Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall Meriva 2006 review

Vauxhall has played it safe with the restyle of its Meriva, but is it enough keep up with the competition?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Vauxhall Meriva
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

It's not the most radical facelift, but a few changes have sharpened up the Meriva's looks, and the new 1.6-litre powerplant is a welcome addition to the engine range. Along with the clever seating arrangement and roomy interior, the Vauxhall continues to be one of the strongest cars in this sector. However, with increasing competition from more eye-catching rivals, it will struggle to win over potential buyers on the lookout for a versatile and interesting supermini-MPV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Sometimes, car makers pull out all the stops when restyling a model. In other instances, you'd struggle to notice any changes at all. The latter is the case with Vauxhall's new Meriva.

The nose and bumper have been tweaked to bring the supermini-MPV into line with the rest of the range, while fresh tail-lights and a chrome strip are added at the rear. The combined effect is to make the car appear more modern.

Inside, there's new trim, but the overall feel of the cabin hasn't really been changed. As such, it appears well made and the layout is logical, but it's all a bit bland.

Vauxhall has wisely decided to keep the FlexSpace arrangement, which means the seats fold flat, or you can slide them back and stow the centre chair to turn the Meriva into a roomy four-seater. But even in five-seat mode, there's a surprising amount of space for a car in this class.

Our 1.6-litre test car had an all-new petrol engine with Twinport technology. This mixes the fuel more efficiently to give better performance and economy, and is certainly refined. A frugal 1.3-litre CDTI turbodiesel is also available.

Vauxhall has chosen to leave the chassis alone, so the Meriva remains composed through corners and comfortable to drive. But this facelift has done little to challenge the roomier and more distinctive Renault Modus.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,879 off RRP*Used from £15,611
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible
Opinion - £10k used cars

Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible

Phil McNamara discovers that it’s harder than ever to find a good-value car at the affordable end of the market
Opinion
24 Apr 2025
New electric car MoT tests could be coming to the UK
Tesla Model X on two-post inspection ramp

New electric car MoT tests could be coming to the UK

New technology and driver assistance systems require changes to annual testing, says EC
News
25 Apr 2025