge” trim is available for the long wheelbase versions – in front, seats with massage and electric heating, four movable leather chairs behind, each with a 48 cm wide seat cushion. VIP passengers can thus also sit facing each other and enjoy the legroom. The movable table also folds away to provide additional storage space for small objects. Passengers can charge their mobile devices using the 230 V plug socket.

Most versions of the Opel Zafira Life are less than 1.90 m high and can therefore access typical underground garages – important for use as hotel shuttle.

Under control: Head-Up Display, front collision warning and rear view camera

The new Opel MPV features numerous driver assistance systems. A camera and radar monitor the area in front of the vehicle. The system even recognises pedestrians crossing the road and can initiate an emergency braking manoeuver at speeds up to 30 km/h. The intelligent cruise control adjusts the speed to that of the vehicle in front, automatically decelerates and can reduce the speed to 20 km/h if necessary. Lane-keep assist and drowsiness alert warn drivers if they have spent too much time at the wheel and need a break. High-beam assist, which automatically switches to high or low beam, is activated above 25 km/h. Also unique in this market segment is the colour head-up display that shows speed, distance to the preceding vehicle and navigation.

During the course of 2019, the Zafira Life will also offer the Opel Connect telematics service. Helpful functions, such as Live Navigation with real-time traffic information, direct connection with roadside assistance and emergency call, give the driver and passengers additional peace of mind. Help can be reached within seconds via the red button. If the seatbelt tensioners or the airbags are deployed, the emergency call is activated automatically.

Good all-round visibility is particularly important in larger vehicles, for example in narrow streets or when making turns in urban areas. Ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers alert the driver to obstacles of every kind when parking. The image from the rear view camera is displayed on the interior mirror or the 7.0-inch screen – the latter with 180-degree visibility from the bird’s eye view.

The large 7.0-inch touchscreen comes with Multimedia and Multimedia Navi infotainment. Both systems feature phone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Multimedia Navi additionally features European navigation with 3D view. Points of interest in large towns are displayed in “Full HD” quality. As an option, the geography along the route on cross-country journeys is shown very realistically. Thanks to Opel Connect, the navigation system includes real time traffic information for the latest status on the roads. A powerful sound system is available with all trim levels. In the top-of-the-line version, passengers enjoy first class acoustics thanks to 10 loudspeakers.