Few cars can be described as revolutionary, but in the case of the Vauxhall Zafira the title is well deserved. By managing to fit seven seats into an MPV that is no longer than a regular estate car it redefined what was possible for a family car.

Not only did the Zafira prove you don’t need a minibus to move large families, it also came up with a smart way of avoiding the inconvenience of removing and storing all those seats in the garage when luggage space was required. The Flex-7 seating system allows the rearmost row of seats to disappear into the boot floor when not in use, and when the middle row is also folded completely flat it gives a huge loading area.

Launched in May 1999, the Zafira was unique — but soon copied. Today you’ll find similar seating solutions in the new Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90. However, on the used car market the Zafira remains the cheapest way of buying into this innovation.

Second-hand Zafiras start from as little as £4,000 for a 1999 1.6 petrol car with around 90,000 miles. These cars perform well, the slightly dowdy interiors wear well and the seat mechanisms have proved robust. The petrol engine provides adequate power with reasonable economy. But around £6,000 gets you into one of the 123bhp 1.8 litre petrols that joined the line-up in 2001. In addition to a welcome hike in power the car features air-conditioning, although antilock braking was not a standard feature until September 2003.

If you want even more power there is a 2.2 litre 145bhp version, but for most buyers it will be the diesel engines that fit the bill. There’s a choice of two 2 litre units: a rather lacklustre 82bhp and a more satisfying 99bhp. Neither sets the world alight in terms of performance but both boast good fuel economy and useful amounts of torque that help when the Zafira is fully laden.

The Zafira drives well too. The steering is sharp, the handling precise and the standard five-speed manual gearbox easy to use. But throw the car into a corner and its high centre of gravity induces some body roll.

Accommodation is good with plenty of knee room and excellent visibility. But some drivers may find the seat base a little short and on long drives the lack of support beneath the thighs can get tiring. The floor-mounted gearlever is also set quite far back, and while not a problem for most drivers, for shorter ones whose seats are set closer to the steering wheel it can feel awkward.

Many Zafiras were bought with company money and the market is awash with high-mileage examples that have served as weekday executive carriage and weekend family transport. Buying such a car can save you a small fortune and it will usually come with a complete service history. The company may need to keep the original documents for its accounts, but ask for photocopies to confirm any additional work that may have been done.

The Zafira changed the face of family motoring for ever. Other more exclusive brands may have followed in its trail, but on the second-hand market clever innovations don’t come much better or cheaper.

Seating Flex-7 seating easy to use, folding completely flat. Removes the need for them to be taken out and stored when not in use. Driver's seat squab is short and can lack support. Centre rear seat comes with lap belt only

Wipers Originally designed for left-hand drive, the Zafira wipers do not clear the right side of the screen right to the edge

Bodywork Galvanised body means rust shouldn't be an issue

Spare wheel Stored in a cradle beneath the boot floor; it is a popular target for theft

Service history Servicing history essential. Diesels require oil top-ups between scheduled servicing

Safety The original Zafira scored three stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, the new 2005 model scores a maximum five stars

Stereo Integrated stereo systems make theft impossible

Engine Timing belt and tensioner require changing every 40,000 miles on petrol engines

Water pump Commonly fails at 60,000 miles so it's worth changing at 40,000 miles when the timing belt and tensioner are replaced

Gearstick Can be awkward to reach for shorter drivers if the front seat is slid well forward

Antilock braking Not standard on base models

Vital statistics

Model Vauxhall Zafira 2.0DTi 16v Elegance
Engine 1995cc, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power 99bhp @ 4300rpm
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 44.8mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 13sec
Top speed 109mph

The one to buy

Vauxhall Zafira 2.0DTi 16v Elegance turbodiesel 2001 Y-reg with 40,000 miles. Pay £7,950 from a Vauxhall dealer or £6,995 privately

Or for similar money

1999 V Chrysler Voyager 2.5TD LE

2000 W Ford Galaxy 1.9 TD LX

2000 W Volkswagen Sharan 1.9TDI 110 SE

2002 51 Honda Stream 2.0 VTEC Sport

2003 52 Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD 115 ELX





Equivalent Club model worth £700 less than the Elegance.

Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer