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Mazda 3 Hatchback vs Vauxhall Zafira Life comparison

Compare performance (186 HP vs 180 HP), boot space and price (25,000 £ vs 36,000 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mazda 3 Hatchback or Vauxhall Zafira Life?

Mazda 3 Hatchback vs Vauxhall Zafira Life: Key differences

Mazda 3 Hatchback

5 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • substantially cheaper
  • barely more power
  • clearly more efficient
  • markedly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • visibly lighter
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Vauxhall Zafira Life

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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

3 Hatchback

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

Mazda 3 Hatchback is substantially cheaper – starting at 25,000 £ , while the Vauxhall Zafira Life costs 36,000 £ . That’s a price difference of around 10,971 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mazda 3 Hatchback uses 5.6 L/100km and is clearly more efficient than the Vauxhall Zafira Life with 7.1 L/100km. The difference is about 1.5 L/100km.

Zafira Life

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Mazda 3 Hatchback offers barely more power – delivering 186 HP compared to 180 HP. That’s roughly 6 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mazda 3 Hatchback is markedly quicker – completing the sprint in 8 s, while the Vauxhall Zafira Life takes 10.6 s. That’s about 2.6 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Vauxhall Zafira Life delivers markedly more torque with 400 Nm compared to 240 Nm. That’s about 160 Nm more.

3 Hatchback

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Seats: Vauxhall Zafira Life offers more seats – 8 vs 5.

In terms of curb weight, Mazda 3 Hatchback is visibly lighter – 1,417 kg compared to 1,953 kg. The difference is around 536 kg.

When it comes to payload, the Vauxhall Zafira Life carries substantially more – 883 kg compared to 502 kg. That’s a difference of about 381 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mazda 3 Hatchback is far ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £25,000
3 Hatchback

Mazda 3 Hatchback

  • Engine Type Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 140 - 186 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 5.6 - 6.5 L/100km
Mazda 3 Hatchback
Vauxhall Zafira Life

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Mazda 3 Hatchback

The Mazda 3 hatchback blends elegant design with a surprisingly sporty drive, giving a cabin that feels more upscale than you’d expect for the segment. Practical enough for everyday life yet eager to entertain behind the wheel, it’s a smart, good-humored choice that makes even grocery runs feel like a mini escape.

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Vauxhall Zafira Life

The Opel Zafira Life is a practical, no-nonsense people carrier that wraps flexible space and family-friendly features into a tidy, grown-up package. It’s comfy on long runs, easy to live with day to day, and wears its van roots with surprising style — the kind of sensible buy that still manages to smile.

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Mazda 3 Hatchback
Vauxhall Zafira Life

Costs and Consumption

Price
25,000 - 36,000 £
Price
36,000 - 43,300 £
Consumption L/100km
5.6 - 6.5 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
7.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
126 - 146 g/km
co2
186 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Bus
Seats
5
Seats
8
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,417 - 1,529 kg
Curb weight
1,953 - 1,986 kg
Trunk capacity
351 L
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,795 mm
Width
2,010 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
487 - 502 kg
Payload
877 - 883 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol MHEV
Engine Type
Diesel
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
140 - 186 HP
Power HP
180 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8 - 9.8 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
10.6 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
238 - 240 Nm
Torque
400 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
103 - 137 kW
Power kW
132 kW
Engine capacity
1,998 - 2,488 cm3
Engine capacity
2,184 cm3

General

Model Year
2026
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mazda
Brand
Vauxhall
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.