Zafira Tourer targets Ford rival 16 | 09 | 2011

VAUXHALL IS GOING toe-to-toe with Ford in the battle for supremacy in the ultra-competitive MPV sector, so beloved by families across Scotland.

Vauxhall has confirmed the price of its entry-level all-new Zafira Tourer will be £21,000, £1200 cheaper than one of its key rival, the Ford S-Max.

And Vauxhall — badged, of course, Opel on the continent — isn't just taking the fight to Ford on price, but also equipment levels.

The 140bhp Zafira Tourer ES 1.8, which will be positioned above the current Zafira model in Vauxhall’s line-up, comes with seven-speaker sound system, DAB, MP3/Aux In connections, air conditioning, cruise control, six airbags, active headrests, and Flex7 seating all as standard.

Watch our video of the all-new Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

Vauxhall's pioneering Flex7 seating, which set new standards for seven-seat integration in the original 1999 Zafira, has evolved further to deliver even better flexibility for families.

Safety too has been further improved, with a plethora of driver-assist systems making a first appearance in the new model. Traffic Sign Recognition, Side Blind Spot Alert and Advance Park Assist – which helps drivers find an adequate parking space and guides them in to it – are among the option highlights.

There's also two new engines — a 1.4 Turbo petrol and a 2.0 CDTi diesel (with three outputs, including a 119g ecoFLEX version) — which join a 1.8-litre petrol unit to offer a spread of power options from 110PS to 165PS.

See more photos of all-new Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

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Jim McGill