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It's always cool when a car manufacturer hits its stride and launches onto a successive run of interesting and competitive cars. These fortunes wax and wane with time, but Vauxhall is one manufacturer that's consistently turning out some good stuff right now and that run of form includes the launch in 2010 of the second generation Meriva. The first Meriva was clever, but was massively overshadowed by the Zafira. This time round the Meriva grew up. Here's what to look for when buying used.
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History
It's a testament to the impact the original Meriva had that it pretty much defined the supermini MPV market. Yes, we'd had cars like the Daihatsu Grand Move and its like before but nothing that really made an impact on the mass market. The Meriva changed all that in 2003, offering a car built on a supermini platform - in this case the Corsa - but offering a little more practicality, catering better to the needs of family buyers. That means more space and adaptability than a supermini but the same compact dimensions, low running costs and upfront affordability. The Meriva didn't do at all badly, but was rather put in the shade by the sales success of its bigger brother, the hugely popular Zafira.
In 2010 Vauxhall launched an all-new Meriva and it was no longer the cutesy, somewhat built-down-to-a-price thing that the old car was. The new model, dubbed the 'Meriva B' by Vauxhall insiders, debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and received a favourable reaction, going on sale here in the Spring of 2010. It's the first car in its class to offer rear-hinged rear doors, which its makers call the Flex Door system. The range consisted of SE, SE and Exclusiv models at launch but was subsequently augmented by Expression and Excite models in 2011 and the Tech Line trims in 2012,
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What you get
To get a roomy, user-friendly interior, supermini-MPV buyers were once forced to put up with exterior styling so dull it could induce sleep at 100 paces. Things have improved of late though and today's Meriva is a far more appealing thing to look at. The designers of this car were given extra room to express themselves with a 240mm increase over the original model that takes the total length close to 4,300mm and the wheelbase to 2,705mm. The sculpted shape follows many of the design themes seen on the Astra hatch, with a cutaway section in the flanks and a distinctive front-end sporting huge headlamps that smear back along the edges of the bonnet.
The real innovation with the Meriva comes in its novel door arrangement. From the outside, nothing unusual appears to be going on except that the handles for the front and rear doors are suspiciously close together. Tug the front door handle and it opens as normal but the rear door is hinged on its rear edge and opens in the opposite direction in the manner of a Rolls-Royce Phantom or a Mazda RX-8. The advantage of this design comes when entering and exiting the vehicle as the doors open to an angle of almost 90 degrees and you can step straight out unhindered. It also helps parents when they're strapping the kids in or fitting child car seats because there's no door in the way to manoeuvre around.
The interior itself is based around the FlexSpace seating system which allows the rear seats to fold down and slide individually. Splitting the cabin on the plusher models is the FlexRail, a pair of metal runners between the front seats that various modular storage bins and arm-rests can be clipped to and slid along. The Meriva is designed to give all occupants a great view out with its large glass area and upright seating. A kink in the car's belt line makes the rear windows deeper to help kids see out and a panoramic glass roof is available as an option.
All models come with a CD stereo with USB and AUX connections, heated door mirrors, electric windows and an electronic parking brake. The Exclusiv has been a popular choice with its air-conditioning, cruise control, curtain airbags and the FlexRail storage system. Pricing reflects the Meriva's increase in size and sophistication compared to its predecessor. Some supermini-MPVs like the Renault Modus and the Citroen C3 Picasso can be quite a bit cheaper but Vauxhall sees the Meriva's innovative design helping it cross over into the market for five-seat compact MPVs.
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What to look for
The original Meriva had a strong reputation for reliability, being recognised by German breakdown firm ADAC as the most reliable small MPV, having 'substantially fewer breakdowns than the average' in Germany. The second generation Meriva B builds on that with even better quality interiors and tried and tested mechanicals. The engines are all very tough and the load area is also hardwearing. Make sure the electronics work as they should and that the air conditioning systems blow cold. Also check that the vehicle has been serviced on the button.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 1.4 Meriva Turbo) Vauxhall spares are reasonably priced with a clutch assembly will cost in the region of £130, whilst an exhaust is around £280. A new starter motor retails for around £150, although a replacement headlamp will be in the region of £200. Repair costs have been kept manageable with a consequent effect on insurance premiums.
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On the road
There's only one engine in the Meriva range that doesn't have a turbocharger, Vauxhall having bought into the ability of modern turbos to extract lively performance from small capacity engines without major efficiency losses. The engine that goes without is the 99bhp 1.4 16v petrol unit but that same powerplant can be ordered in turbocharged guises packing 118bhp or a hefty 138bhp.
The diesels are the 1.3 and 1.7-litre CDTi common-rail turbo units that have served Vauxhall so well over recent years. The 1.3 CDTi comes in 74bhp or 94bhp versions, with the latter getting ecoFLEX branding and various efficiency modifications. The most powerful 1.7-litre engine develops 128bhp and, like the 138bhp petrol engine, it gets a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A six-speed auto is also available on this range-topping diesel though and that gearbox is standard in the 98bhp version of that 1.7-litre unit.
The Meriva's steering is on the weighty side for a supermini MPV, which is appreciated on the open road but less beneficial when performing low speed manoeuvres. The car generally feels very substantial and reassuring to drive with plenty of grip and safe, predictable handling. It isn't the most enjoyable supermini MPV to drive but it's comfortable and relaxing which might well count for more with buyers in this sector.
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Overall
The Vauxhall Meriva certainly matured in second generation form. It's one of the biggest models in its class, given a little room to grow by the extension upmarket of the Zafira Tourer. That doesn't seem to have dented its prospects at all - quite the opposite in fact. The additional space afforded inside the car and the added practicality of the FlexDoor system has seen sales accelerate. As a used buy, it's a good pick as the availability is good and the cars on offer tend to have been well looked after. We'd be looking for one of the 1.7-litre CDTi diesels or a turbocharged 1.4 petrol.
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