Vauxhall Meriva (10 on) - Review

Unlike the previous Meriva, this version feels like a high-quality car and this is especially evident in the superb ride, which evens out bumpy roads with ease. It’s also very quiet at higher speeds, with good insulation from road and engine noise. Thanks to the long wheelbase there’s plenty of room and four adults can happily travel long distances in good comfort, helped by soft but reasonably supportive seats. It’s not ideal for three in the back though – the central seat is narrow and quite firm while there’s very limited foot room due to the FlexRail system. Top SE models get a full-length panoramic glass roof as standard, which gives the interior an even lighter feel while all models get an easy-to-use electric parking brake rather than a standard handbrake.

The clever rear hinged doors are no gimmick. They’re actually a genuinely useful feature and are ideal if you have child seats to fit as getting to the rear seats is so straightforward. Both the front and rear doors open incredibly wide – almost to 90 degrees - so they’re also useful for older passengers who may struggle with conventional doors. The rear seats slide forward and back to increase luggage room if needed while the boot itself is impressive with 400 litres. The rear seats neatly fold flat in one go (and the headrests don’t need to be removed) to boost boot space further, plus there’s a large underfloor storage area. If you regularly just have two in the back, you can fold the centre seat down as an armrest, which allows the two outer seats to slide inwards, creating more space. One system that debuts in the Meriva is the FlexRail - a three-tier storage system that sits between the front seats. It’s essentially two rails with tracks that allow you to fit differing storage units or an armrest that slides along to any desired position.

The quality of the Meriva interior is impressive for this type of car and most elements are borrowed from the latest Astra and Insignia. Compared to the previous Meriva it’s a completely different cabin with a good finish and an easy-to-use layout. Features such as the metal trim on the steering wheel and the electric handbrake give it an upmarket appearance, but there are some criticisms. The stereo and optional sat nav systems aren’t the most intuitive while there are certain areas where some of the plastics used feel hard and shiny – certainly not up the quality feel you’d find on a Volkswagen or a Honda. On the plus side the driving position is very good, helped by adjustment on the seat and plenty of height and reach adjustment in the steering column.