The German automaker Opel has recently unveiled its new Zafira Electric, a spacious and versatile electric car that can accommodate up to nine passengers. The Zafira Electric is part of Opel’s electrification strategy, which aims to offer more electric models in the future. Now, we will explore the features, benefits, and drawbacks of the new Zafira Electric and compare it with some of its competitors in the electric car market.
What is the New Zafira Electric?
The new Zafira Electric is based on the Opel Vizor brand face, which combines a bold and pure design with a futuristic and dynamic look. The Zafira Electric has a sleek and aerodynamic shape, with LED headlights and taillights that create a distinctive impression. The front grille features an Opel Blitz logo, symbolizing speed and power.
The interior of the Zafira Electric is modern and comfortable, with a 10-inch color touchscreen that controls all the car's functions. The touchscreen is connected to Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Cockpit platform, which enables wireless smartphone connection and inductive charging. The driver and front passenger can also enjoy a panoramic roof with electrically activated sun protection.
The Zafira Electric offers three seating configurations: two rows of five seats or three rows of seven seats. Depending on the configuration, the car has a load volume of up to 4,900 liters (L2), which can be expanded by folding down the rear seats or removing some of them. The car also has plenty of storage options under the floor or in the doors.
How Much Does It Cost?
The new Zafira Electric is expected to go on sale in Europe in early 2024. The price has not been announced yet, but it will likely be higher than other electric cars in its segment. For comparison, here are some of its competitors:
- Tesla Model Y: $82,000
- Volkswagen ID.4: $52,500
- Hyundai Ioniq 5: $52,500
- Kia EV6: $51,200
How Far Can It Go?
One of the main advantages of electric cars is their low running costs compared to petrol or diesel cars. However, one of the main challenges for electric cars is their limited range compared to conventional cars. This means that they need to be plugged in frequently to recharge their batteries.
The new Zafira Electric claims to have a range of up to 350 kilometres (WLTP) on a single charge (L2). This means that it can travel from Berlin to Munich without needing to stop at a charging station along the way. However, this range may vary depending on factors such as driving style, weather conditions, battery age, and charging speed.
What are Its Safety Features?
The new Zafira Electric comes with 18 assistance systems that make every journey more relaxing and secure. These include:
- Full LED headlights
- Intelli-Lux LED Matrix Light
- High-resolution 180-degree rear-view camera
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assist
- Blind spot detection
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Park Assist
These systems work together to monitor the road situation around the car and provide feedback or intervention when needed. For example:
- Intelli-Lux LED Matrix Light adapts to different traffic scenarios by switching between high-intensity light beams for better visibility.
- High-resolution 180-degree rear-view camera provides a clear view of what’s behind without using blind spot sensors.
- Adaptive cruise control maintains a safe distance from other vehicles by adjusting speed according to traffic flow.
- Lane-keeping assist warns if the car drifts out of its lane without signaling.
- Blind spot detection alerts if vehicles are in adjacent lanes when changing lanes.
- Front cross traffic alert warns if there are vehicles approaching from either side when reversing out of parking spaces.
- Park assist helps park or exit parking spaces by steering or braking automatically.
What are Its Environmental Benefits?
Electric cars have several environmental benefits compared to petrol or diesel cars. These include:
- Lower emissions: Electric cars do not produce any tailpipe emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change.
- Lower noise: Electric cars are quieter than petrol or diesel cars because they do not have an engine that produces noise.
- Lower maintenance: Electric cars require less maintenance than petrol or diesel cars because they have fewer moving parts that need servicing or replacing.
However, electric cars also have some environmental drawbacks compared to petrol or diesel cars. These include:
- Higher electricity consumption: Electric cars depend on electricity generation sources that may use fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.
- Higher battery disposal: Electric car batteries contain toxic materials such as lithium-ion cells that need proper recycling or disposal methods.
- Higher initial cost: Electric cars are more expensive than petrol or diesel cars because they have more advanced technology and components.
What are the Pros and Cons of the New Zafira Electric?
The new Zafira Electric is a promising electric car that offers many advantages for families and businesses who need a spacious, versatile, and eco-friendly vehicle. However, like any other car, it also has some drawbacks that potential buyers should be aware of. Here are some of the pros and cons of the new Zafira Electric:
Pros:
- It has a long range of up to 350 kilometres (WLTP) on a single charge, which means it can travel far without needing to recharge.
- It has a large load volume of up to 4,900 litres (L2), which can be expanded by folding down the rear seats or removing some of them. This makes it ideal for carrying luggage, equipment, or passengers.
- It has a modern and comfortable interior with a 10-inch colour touchscreen that controls all the functions of the car. The touchscreen is connected to Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Cockpit platform, which enables wireless smartphone connection and inductive charging.
- It has plenty of safety features such as full LED headlights, Intelli-Lux LED Matrix Light, a high-resolution 180-degree rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, front cross-traffic alert, and park assist. These features help monitor the road situation around the car and provide feedback or intervention when needed.
- It has a distinctive and futuristic design with the Opel Vizor brand face. The front grille features an Opel Blitz logo, which symbolizes speed and power.
Cons:
- It is likely to be more expensive than other electric cars in its segment. The price has not been announced yet, but it is expected to be higher than the Tesla Model Y or the Volkswagen ID.4.
- It may have higher electricity consumption than other electric cars because it depends on electricity generation sources that may use fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.
- It may have higher battery disposal costs than other electric cars because it contains toxic materials such as lithium-ion cells that need proper recycling or disposal methods.
- It may have lower initial performance than other electric cars because it takes time to build up the battery charge.