2003 OPEL Zafira 2.2L DTi 5MT FWD (125 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Opel introduced a final refresh for its first-generation Zafira MPV in 2003, before completely change the model in 2005.

When General Motors used its minivan experience from the U.S. soil, it created one of the best compact minivans from the European market. Unlike the Renault Espace, it offered a seven-seat interior in a compact segment length. On top of that, it shared most of its underpinnings with its stablemate Astra, leading to a lower total cost of ownership. With the 2003 model, Opel brought a breath of fresh air into the lineup.

At the front, the car featured new, clear headlights with a bolder look and a darkened upper area. Its bumper sported a broad grille at the bottom, which incorporated the side-mounted fog lights. Since the carmaker already knew its customers, it kept the black, unpainted moldings around the bodywork and the wheel-arches to avoid costly repairs for parking scratches.

Inside, the 2003 Zafira received a more extended instrument cluster extended above the center stack. It resembled the one from the Vectra and included the onboard computer screen. The carmaker introduced an option for a new CD player mounted above the climate-control dials. In the back, there were not too many changes apart from upholstery options. There were still three seats in the middle row and another two on the folding jump-seats from the trunk.

Under the hood, the carmaker offered a range of three gasoline and two turbo-diesel units paired either with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, depending on the engine.