Vauxhall Zafira vs Ford S-Max
Figures updated
The Vauxhall Zafira and Ford S-Max are two of the UK's most popular people carriers. We compare the Zafira Tourer C (2011–2019) and the Mk2 (2015–2023) S-Max on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 269,363 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The Ford S-Max comes out ahead, with the bigger boot, the better MOT record and lower fuel costs; the Vauxhall Zafira is close on everything else.
- The Ford S-Max has the biggest boot: 965 litres, 255 more than the Vauxhall Zafira.
- The Ford S-Max has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Vauxhall Zafira fails its MOT about 8% more often.
- The Ford S-Max is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £84 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.
- Watch the seat belts and airbags on a Ford S-Max: it fails on them 1.5 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Vauxhall ZafiraZafira Tourer C (2011–2019), 5-door MPV | Ford S-MaxMk2 (2015–2023), 5-door MPV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Body | 5-door MPV | 5-door MPV |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 710 litres / 1,860 | 965 litres / 2,020 (best) |
| Length | 4,666mm | 4,796mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,884mm | 1,916mm |
| Height | 1,685mm | 1,655mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 134–170 PS | 150–190 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | – | 9.5–10.8 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2011) | ★★★★★ (2015) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 40.9–62.8 mpg | 35.8–56.5 mpg |
| CO2 | 119–161 g/km | 129–180 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,411 (41.5 mpg) | £1,327 (44.1 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,246 (54.3 mpg) (best) | £1,534 (44.1 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,246 (diesel) | £1,327 (petrol) |
| Car tax, registered 2001 to 2017Taxed on CO2; newer cars pay a flat £200 | £20 to £760 | £170 to £760 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 93Below average | 100Average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 38.4% | 35.2% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | – | 16.8% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 20.1% (best) | 23.7% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 34.5% (best) | 37.1% |
| Most common MOT fault | Coil spring (4.7% of tests) | Tread depth (4.0% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Exhaust and emissions (1.9×) | Seat belts and airbags (1.5×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 196,542 | 72,821 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | MPV / people carrier | MPV / people carrier |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,100 | 9,400 |
| On sale | 2011–2019 | 2015–2023 |
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 S-Max more reliable?
The Ford S-Max. Like for like on age and mileage, the Vauxhall Zafira fails its MOT about 8% more often (reliability scores 100 and 93, where 100 is average). 35.2% of Ford S-Maxes and 38.4% of Vauxhall Zafiras failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford S-Max?
The Ford S-Max is 130mm longer (4,796mm against 4,666mm). The Ford S-Max has the bigger boot: 965 litres against 710.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford S-Max?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford S-Max costs about £84 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,327 against £1,411), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Vauxhall Zafira or the Ford S-Max?
Euro NCAP gave the Vauxhall Zafira 5 stars (2011) and the Ford S-Max 5 stars (2015). 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 S-Max?
The Ford S-Max comes out ahead, with the bigger boot, the better MOT record and lower fuel costs; the Vauxhall Zafira is close on everything else. 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.