Vauxhall

Meriva

The compact multi-purpose Vauxhall Meriva has plenty to offer any active family. Boasting great versatility, it has a host of classy features, along with excellent safety ratings and a choice of engines including the new “whisper” diesel.

The good

Nice and versatile with practical backward-hinged rear doors

The bad

Fiercely competitive segment

Tech Specs

Price from

£12,995

Combined Fuel up to

74.3mpg

0-62 from

9.9 seconds

max speed up to

122mph

co2 from

99g/km

Test Drive

Vauxhall Meriva1.6 CDTi SE ecoFlex Start/Stop

Sshhhh! – there’s a new engine on the streets and it’s whisper by name and hush, hush by nature!

In fact the newly face-lifted Meriva features the 1.6-litre diesel powertrain and it’s all very impressive.

Vauxhall claims to have invented the small multi-purpose vehicle segment when it launched its Meriva back in 2003.

Then by 2010 when the second generation model rolled off the production line the segment had become fiercely competitive.

Now with the likes of the Ford B-Max, Fiat 500L and Nissan Note for company, Vauxhall really had to up the ante and it’s done just that.

The car still boasts all the stand-out design features such as the backward hinged rear doors for easy access especially with young children, tinted windows, smart alloys, flexible rear seating configurations, flexible boot floor, the high-seated driving position and sweeping bodylines.

But the new-look Meriva adds some extra tweaks such as a new grille and headlights, the introduction of LED daytime running lights and a new emerald green paint colour to choose from.

The interior is immediately recognisable as a Vauxhall with a clutter-free, richly-equipped layout and most controls housed within a neat V-shaped central console.

Techno treats included a six speaker sound system which is compatible with modern media devices, a panoramic glass sunroof that allows light to flood into the vehicle, air conditioning, ambient lighting and lots more.

But there’s much more to the new Meriva than cosmetic changes. And that extra technology can be found beneath the bonnet with the introduction of the company’s new whisper diesel engine that certainly helps to keep the noise down – even when starting from cold.

This Euro-6 compliant powertrain produces 136PS and 320Nm of torque, yet can deliver 64.2mpg on a combined run with carbon emissions of just 116g/km. Additional economy is achieved through the ecoFLEX technology and Start/stop system.

Sprinting times are pretty reasonable for a car of the Meriva’s styling with 0-62mph taking 9.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 122mph. But in all honesty, it’s the all-round package with a combination of economy and practicality that really impresses.

The 1.6-litre diesel engine provides plenty of bite and the six-speed manual gearbox proved a delight by offering smooth and respectable acceleration.

In all honesty, the Meriva proved just as capable in and around busy slow-moving traffic as it did on the open road.

You will feel the occasional bump along the way, but in general the suspension irons out most of the road surface creases.

Comfort levels for all occupants are first-rate and the boot can accommodate 397 litres of luggage, which can be increased to 1,497 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

In addition, there are good-sized and conveniently-positioned storage compartments at every turn and even fold-down trays in the front seat backs.

The driver benefits from a commanding driving position and the all-round visibility is excellent, which is an added bonus when parking the car.

The Meriva is kitted out with a comprehensive array of safety features, including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, traction control, hill-start assist and plenty more besides.

All in all, the Meriva is a notable all-rounder. It’s very competitively priced – the test car cost £21,370, handles charmingly and has all the versatility and flexibility you could wish for.

And don’t forget that amazing 100,000-mile lifetime warranty too.