Opel Zafira Electric Life S 50 kWh

Overview

The 2021 Opel Zafira-e S 50 kWh is your all-electric ticket to ultimate practicality! This compact minivan, produced in France and tailored for the EU market, was designed for families or businesses needing serious space without the emissions. Though discontinued (production ran 2020-2021), it's available used, with an estimated price around €24,950. The 'S' trim with the 50 kWh battery (46.3 kWh usable) focuses on essential versatility and zero-emission urban adventures. It's a proper shuttle bus gone green, perfect for the school run or airport trips, packing a surprising amount of flexibility into its compact footprint.

What's New for 2021?

For 2021, the Zafira-e S 50 kWh was still a fresh face, having launched in 2020 as Opel’s electrifying take on the people-mover segment. As part of its early production run (ending in 2021), this model year solidified its position, bringing battery-powered motoring to the Zafira lineup. Key for this trim was the introduction of the smaller 50 kWh battery option, making electric mobility more accessible for those primarily navigating cityscapes or shorter hauls. It was all about embracing the electric revolution in a super practical package, offering a distinct choice in the burgeoning EV MPV market.

Design & Exterior

The Zafira-e S 50 kWh rocks a purposeful, van-derived design that screams practicality over pizazz – and that’s its charm! Measuring 4609 mm long, 1920 mm wide (excluding mirrors), and 1900 mm tall, its boxy silhouette maximises interior volume. This 'S' (Compact) version is the shortest of the bunch, making it surprisingly manoeuvrable for a van of this type. While not a fashion icon, its honest, function-first styling is appealing for those who value space above all. Standard kit usually included practical steel wheels with covers, reflecting its workhorse or family-hauler intentions.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Hop inside the Zafira-e S 50 kWh and it’s all about space and flexibility! With seating configurations for 5, 6, 7, 8, or even 9 people, it’s a veritable Tardis. Material quality is robust and built to last, perfect for dealing with family life or commercial duties. While the provided data doesn't list trunk capacity with all seats up, fold them down and you unlock a cavernous 2100 litres of space! There's no frunk, however. Tech-wise, expect a functional infotainment system, typically a 7-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, keeping everyone connected on the go.

Performance & Driving Experience

Don't expect sports car thrills, but the Zafira-e S 50 kWh delivers surprisingly nippy performance for a van! Its front-wheel-drive setup, powered by a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), churns out 100 kW and a healthy 260 Nm of instant torque. This translates to a 0-100 km/h dash in a respectable 10.8 seconds, with a top speed of 130 km/h – plenty for daily duties. The driving experience is smooth and quiet, prioritizing comfort. Regenerative braking helps recoup energy, making city driving efficient. It's a doddle to drive, despite its size.

Range, Battery & Charging

The Zafira-e S 50 kWh packs a 46.3 kWh usable battery (50 kWh nominal), offering a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of around 196 km. This makes it ideal for city slicking and shorter regional trips, with an efficiency of 4.23 km/kWh. Charging is versatile: its standard 7.4 kW on-board AC charger (an 11 kW version was optional) will juice it up overnight via its CCS Type 2 port. For quicker top-ups, it supports DC fast charging at up to 100 kW from its 400V architecture, getting you from 0-80% in about 30 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

While the provided data doesn't list a specific Euro NCAP rating for the Zafira-e, its internal combustion sibling, the Zafira Life, bagged a full 5 stars in 2019, which is reassuring. The Zafira-e S 50 kWh likely came equipped with essential safety features as standard. Depending on the specific configuration and any optional packs chosen when new, you could find driver aids such as cruise control, lane departure warning, and speed limit recognition. Higher-spec models offered more advanced systems, but even this trim aimed to keep your precious cargo safe with a solid safety foundation.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Opel typically offers a standard 2-year/unlimited mileage vehicle warranty in Europe for the Zafira-e, with the crucial battery warranty extending to 8 years or 160,000 km, guaranteeing at least 70% of its original capacity – pretty standard stuff for peace of mind. Powertrain components linked to the EV system are also generally well-covered. Electric vans like this generally boast lower maintenance costs than their diesel counterparts due to fewer moving parts. Reliability is often solid for these Stellantis-group electric platforms, making for a dependable, if short-lived production-wise, workhorse.

Before 2024, Opel used alternative naming conventions for its electric models. The Opel Zafira Electric was previously called the Opel Zafira-e.