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by Richard Bremner 22 April 2012 Share
How we test cars
The first-generation Vauxhall Meriva was introduced in 2003 and, at a touch over four metres in length, it rivalled a relatively limited number of small MPVs. It did rather well, too, selling more than a million units, thanks to novel features like its Flexspace rear seating system, in which the rear chairs slide inwards and backwards.
This is the second-generation Meriva and was previewed by the Meriva concept at the 2008 Geneva motor show.
Vauxhall and Rolls-Royce are unique in offering doors which hinge backwardsRichard BremnerSenior contributing editor
Flexdoors: it’s all about them. Vauxhall’s new Meriva owes a fair portion of the generous column inches it has generated to what are now perceived as its innovative rearward-opening rear doors.
Few manufacturers currently offering doors which hinge backwards independently of the fronts. The arrangement has added a certain intrigue to a car that, for all its virtues, has in the past been perceived as steady but unremarkable.
Remarkable, though, were its sales. The previous Meriva offered novel rear seating and generous cabin space compared with its rivals, which then numbered rather fewer than now. It sold a million units, when converted vans like the Citroën Berlingo Multispace were the primary opposition.
Today, the Meriva has far broader competition, including more advanced and refined cars such as Citroën’s C3 Picasso, as well as extended superminis like the Nissan Note and Renault Captur. It’s even positioned to pitch against larger cars like the Ford C-Max and Citroën C4 Picasso, or conventional family hatches like Vauxhall’s own Vauxhall Astra.
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Verdict Model tested: Rating:
Vauxhall Meriva 2010-2017
GoodMature appearanceRefined and practical interiorRespectable performanceBadOverly-premium priceFidgety rideLack of low-end torque in 1.4T