Vauxhall Zafira vs Ford C-Max
Figures updated
The Vauxhall Zafira and Ford C-Max are two of the UK's most popular people carriers. We compare the Zafira Tourer C (2011–2019) and the Mk2 (2010–2019) C-Max on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 322,724 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Vauxhall Zafira for the bigger boot, or the Ford C-Max for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs.
- The Vauxhall Zafira has the biggest boot: 710 litres, 278 more than the Ford C-Max.
- Euro NCAP safety: Vauxhall Zafira 5 stars (2011), Ford C-Max 3 stars (2017). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Ford C-Max has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Vauxhall Zafira fails its MOT about 9% more often.
- The Ford C-Max is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £65 a year less than the Vauxhall Zafira at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the exhaust and emissions on a Vauxhall Zafira: it fails on them 1.9 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Vauxhall ZafiraZafira Tourer C (2011–2019), 5-door MPV | Ford C-MaxMk2 (2010–2019), 5-door MPV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Body | 5-door MPV | 5-door MPV |
| Seats | 7 (best) | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 710 litres / 1,860 (best) | 432 litres / 1,684 |
| Length | 4,666mm | 4,379mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,884mm | 1,828mm |
| Height | 1,685mm | 1,610mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 134–170 PS (best) | 100–150 PS |
| 0–62mph | – | 9.5–12.6 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2011) | ★★★★★ (2017) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol | Diesel, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 40.9–62.8 mpg | 34.0–62.8 mpg |
| CO2 | 119–161 g/km | 119–189 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.6p a litre, today's UK average | £1,410 (41.5 mpg) | £1,345 (43.5 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,246 (54.3 mpg) (best) | £1,364 (49.6 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,246 (diesel) | £1,345 (petrol) |
| Car tax, registered 2001 to 2017Taxed on CO2; newer cars pay a flat £200 | £20 to £760 | £35 to £410 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 93Below average | 101Average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 38.4% | 33.1% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | – | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 20.1% | 15.5% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 34.5% | 29.3% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Coil spring (4.7% of tests) | Brake pads (3.3% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Exhaust and emissions (1.9×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 196,542 | 126,182 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | MPV / people carrier | MPV / people carrier |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,100 | 7,300 |
| On sale | 2011–2019 | 2010–2019 |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford C-Max more reliable?
The Ford C-Max. Like for like on age and mileage, the Vauxhall Zafira fails its MOT about 9% more often (reliability scores 101 and 93, where 100 is average). 33.1% of Ford C-Maxes and 38.4% of Vauxhall Zafiras failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford C-Max?
The Vauxhall Zafira is 287mm longer (4,666mm against 4,379mm). The Vauxhall Zafira has the bigger boot: 710 litres against 432.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford C-Max?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford C-Max costs about £65 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,345 against £1,410), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford C-Max?
Euro NCAP gave the Vauxhall Zafira 5 stars (2011) and the Ford C-Max 3 stars (2017). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford C-Max?
Pick the Vauxhall Zafira for the bigger boot, or the Ford C-Max for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.