Opel Meriva 1.7 CDTI 130 CV, first drive (Part II)

>>Engine and performance of the Opel Meriva

In the first part of this first drive with the Opel Meriva we saw how it behaves and how its 1.7 CDTI diesel engine of 130 CV performs, being the most powerful variant available in the diesel range. The engine stands out above all for its strength and power delivery; it is a performance-oriented engine, although the Meriva’s vocation is calmer and oriented towards comfort.

We have already seen everything related to the design in the test we did a year ago of the Meriva equipped with the 120 CV petrol engine. Precisely the interior space is one of the most important features of this compact MPV.

Interior space and practicality

It has enough space for five adults, and its rear seats have independent adjustment, with which we can gain space in the boot or in the back. It also has the peculiarity of doors that open in the opposite direction to travel.

This allows easier access for an elderly person and makes it easier to fit a child seat in the rear seats. It also has a practical central rail with several levels where we have cup holders, a central compartment with a large glovebox, and we can even fit a one-and-a-half-litre bottle in the central tray. You can see all of this in detail in the previous test of the model.

Equipment

Our unit was a Cosmo trim, so everything related to safety equipment and standard features we have already seen in the previous Meriva test. But our unit had a peculiarity that the previous model we tested did not have: the Flex-Fix system, that is, the bicycle carrier hidden in the rear bumper.

It stands out for its easy assembly, simply by lifting a lever in the boot the system unfolds; then we fit the bike holders, lift the number plate and place the lights on the sides, and in a few minutes everything is fully assembled.

Another detail of the equipment that we liked are the lights, although they are not xenon, they are directional and therefore offer good illumination in bends and complicated areas where visibility is not very good. Otherwise the standard equipment is quite complete and the operation of the various elements is correct.

General Assessment

The first time we tested the Meriva

we liked it for the practicality it offered both inside and through the doors that open in the opposite direction to travel. But the petrol engines were not the best for this compact MPV, because the performance did not live up to what was promised and the consumption was also rather high.

But now that we have tried this diesel engine things change; we see a more performance-oriented engine better suited to this type of car. That said, according to what we have been told by Opel the best-selling variant is the 110 CV diesel engine, with the same displacement as the 130 CV but a bit more sensible. The Meriva, however, is a car that above all seeks interior comfort, so we will not find sporty sensations or sporty handling; it is stable and quite composed but lacks agility, as is normal.

We also found that it has an interesting starting price, since our test unit with all the optional equipment it carried (sat nav, for example) had a price of around 20,000 euros, a good figure considering the type of car it is, its engine and its equipment.

Photos | David Taboada