Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 Life Road Test Report

Performance

The 1.6 litre engine is very quiet and efficient. The Meriva performs best when driven sensibly and avoiding harsh acceleration or braking; in other words – driven the way an MPV with children in should be.

Ride & Handling

The driving position is excellent, the Meriva is as tall as the Zafira and gives great visibility; the only negative would be the thick windscreen pillars that can occasionally block the drivers view. The Meriva handles and corners well, the suspension deals well with everything that the UK roads can throw at it.

Build Quality & Reliability

There is a really good, solid feel to the Meriva; the engine and the components are tried and tested in other Vauxhall vehicles. This makes it an extremely dependable MPV (this is important to every motorist but to a mother with young children this is absolutely vital). The interior is pleasant and exactly what you could reasonably expect for the money- everything in its right place, simple use and family-friendly.

Safety & Security

As the Meriva will mostly be used by families with young children the Isofix child seats are a must and here there are 2 provided as standard. Anti-lock breaks, driver and passenger airbags come as standard. An immobiliser and a visible vehicle identification number will be included free of charge but it will cost to have an alarm installed.

Space & Practicality

The FlexSpace system allows the three rear seats to be moved independently and allows great utilisation of space. With all three backs seats laid flat an impressive 1410 litres of load-space becomes available. The cabin is wonderfully designed; passengers will find that they are able to enjoy the time they spend in a Meriva.

Ownership & Value

Good running costs can be achieved with sensible driving; the 1.6 is capable of 40mpg when driven carefully. The insurance group for the Meriva will be between 3 and 6, in part due to the excellent safety provisions. Low repair costs also go to make the Meriva good value for money. Residual values vary from 34% up to 44% depending on variant.