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Weekend roadtest : New Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 120bhp Exclusiv
publication date: Apr 24, 2010
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author/source: Robin Roberts
The latest Vauxhall Meriva is opening a new chapter in
the company’s MPV range with its rear-hinged back doors.
The FlexDoors dramatically ease entry or exit to the back seats but for
safety reasons cannot be accidentally opened on the move.
It is not the first time rear hinged doors have been seen on cars, but
the new Meriva is the first to utilise them on a modern family car.
Coupled with the FlexSpace rear seating which allows individual
adjustment of the twin back seats for leg, shoulder or boot space, the
new Meriva is one of the most user friendly of MPVs. |  | The original Meriva was introduced in 2003 but was fairly
conventional in design and features while the new and larger model is a
more direct competitor to the Ford C-Max, Renault Scenic and Citroen C4
Picasso.
New Meriva will be offered with engines ranging from
75-140PS, all of which comply with Euro5 emissions standards.
The
petrol engine line-up comprises three versions of the 16-valve 1.4-litre
unit. The range starts with the Meriva’s only normally aspirated
engine, featuring hollow camshafts for reduced weight and a power output
of 100PS. Completing the petrol line-up, are two turbocharged 1.4
variants, producing either 120PS or 140PS, the latter taken from the new
Astra range.
All engines get five-speed manual gearboxes, except
the 1.4 Turbo 140PS, which has a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The diesel
line-up starts with a 75PS, 1.3 CDTi unit which uses closed-loop
catalyst technology to enhance fuel consumption. In addition, a 1.7CDTi
unit producing 100PS will be available, equipped with a 6-speed fully
automatic gearbox.
Later this year, the engine line-up will gain two
additional diesel variants. The low C02-emitting ecoFLEX model will be
powered by a 95PS 1.3 CDTi unit, and a second version of the 1.7 CDTi
will also join the range, fitted with a six-speed gearbox and producing
130PS. |  | The new car has a longer wheelbase offering added
practicality for buyers and it has shifted out of the small MPV and into
the five-seat compact MPV class and it was unveiled at the Geneva motor
show this year. The prices are split into the three trim levels and mean
Expressions versions go from under £13,000 to just over £19,800, the
mid-range Exclusiv models are between £16,650 and £20,475 while the top
SE specified models go from £17,430 to £21,255. | | First impressions | | I had a brief first drive in the anticipated best seller,
the Meriva 1.4 120bhp Exclusiv at £17,365.
It immediately struck me
how much larger the new Meriva is over the original. Vauxhall has
cleverly used the additional room, the sophisticated FlexSpace seats and
new FlexDoors to good effect.
It is very easy to access, move around
in and for those in the back to leave, but the boot space is not overly
generous when the back seats are in place and the floor levels can be
varied but do not always leave a level area to load behind the low sill.
Oddments space is good.
From the driving point of view there is a
low waistline, good wipers and big windows with reasonably sized door
and interior mirrors.
I liked the instruments’ clarity but found
there were a lot of reflections on the central display for the in-car
entertainment screen so much that you couldn’t see it in bright sun. The
sound system’s push buttons were also tightly grouped together and you
had to look hard to differentiate them.
I liked the precision of the
steering despite it being a bit twitchy, there was a long travel clutch
and directness of the five-speed gearchange. Brakes were good and the
parking brake is a lift or push button on the central console.
The
new Meriva rides very well over any sort of surface and there is modest
body roll on sharp bends and the handling is entirely safe and
predictable.
The road noise is very noticeable and even loud at times
over some surfaces while engine noise can rise and intrude. I also
thought one of the rear hinged doors was producing some wind roar as it
stuck out into the airstream.
The new Vauxhall Meriva is a very
sophisticated design which seriously challenges the practicality of
rivals but it lacks refinement with the road noise it generates and has
failed to mute. ©Robin Roberts |
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