Vauxhall Zafira Tourer and GTC axed due to rise of SUVs

Vauxhall has ended production of its Zafira Tourer and Astra GTC models following low sales, driven by growing demand for SUV alternatives.

A brand spokesman told Autocar that the seven-seat Zafira Tourer, which has been on sale since 2011, was hit by “a significant move away from MPVs and the growing popularity of SUVs”.

The three-door, Astra-based GTC has also fallen as SUV demand rises, with Vauxhall’s spokesman telling Autocar that the seven-year-old model’s “business case is no longer viable” due to “the rise in popularity of smaller SUV models”.

The spokesman said the GTC, which departs at the end of its product lifecycle, sold in 40,000 units across Europe, “so it was highly successful when there was demand for three-door coupés”.

Although production has ended, existing stocks mean a limited supply of Zafira Tourers and GTCs are still available.

Vauxhall won’t produce another version of the GTC, with the latest five-door Astra set to remain exclusively so. The seven-seat Zafira also won’t be directly replaced, although the seven-seat MPV void will be filled later this year when a new Combo Life launches. That car will come available in five and seven-seater forms and take the form of a conventional MPV.

Consumer demand for SUVs has resulted in Vauxhall’s line-up growing to feature six jacked up models. This includes the urban crossover Viva Rocks and the Grandland X SUV, as well as a rugged estate in the form of the Insignia Country Tourer.

Vauxhall’s spokesman said this growing range of high-riding models provides “a breadth of choice for SUV buyers, many of whom will have migrated from the MPV sector [to the detriment of the Zafira Tourer]”.

Vauxhall’s range changes reflect the plans of its parent company, the PSA Group, which is also adjusting the line-ups of its Citroën, DS and Peugeot brands to include more high-riding cars. The group’s brands will all soon introduce new electrified cars to cater to the growing demand for low-emission vehicles. Vauxhall’s entry into this foray will be the recently confirmed eCorsa.