Vauxhall MERIVA
June Neary Applauds Vauxhalls Take On The Supermini MPV The Meriva
At first I was more than a little sceptical concerning Vauxhalls claim for the Meriva. Yes, Id seen the adverts with the little kids in the back of the car sandwiching a pretty blonde but was still unconvinced that a car this small could offer anything that a slightly larger family hatchback couldnt. The rounded shape I could get on with and the cars unthreatening nature endeared it to me straight away but I couldnt shake this nagging suspicion that the marketing department were stringing us a line concerning the cars real world versatility. Time to put those claims to the test.
The Merivas based on a Corsa chassis, making it a good deal smaller than its big brother the Zafira, which rides on Astra mechanicals. At 4042mm in total length, its still a tad shorter than an Astra, but with its wheel at each corner stance and its high roofline, the General Motors designers responsible for the Meriva have been able to create an interior thats supremely spacious. As with any vehicle that touts itself as some sort of MPV, the Meriva stands or falls on more practical considerations such as interior space, the ingenuity of its seating system, passenger access and overall comfort. Its here that the Meriva comes up trumps.
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Just as
Vauxhall aced the opposition with the Zafiras Flex7 seating system, the Meriva aims to do likewise with its less snappily titled FlexSpace arrangement. With five seats to play with, the Meriva doesnt have as many tricks up its sleeve as the Zafira, but youll still be able to wow your passengers with a few deft flicks of the wrist. It seems the marketing hype may well be justified. Most of the time, the Meriva functions as a conventional five
seat supermini-MPV, but many of us have tried travelling five up in cars like these and it can feel a bit of a pinch.
The Meriva goes some way to alleviating the problem by offering one of the widest rear passenger shoulder width measurements in its class, but the real benefit comes when travelling with four rather than five aboard. The centre seat can fold flat into the footwell, leaving the two remaining seats at liberty to slide independently, not only backwards and forwards, but also on runners from side to side. This makes the Meriva feel extremely spacious indeed. But why stop at four? Vauxhall have equipped the Meriva with the capacity for all of the passenger seats to fold flat, freeing up an enormous 1,300 litres of available space.
Even with the rear seats in position, theres a creditable 560 litres available. The innovations dont stop there. Twin Audio is a first for a car of the Merivas class, allowing rear passengers to listen to radio and CD independently from the front passengers using headphones. Other convenience features include front seat backs with airline-style fold-down tray tables, seat back net storage, a removable travel box with arm rest and cup holders for rear seat passengers and, most usefully of all, a tray beneath the boot floor in which to hide valuables.
The interior is a welcome surprise too, Vauxhall eschewing the easy option of simply planting the Corsa dashboard into the Meriva, instead opting for a Vectra-style fascia which gives the little Meriva a quality feel. Indeed, ahead of its launch, the British Institute of Vehicle Engineers bestowed the MPV Design Award upon the Meriva, praising its crisp exterior styling. Twin electrically operated sunroofs add an airy feel to the interior, but its the attention to detail that is particularly impressive. The fuel filler cap houses a small tool for the tyre valve caps that equals clean hands and easy access when checking pressures.
Three petrol engines are available - a 1.4-litre twinport unit with 89bhp, a sixteen valve 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that generates 100bhp or a 125bhp 1.8-litre powerplant.
A 100bhp 1.7-litre CDTi diesel is available and this is the version I tried. With 100bhp on tap, its more than enough to give this supermini-MPV a respectable turn of pace but more importantly, it promises super-low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The engine complies with stringent Euro4 emissions regulations that mean its very environmentally friendly.
Expect to average over 51mpg yet the Meriva 1.7CDTi will accelerate to 60mph in a reasonable 13 seconds and top out at 109mph. A full 177lb/ft of torque makes the Meriva feel about as muscular as a V6 Mercedes E240 through the gears and the engine is pleasantly refined. All of these engines are tried and tested Vauxhall units although the three trim levels available to Meriva buyers arent familiar Vauxhall fare.
You wont find LS, Club or SXi models here. Instead we see Life, Enjoy and Design variants. Good to know that you can now get a Life at your local Vauxhall dealer. Safety and security are both tiptop, leading to commendably low insurance ratings.
As well as a second-generation rolling code immobiliser, the Meriva also features an ultrasonic alarm with inclination sensors. Anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are standard, as is a pedal release system that aims to minimise lower leg injuries in severe frontal collisions. Twin front airbags are offered as standard with curtain bags available as an option. The 1.
8i versions also feature traction control.
Another appealing factor in the Merivas favour is the price, more comfortably within the family budget than the larger alternatives. Youll pay from £9,995 for the 89bhp 1.4-litre version and £11,700 for the more powerful 1.6-litre 16-valve version.
The 1.8-litre models both retail at around £14,000 for the Enjoy and Design variants and the CDTi diesel starts at £12,975.
Although keen drivers may find the Meriva a little soft for their liking, the majority if customers will appreciate its family friendly approach. The seating system may not be quite as clever as the Flex7 system in the Zafira but it still manages to knock spots off its direct rivals. Although Im still wondering what two eight year old lads would want a leggy blonde for, Im not harbouring any doubts about the Meriva as a product. For once the hype is justified.
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