The Opel Meriva holds the enviable title of being the first car to present at Mummypages HQ for inspection that caused the 11AM coffee and chinwag to be relocated to the car park. Surprised? It wasn’t the Meriva per se, nice as it is, that had our crew heading for the tarmac - it was the built-in bike rack (pictured below) that Opel has fitted to the car along with the reverse engineered rear doors that drew a crowd.
Simple, but brilliant, isn’t that what clever inventions should be? Capable of taking two full size bikes, equipped with a registration plate and pop up lights for safety, and ridiculously easy to set up, the Meriva’s built-in bike rack is definitely a winner. Likewise the reverse opening doors make access to the rear seats to strap kiddies in easier. These are not good enough reasons on their own to buy a Meriva though, so does it measure up as a family car?
The Meriva main selling point is that it offers the height and practicality of a small MPV or SUV for the price of a traditional family hatchback. It is actually a tiny bit shorter than Opel’s hatchback, the Astra, but offers better interior space due to its short bonnet and MPV like shape.
Sitting into the driver’s seat you notice how airy it feels due to the tall cabin – there is none of the claustrophobia you sometimes associate with a normal hatchback. As one of our mum's six foot tall teenagers demonstrates below, the rear seats will easily cope with a growing family - there’s much more head and leg space than you might expect. The interior looks quite cool and it is at the upper end of the market quality-wise. The chunky doors and long dashboard give a feeling of solidity and safety you don’t always get in a smaller car. The dashboard is attractive but there are lots of small buttons, so practice will be needed! We tried out the built in sat nav and it got us to Cobh in Cork from Dublin with no unwanted sightseeing tours.
The 1.6 diesel car we drove is more powerful than most small diesel engines and is perfect for long journeys and regular country driving. Road tax is €200 per year and you will be able to drive roughly 450 miles on €50 diesel at today’s prices. There is also a 1.4 petrol engine version of the Meriva which might make more sense for city buyers. It costs approximately €2,500 less, and while the road tax is €80 per year more expensive you would need to be driving at least 15,000 miles per year for the tax and fuel saving from the diesel car to make financial sense. There’s a smaller 1.3 diesel version available too.
Our test car was an eye-watering €29,105 1.6 diesel SE model with loads of extras like that ingenious bike rack (it’s an €863 option unfortunately, but well worth it if you will get the use out of it), leather upholstery, dual zone climate control, and sat nav. €22,195 will buy you an entry level 1.6 diesel model, and spending €1,000 more will get you an SC version with alloys, cruise control. An additional €2,000 will buy you a top spec SE model with the panoramic roof in our pictures, rear electric windows and alloy wheels. Petrol models start at just €18,995, and the smaller 1.3 diesel model starts at €19,995.
Is there loads of storage space?
The boot includes a hidden compartment under the floor and is about as big as that of Opel’s hatchback, the Astra. It is more user friendly though, due to the height of the boot floor and its wide opening. The seats fold three different ways which offers lots of flexibility, and when all are folded flat you will easily fit an armchair. The centre armrest (standard on all cars but the base model) is really clever too – it slides back and forth, and has numerous different cubbies and compartments for those in the back as well as the front. There are lots of nooks and crannies around the cabin for drinks and toys.
Is it baby friendly?
Very much so. The clever rear doors make lifting a baby into the back a doddle, while the high roof means there’s very little crouching down required. Both outer rear seats have ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Is parking easy?
This is a Meriva strong point. It is a short car with a flat back window, and a high driving position so drivers have great visibility. Backing into a spot is easy, and reversing in a school car park is made safer by the large door mirrors. There’s no parking sensors standard though – they cost €432. But at least you get front and rear sensors when you spend that.
What about safety?
Curtain (roof) airbags are standard on all but the base model, which also misses out on Opel’s active safety head restraints that help reduce whiplash in a crash. The Meriva sailed through the Euro NCAP safety test with a five star rating and a 77% child occupant score.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up:
Great for a growing family
Clever rear doors and bike rack
Simple to manoeuvre in car parks
Feels really solid and safe
Thumbs down:
Small buttons on the dashboard
Bluetooth and parking sensors cost extra
Curtain airbags not fitted to base model
Mummypages Ratings:
Baby friendliness: 4/5
Safety: 4/5
Cool rating: 3.5/5 (bike rack gains it half a point!)
Passenger and storage space: 4/5
Car park friendliness: 4.5/5
Value for money: 3/5
Overall rating: 23/30
Statistics:
Price as tested: €29,105
Fuel Economy and tax: 64mpg / €200 per year
Warranty: 5 years (100,000 kilometres).
ISOFIX baby seat mounts: 2
Seats suitable for adults (excl driver): 4
Seats suitable for kids only: 0
