Vauxhall Meriva 1.8

By Jurgen Schnose

March 2003

• Rating:
• Latest deal price: from £10,540 to £17,691

One of the first pre-production models available in Europe was ours to test drive exclusively, but could it live up to such high expectations?

The newcomer joins a sector created recently by the firm's arch-rival, Ford, for young families who don't want a vehicle as large as a Renault Scenic, but need more practicality than a conventional supermini offers. Unfortunately for blue oval bosses, it shouldn't be hard for the Meriva to go to the top of c the class above Ford's Fusion, which not only lacks innovation on the inside but also looks ungainly.

By comparison, the Vauxhall immediately seems like a thoughtful design. Based on the Corsa platform, the taller MPV styling is compact and attractive, although the front can appear awkward when viewed from some angles.

As with the Zafira, it's only when you start to look around inside that the Meriva really makes sense. In the front, it would have been straightforward to drop a Corsa dashboard right in, but Vauxhall has instead decided to fit sleek new Vectra-style trim.

The model pictured here may still have some of its materials and textures changed, but the clean lines give the cabin a high-quality feel. However, the really innovative features are saved for the rear. Recognising the demand for versatility, Vauxhall has applied its FlexSpace technology to the newcomer, and the result is the most practical supermini-based car we've ever seen. Fold all the seats and you are left with a huge, totally flat load area. What's more impressive is that, even with all the chairs in place, the boot is large enough to hold lots of luggage.

As if that wasn't enough, there are plenty of cubbyholes to tuck essential items out of sight, with the most useful being a tray beneath the boot floor. Fold-out tables in the backs of the front seats will also be a boon for families.

The suspension settings of British Merivas have yet to be tuned to suit our roads, but European models feel easy to drive. Although the newcomer is not going to be the sportiest car on the market, the steering is reasonably precise and the ride quality excellent.

The 1.8-litre model seen here will top the range, with an estimated price of ΂£15,000 - not cheap for a Corsa-based machine. With fuel consumption of around 35mpg, the swift 1.8 won't be the best seller, though, as the entry-level 90bhp petrol 1.4-litre, at ΂£11,000, will be more suited to family budgets. Diesel power will be available in the form of Fiat's advanced JTD oil-burner.

What Ford started, Vauxhall has successfully finished. Carving a niche all of its own, the Meriva offers city-dwelling families plenty of practicality in a vehicle which is not much bigger than your average supermini.