Vauxhall Meriva

FAMILY PLANNING
Vauxhall set out to widen the appeal of its Meriva MPV with the latest model. Steve Walker takes a look.


A good big ‘un will always beat a good little ‘un; the old adage has its exceptions but when we’re talking about practical family cars, it usually holds just as true as it does when the punches start flying in the boxing ring. That’s not to say that smaller models can’t compete with the bigger boys by being more efficient, innovative and generally cleverer. That’s what Vauxhall set out to achieve with the latest Meriva, but it hedged its bets by making the car quite a bit bigger too.





The term supermini-MPV wasn’t in general use before the Meriva came along in 2003 and it’s a mark of the original car’s impact that we now have what can confidently be called a supermini-MPV market sector. For the most part, these cars are based on supermini platforms but they go further than superminis in catering for the needs of family buyers. That means more space, adaptability and practicality than a supermini but the same compact dimensions, low running costs and upfront affordability. Cars like the Meriva have to persuade buyers that they’re a more sensible bet for people with kids than a larger family hatchback or a full-blown compact MPV like Vauxhall’s own Zafira.



There’s only one engine in the Meriva range that doesn’t have a turbocharger, Vauxhall having bought into the ability of modern turbos to extract lively performance from small capacity engines without major efficiency losses. The engine that goes without is the 99bhp 1.4 16v petrol unit but that same engine can be ordered in turbocharged guises packing 118bhp or a hefty 138bhp.

The diesels are the 1.3 and 1.7-litre CDTi common-rail turbo units that have served Vauxhall so well over recent years. The 1.3 CDTi comes in 74bhp or 94bhp versions with the latter getting ecoFLEX branding and various efficiency modifications. The most powerful 1.7-litre engine develops 128bhp and, like the 138bhp petrol engine, it gets a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A six-speed auto is also available on this range-topping diesel though and that gearbox is standard in the 98bhp version of that 1.7-litre unit.



To get the roomy, user-friendly interior, supermini-MPV buyers were once forced to put up with exterior styling so dull it could induce sleep at 100 paces. Things have improved of late though and today’s Meriva is a far more appealing thing to look at. The designers of this car were given extra room to express themselves with a 240mm increase over the original model that takes the total length close to 4,300mm and the wheelbase to 2,705mm. The sculpted shape follows many of the design themes seen on the Astra hatch with a cutaway section in the flanks and a distinctive front-end sporting huge headlamps that smear back along the edges of the bonnet.



The real innovation with the Meriva comes in its novel door arrangement. From the outside, nothing unusual appears to be going on except that the handles for the front and rear doors are suspiciously close together. Tug the front door handle and it opens as normal but the rear door is hinged on its rear edge and opens in the opposite direction in the manner of a Rolls-Royce Phantom or a Mazda RX-8. The advantage of this design comes when entering and exiting the vehicle as the doors open to an angle of almost 90 degrees and you can step straight out unhindered. It also helps parents when they’re strapping the kids in or fitting child car seats because there’s no door in the way to manoeuvre around.



The interior itself is based around the FlexSpace seating system which allows the rear seats to fold down and slide individually. Splitting the cabin on the plusher models is the FlexRail, a pair of metal runners between the front seats that various modular storage bins and arm-rests can be clipped to and slid along. The Meriva is designed to give all occupants a great view out with its large glass area and upright seating. A kink in the car’s belt line makes the rear windows deeper to help kids see out and a panoramic glass roof is available as an option.



The Meriva can be ordered in S, Exclusiv and SE trim levels. All models come with a CD stereo with USB and AUX connections, heated door mirrors, electric windows and an electronic parking brake. The Exclusive is likely to be a popular choice with its air-conditioning, cruise control, curtain airbags and the FlexRail storage system.



Pricing reflects this Meriva’s increase in size and sophistication compared to its predecessor. Supermini-MPVs like the Renault Modus and the Citroen C3 Picasso can be had quite a bit cheaper but Vauxhall sees the Meriva’s innovative design helping it cross over into the market for five-seat compact MPVs. Meriva values look more reasonable next to the Ford C-MAX and Citroen C4 Picasso which aren’t too much larger.



Every one of the Meriva’s engines complies with Euro5 emissions standards and the compact turbocharged engines promise strong fuel economy. The ecoFLEX will be the model to go for if you want to keep bills to the absolute minimum. It hat longer gear ratios and other modifications that make 62.8mpg possible on the combined cycle with 119g/km emissions.



Vauxhall is relying on a mixture of brains and brawn to see its Meriva supermini-MPV alright. The latest Meriva is one of the larger cars in the sector but its shapely lines do a good job of disguising that bulk. Compared to the larger models that many family buyers will be considering, this Vauxhall might not have the raw capacity but intelligent design and some innovative interior solutions could give it an edge - particularly in light of the low running costs and manoeuvrability associated with a more compact platform.

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  Vauxhall Astra

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  Vauxhall Meriva range

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