Opel Meriva 1.4 Turbo 120 CV, test drive (part II)

We continue with the test drive of the Opel Meriva and in this second part we turn to its exterior and interior design. Our test unit did not stand out particularly for its engine, in this case the 1.4 Turbo petrol of 120 CV, but for the noble behaviour of this compact MPV and its ride comfort, as we saw in the first part of the test.

But without a doubt the best of the Meriva lies in its interior, because we are going to find a small city dweller with many interior solutions that allow us to modulate it and get the most out of the space. And from the outside, the opening of its rear doors really catches the eye, opening against the direction of travel, but are they really useful?…

Exterior design

When the new generation of the Opel Meriva was launched, the main exterior novelty was its doors, which opened against the direction of travel, a very peculiar system that few manufacturers have used, and if we consider that these are conventional doors (unlike the Mini Clubman), then this solution for the rear doors becomes even more unusual, used only by the Rolls Royce Phantom.

The first doubt that arose when we saw the first images of the Meriva was whether these doors would really be useful, and after testing the vehicle we have two clear observations about them. Firstly, they are more comfortable for getting into the interior because they offer a greater opening angle than normal doors, but they also need that greater angle in order to get out without problems.

Let me explain: if you park in a bay between several vehicles and only have just enough room, a typical situation where we squeeze out because we cannot open our car door any further, then in that case the Meriva’s doors are not very practical because they make getting out even harder. Whereas if we have enough space, it can be a very practical system for fitting a child seat or for an elderly person to get into the vehicle without great difficulty, and the height of the doors and the rear seats is also a positive point that makes getting in easier.

As for the safety of the doors, you have to be more careful when opening them, but they offer safety similar to normal doors; however, to prevent accidental opening while moving above 4 km/h, they close automatically.

After dwelling on the doors (something obligatory with the Meriva) we continue with the review of the exterior, where its friendly front end, which follows the lines of the brand, stands out and has daytime running lights (though they are bulb-type). The headlights follow the design we have already seen on the Insignia or Astra, as does the central grille, while at the rear we find a curious treatment of the glass creating a two-tone effect that gives it an elegant touch.

Completing the ensemble are 17-inch alloy wheels measuring 225/45 R17, which look quite good on a fairly tall vehicle. As standard it comes with 15-inch wheels, which look small for the design of the car, while the Cosmo trim (that of our test unit) comes as standard with 16-inch wheels.

Interior design, habitability and boot

When we sit behind the wheel we find the typical driving position of an MPV, comfortable and slightly elevated with everything to hand, in a dashboard that reminds us a lot of the Opel Astra. Many elements such as the sound system or the climate controls are shared with the Astra, and that is undoubtedly a note of quality.

Precisely regarding the quality of the finishes, there is no fault and it easily surpasses some interiors of other compact MPVs on the market. It also has hard plastics that are pleasant to the touch, and it is a cheerful interior that plays with several shades.

The front seats offer good lateral support and comfortable cushioning, and tall people will have no problems with head room either in the front or rear seats. But where the Meriva stands out most is in the different solutions it has in its interior, as well as the various storage compartments.

The rear seats can be moved to gain more or less boot space, and in addition the central seat can be folded down to create a central armrest. This means we can play with the interior layout according to the space we need, and on the other hand there are enough compartments to leave our things.

In the doors there is a double glovebox, where we can keep a bottle (though they are too small to fit a notebook, for example), while there is also a compartment that slides along the central rail which, as well as serving as an armrest, houses a glovebox and a cupholder tray.

Finally, there is the boot, which is regular in shape and has a capacity of 400 litres. When we fold down the rear seats we are left with an practically flat surface, since there are panels on the backs of the seats that level the floor.

In the third part of the Meriva test we will see everything related to the equipment, its prices, as well as our overall assessment.

Photos | David Taboada