Opel Meriva test drive since 2010 Minivan

Spacious

Open the doors on the new Opel Meriva

The English word Spacious is the best suited for describing the new Opel Meriva. This car has a truly royal expanse in the salon for a modest segment V. And no one else offers such original swing doors at all. And it is doubly strange that it was Opel by the company that dared to take a similar experiment, from which it was unlikely that anyone had been waiting for bold decisions from 10 years ago.

Now I finally realized what inspired Tom Petty to write the famous song Into the Great Wide Open. It seems to me that in a dream he was dreamed of a white compactwhen Opel Meriva with open towering doors. And do not tell me that this is impossible. After all, I dreamed of Mendeleev once a periodic table. So old Tom, for sure, saw a measure in a dream. It is a pity, I do not know how to write poetry or songs, otherwise I would also compose something. Because the spectacle is Meriva with open doors, if not bewitching, then at least very distinctive. I see this Opel through. And in the literal sense of this expression.


The Opel Meriva design is made in a modern Opelian manner: an eagle gaze, a chrome radiator grille, which have already become familiar to stamping on the sides. But the most memorable feature, of course, is a bizarre bend of the window sill in the rear doors.

It has long been known that it is not accepted to be too original in the current automotive world: the techno will be hacked, the design will rise in price, potential buyers will not understand, and in practicality this may not affect the best way. But in Opel they decided on an experiment. They were not afraid, spit on habits and stereotypes. Designers came up with, and engineers embodied.

There were more convenience, and customers were offered quite moderate prices. It is impossible, of course, to say that there was a revolution, especially if you recall how many cars at the beginning of the last century had the doors opening against each other. It surprises something, that such a bold step allowed itself to take precisely the company Opel, which has recently changed the usual conservative style for almost avant-garde. Moreover, in a car belonging to such a modest segment and price range.


Meriva looks best in bright colors. In black, all interesting faces and original solutions are lost, turning the car into a quite ordinary compact minivan.

The swing doors are good! They open completely independently of each other, and opened, create a feeling of incredible spaciousness. It seems that you can run through the merchants through the merchants, fly around. Eh, now if there were no central racks! But so far, unfortunately, modern technologies do not allow to make a fairly hard body for a serial car without a ligament in the center. But so great. The only drawback: when trying to unlock the back door, the hand often reaches for a more familiar, far side where there is no handle now.


When viewed, all the most interesting is visible: a boomerang on the doors, a cunning wave of a window sill and shifted to the middle rack of the door handle. By the way, there was no middle rack on the Meriva concept.

Meriva became 300 millimeters longer than the previous model, which in size closely brought it to the next class C cars and another reason for the increased internal space of the wheel base. In Meriva, it is 2644 millimeters, which is only 41 millimeters less than the Astra, but as much as 133 millimeters more than that of Corsa, on the platform of which, in theory, it was planned to create a new compactway. No, Meriva has its own platform!, Opelians say. And judging by the size of the wheeled base, this is a zafira of the past generation! Of course, there are some solutions from Astra and Corsa, but in fact it is the former Safira. The front suspension is MacPherson, a simple twisting beam at the back, as on a corsa or back.


The view from behind everyone would be good if he had not spoiled the muffler protruding from under the bottom. It could be hidden and deeper.

People from Opel claim that they are not afraid of intra -final competition. Say, the old Zafira, which will still be produced, for example, on the Kaliningrad Automobile, seven-seater, and Meriva has five places. I don’t know, I don’t know: how many owners of Safir use two chairs of the last row? I don't think. In addition, on the way and the new minivan Opel Zafira Tourer, which, however, will be larger than its predecessor.


The front seats have the German orthopedic AGR certificate. They are quite convenient, but the seats on Astra and Insignia are better. But the Opel Meriva seats adjustments are huge: 240 millimeters in the longitudinal direction and 65 millimeters in height.

The famous Opelian Flexspace system allows you to move parts of the rear seats (40/60) back and forth, as well as folding the backs, forming a flat floor of the trunk.

In the driver’s place is it familiar: very similar to Astra, but the materials are worse, the landing is higher, and the chairs are not so convenient. Even pushing my seat to the length necessary for my 183 centimeters, I did not even reach the adjustment limit (in Honda Jazz, for example, I drive to almost the last click) and was able to freely sit down on myself. There are plenty of places for two from behind. But theoretically possible average passenger will not be very comfortable in width by the new Meriva clearly does not keep up with an increased length.

Interior


Interior Meriva Quote from different Opel models: Astra, Insignia, Corsa. Only all kinds of pockets and containers are more here. The quality of execution is very good for a car of the whole class V. Yes, and the autor's assembly did not cause complaints.


Between the front seats there are interchangeable containers for small things that can be changed and moved along aluminum guides. Opelians call this thing Flexrail. In total, the Meriva salon has 32 different compartments.


The trunk of Opel Meriva is 400 liters. Having folded the rear seats, you will receive 900 liters for the luggage loaded to the window line, and one and a half cubic meter, if loaded under the roof. Meriva carrying capacity 530 kilograms. This means that four people of medium complexion can be seated in it and still bring 200 kilograms of cargo.

Having sat in all places, making sure of the convenience of the original doors, rejoicing in the spaciousness and opening it, having pushed numerous boxes and shelves, I sit behind the wheel of a new compactivena with a machine gun and a turbodiesel engine. Only such cars were presented at the presentation. The reason is simple: it turns out that the only affordable measure with an automatic transmission will be a diesel version with a 1.7 engine with a capacity of 100 horsepower. A more powerful version of the same motor (110 forces) is equipped with only a 6 -speed pen. Only on the mechanics there are so far gasoline 1.4 -litrous machines available with a capacity of 100 or 140 forces (with turbocharged).

What to say about diesel? There are no special emotions: modern, quiet, innocent and environmentally friendly (Euro-5) motor with a wide working range. The capacity of 100 forces in itself, perhaps, would be sufficient, but Opelian automatic sixktings still do not like it. With her slowness, she steals horses, which are already in a shortage of a car with a equipped mass of 1360 kilograms. Of course, you can’t call a diesel meriva a soft -round, but no miracles in terms of dynamics from such a duet automatic plus turbodiesel should not wait. Up to 100 kilometers per hour, everything is not bad, but overtaking on the highway it will not be easy. Moreover, an impressive torque at 260 Nm will not save. Perhaps later there will be a gasoline version of the 1.4 -turbo with an automatic machine, because Astra exactly already has such a set and it will clearly be more fun. But I more like uplies with a mechanical transmission.


Opel compactwane suspension is quite tough. At the same time, it cannot be said that this gives special acuteness in management, because Meriva, first of all, is a family machine and was not created at all for drive.

The Kaliningrad roads and there was a test drive that was a separate story. Apparently, they were built by the Germans, and for the Soviet-Russian time the new owners did not really seek to repair them. Pits, potholes, waves of different calibers, and in places and paving stones. Great testing ground. Did the Meriva dealt with him? In general, yes, but with reservations. The suspension is certainly energy -intensive. None of the monstrous Kaliningrad pits caused breakdown. But at what price this energy intensity is given!

The rigidity of the suspension is completely unfounded for a family car. At the same time, she does not give Opel any adequate driver characteristics and is not very good for active driving. Meriva does not like to ride quickly: there is no correct information on the steering wheel, and the sounds when traveling the next irregularity make you slow down.


This silent guy weighs about 60 kilograms. He drove almost the entire route with us, but did not say a word in the entire road. But his presence helped us understand that the smoothness of the Meriva stroke is improving with the increase in loading.

The smoothness of the course improves the presence of another, or even pairs of passengers. Preferably with things. To load as much as possible a car, the chassis of which is clearly configured for a large load (its carrying capacity is 530 kilograms!). And yet in Russia I would prefer a more comfortable and soft suspension for a family car.

But if you have already scored a move on an even highway, then Meriva will be at ease. The stability when moving in a straight line is magnificent, there is no mention and noise is so good that at speeds for 120-130 kilometers per hour you can calmly talk with the inhabitants of the back row: the diesel is quietly rumbling, the streamlined forms allow you to smooth out the incoming air streams, And the pebbles barely knock on the arches.

You go to yourself and go, listening to your favorite tracks with some iPoda or USB flash drive. On the right is wife, behind children, in the trunk of seedlings or purchases from a supermarket. Maybe for a car of this orientation more and not necessary? Maybe a rather unprecedented room, swing doors and an unread number of various sides and drawers? Maybe this is the meaning of a real family compactwane?

Maybe but I would nevertheless prefer that by the word Spacious could be added to SPICY that is consonant with him. I would want more. But maybe I wish this exactly until I have a family? And getting it with it, I would understand that I want a completely different spaciousness and tranquility.


Alternative
Honda Jazz, which is right now in our garage, is certainly one of the main competitors of Meriva. You can listen to jazz for at least 615 thousand rubles. This is the price for a car on a mechanic. The motor has all the JAZZ ODIANARY 1.3 liters, 100 horsepower. The most expensive version of Executive with a variator and a glass roof is estimated at 745 thousand rubles.

A beginner in the compactwenes segment Kia Venga. Unlike jazz, the choice of motors is already possible here: 1.4 liters (90 forces) or 1.6 liters (125 forces). And if the first is available only with a 5-speed mechanical checkpoint, then in combination with 1.6 a 4-speed automatic is also proposed, which a priori makes such a modification more attractive. Its price is from 712 thousand 900 rubles. The cheapest version of Venga 1.4 on the handle costs from 614 thousand 900 rubles. The air conditioner is in the database.

Raccoon positions, as our compatriots dubbed Nissan Note, are still strong. And not least due to the price: the easiest Note 1.4 (88 forces) on the mechanic costs only 495 thousand rubles. And the price of modification with a 1.6 -liter engine (110 forces) and automatically does not reach the lower price bar on any of the cars presented here only 560 thousand rubles.

Dmitry Krotov photo of the author and Opel
 

Source: Motor magazine [July 2011]