Opel Meriva test drive since 2010 Minivan

BEBIMUMER

The second generation of Opel Meriva should blow up the market. At least in Russelsheim they hope for this very much. And this despite the fact that her predecessor was more than popular. Moreover, the novelty is now contrasted not by subcompactic universal recruits, but by a higher class machines like VW Golf Plus

However, before demonstrating the advantages of the second generation of Meriva, the Germans staged a voyage by car of the first generation. This is not to say that the 25-kilometer trip impressed, but the memory allowed to refresh. Despite the external nonsense, the old Meriva was quite solid and, importantly, a functional car. On the road of stars from the sky was not enough, especially outside the city, but she provided four full -fledged seats. With a two -meter height, your correspondent would not have been fit for himself, but the driver of medium height is without problems. The second obvious plus is the supply of space above the head: in other similar cars, for example, Ford Fusion, this is not any mention.

But there would be something to be surprised: Meriva was originally conceived as a superpractic car addressed to the NEXT generation not to lovers of a well -known caffein -containing drink, but to the generation of the bebumers, which the tormenting Europeans laid a mission to revive the population. The mission, obviously, will continue the novelty, especially since the main advantages of the model have remained unchanged. The salon is still ready to accept four adult passengers. The second row has not become very spacious, but the seats are much more comfortable. Plus, the Germans gave passengers the opportunity to choose the situation in the old version themselves had to sit exclusively vertically.

But the main thing is the rear doors opening against the move. It seems that those who stood on Opel Kadett in the middle of the last century. They were also called suicidal, as they killed, as a rule, their owners, pulling those under their own wheels. And there were hardly fewer deaths on their account than the cars at that time as a whole. In the case of the new Meriva, by the way, such options are excluded by the doors are automatically blocked at a speed of 4 km/h, after which the green LED lights up above the handle on the inner panel.

If at least one door is not closed, the light will be red, and the salon will be filled with an unpleasant electronic squeak. Describing their new old know-how, the Germans, not without pride, compared Meriva with Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mazda RX-8 and Mini Clubman, not forgetting to remind each time that these machines can not be called massive (unlike the novelty). Moreover, they were not at all embarrassed by the fact that in most of the aforementioned cars (except, perhaps, the aristocratic British), these, so to say, are not the doors by large accounts: these are just sash that increase the opening and are used as an alternative to a full -fledged pair of mobile panels.

But in Rüsselsheim, as usual, a whole theory was brought under this, from which it follows that the main source of world problems with the musculoskeletal system as a whole and the spine in particular in particular. Like, today to get into the car is like lifting half a ton of cargo, and there can only be a professional weightlifter in a salon without consequences ... It is interesting if they knew about this four years ago, why did I have to get into the same Insignia like that the same, as in any other family car?

But back to Meriva. In some ways, engineers are certainly right. Since from the moment of traveling in the rear seat of the old version, the author of these lines has not decreased by a millimeter, obvious amenities when landing are rather objective. Possible with standard layout, the contact of the head and the glass frame here is excluded almost completely. Yes, and if at hand, the children's chair, installing it on the back sofa would be more convenient ...

However, in the process of extremely short operation, obvious shortcomings of suicidal doors were also manifested. The Germans, for example, are very proud that they taught them to open up 84 degrees, while fixing it in four intermediate positions. At first glance, everything seems to be great, but, firstly, as elementary practical exercises showed, in order to get out of the car, the reverse door has to be opened to a larger angle, that is, these same 84 degrees are needed here a priori. The second also follows from the first feature: on a close, the inhabitants of the second row clogged with cars, they may not unload from the passenger compartment through two clicks open even the child will not go out, moreover, the driver or the front passenger will do the same without much difficulty. It is clear that this is not a problem for Europe, but, given the culture of parking in Russia, we have all the advantages of Meriva reverse doors only to their unusualness.

In recent years, German autobahns have spoiled greatly: if six to seven years ago their coating still resembled a water surface, now for the most part it is either a washing board or ... repair with all the restrictions that arise from it. We honestly tried our best to spur Meriva to a possible maximum, the benefit in Germany is still allowed, but alas ... the best achievement of 180 km/h, although the compactiveen with a turbocharged 140-horsepower gasoline engine should give out 196 km/h, means that it means , according to the speedometer for 200. But there was nowhere to accelerate faster.

And there is no need in general. On the move, the second Meriva, like the predecessor, is completely a faceless. A good car for a housewife who prefers a quick, but by and large relaxed driving through the same autobahns. It will provide a high -quality, unimportant journey, but will make it extremely everyday, do not wait for emotions.

What is characteristic, the novelty will not play in the city. Rather, on the contrary, it will make you yawn. And what did you expect from a traditionally gone accelerator and no less traditionally strangled to Euro-5 engine? Moreover, the lower the return, the more noticeable. If the 140-horsepower unit is lucky even more or less decent (in the way, by the way, the 6-speed manual transmission played an important role), then its 120-horsepower version is spinning before the turbine entered the jelly. It is not worth talking about the atmosphericist in such a situation, similar units in the price lists, it seems, will soon remain only for a box.

Here, a lightweight steering wheel on the tight streets of Learn was much more appropriate, as well as remaining in the framework of decency (despite the grown length of the wheelbase) a turning radius. Here Meriva, in fact, repeats Zafira, on the platform of which it, in fact, was built (the predecessor was based on the Corsa stroller). Moderately, the elastic suspension marks noticeably on irregularities like bedridden policemen, resonates on a cobblestone, but otherwise with its
he copes with his responsibilities for a hard four, so that the family, be sure, will not shake. In principle, this was worth expecting, but there are a lot of such cars today. True, this mass is all Seree every year. What is disappointed. A new Meriva will fall into the same group. Not immediately, after a year and a half or two, her doors open in the opposite direction ...



The reverse doors in the car are called suicidal. In the beginning and middle of the last century, they were almost every car. But they also gained their nickname at the same time. The fact is that it is almost impossible to close such (usually opened by accident) the door on the go: the oncoming flow of air presses the standard door, and the opposite, on the contrary, opens it. And the passenger or driver trying to close it from the car. Under the wheels of your own car. Such incidents at that time were by no means uncommon.

Competitors

CHAMPION
Many motorists consider Note not high -quality and practical. However, this opinion, as a rule, is widespread among those who never sat at the wheel. The fact that Nissan has a fairly decent set of advantages is also evidenced by its popularity last year, the same crew retained the first line of the rating, overtaking the closest pursuer for 2000 copies. The appearance of a new Meriva will not change the situation: the Germans are unlikely to be able to offer an equally tasty price tag from 519,000 rubles.

Contender
The market potential of the Citroen C3 Picasso in our country is quite high, especially when you take into account the level of equipment and a relatively attractive price tag (it is slightly higher than that of competitors, but also the configuration of the Frenchman is richer). But sales are inhibited by the absence in the specifications of the machine. The manufacturer promised to put a version with a robotic KP, but so far this has not happened. At the moment, the machine is equipped in Russia with two gasoline engines, prices will start from the mark of 499,000 rubles.

Big Golf
The current generation of VW Golf Plus was built on the basis of Golf V. At the end of last year, the Germans presented an updated version. Restyling affected the appearance of the machine, which was brought into line with the corporate style of the brand. The second significant innovation is modern engines. In particular, a well-deserved 1.6-liter four was replaced by a 1.2-liter TSI, developing the same 105 hp. However, the one -crew did not become cheaper (from 647,000 rubles).


SPECIFICATIONS
Opel Meriva

Dimensions (mm) 4288x1812x1615
Wheel base (mm) 2644
Mass (kg) 1360
Trunk volume (L) 4001500
Engine operating (cm3) 1398
Max. Power (L.S.) 100
Max. Twisting the moment (Nm) 130
Max. Speed \u200b\u200b(km/h) 177
Acceleration 0100 km/h (c) 13.9
Cf. fuel consumption (l/100 km) 6.1
Price* (Euro) from 15 900

* Price in Germany.

material: Vladimir Zhidkov
 

Source: MKOMBILA magazine [June/2010]