Opel Meriva test drive since 2010 Minivan

Opel Meriva. Come to taste

Opel Meriva. Price: from 589,000 p. On sale: 2011

The first-generation Opel Meriva has achieved popularity in the market of compact mini-wenes, and its successor, advanced in all respects and, moreover, at an adequate price, the place under the sun is guaranteed

Test pilot
Igor Kuznetsov, 48 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 31 years old, personal car - Skoda Yeti

What should be a compact family mini-van? I am sure that many will say functional. It seems that the creators of the first -generation Opel Meriva were fixated on this common criteria. Their brainchild is a thousand times saked by family youth and practical pensioners for ease of use and unpretentiousness. What can I say, your humble servant wound a lot of kilometers on a rolling meriva, not experiencing any problems in the transportation of four people and voluminous baggage. However, the machine, which was erected in power, turned out to be too nondescript. The appearance of this mini-wen is so no that it is not restored in memory and five minutes after the trip. And if the portrait still manages to draw willpower, this will not cause emotions.

Years later (the first Opel Meriva stood on the conveyor in 2003), Opelians rethought an approach to the image of a compact mini-van. The new Opel Meriva flaunts a rather stylish corporate costume of the current model range. And diets enhance the impression of novelty. For example, look at this broken window sill. The predecessor did not even dream so modern decisions. Of course, the car turned out to be well. Both in detail, and comprehensively. If I were his owner, I would feel a sense of satisfaction about the appearance of my vehicle.

But with the most defiant, most controversial innovation of mini-wen, it has yet to be sorted out. The creators of the car proudly call it Flex Doors. In fact, these are the doors opening towards each other. History knows examples of such a locking, but it did not find widespread. What about our mini-van? Pure marketing or explanatory development of the idea of \u200b\u200bthe past? Frankly: I did not find the minuses of this flex. Rather, on the contrary. Sitting on the rear seats and leaving them is perhaps more convenient than with a conventional layout. More freedom for the legs. And the handle on the central stance of the body and doors, open by 84 degrees, even more facilitate the process. When the child is at the back, Flex Doors provides the fastest possible parents' access to their child and creates the microworld of the security of space. For the sake of safety, the doors are automatically blocked on the go. And only according to the green signal of the LED near the inner hand, you can leave the salon.

Formally, Opel Meriva is still a car of segment V. In fact, he grew not only his predecessor, but also representatives of the following modeling step, say, Volkswagen Golf, or for the greater mini-fabricity of the Golf+comparison. That is why in the salon a single -rammer is spacious, as in a penthouse. Need to transport a real cargo? Please. With a light movement of the back of the back seats, they fold, and Meriva turns into a one and a half kubo commercial van. For a couple of suitcases, there will be enough standard trunk. And for trifles, designers provided for as many as 32 different compartments! Having decided to check the stunning figure, I lost my account at the end of the second dozen. In general, the number of secretaries goes off scale, and people with poor memory to search for their favorite candies will have to hire a detective. The frontal arrangement of the gearbox and the electronic handbrake saved a lot of space, so the mini-ven has acquired a unique multi-tiered Flex Rail armor, which cruising aluminum guides between the front seats. The solution is super!

With the equipment of the new Opel Meriva, everything is in an adult way to the eyeballs. Of course, taking into account the configuration (one of three). The elastic plastic of the front panel is also offset. But with the buttons on the central console, a clear bust. They are here as if on a computer keyboard (but someone will probably like such computerization). And the instrument shield of the instruments did not go out blindly. At the wheel, as, however, and behind, sits with comfort. No wonder the German Association of therapists noted the seats of the new mini-wen for their loyalty to the spine of passengers. By the way, the rear seats have a longitudinal adjustment with a displacement to the center for a more cloth landing together. The mentioned plus excellent visibility and a completely gutta -perch suspension make a long trip a pleasant pastime. But not for everyone. The driver will be puzzled. No, not a steering wheel, somewhat cotton, but acceptable. And even more not magnificent transparent brakes. The car sabotes the call of the accelerator. Rather, reacts to him reluctantly. As if doing a favor. And the point here, it seems, is not in the engine under the hood, the traction 100 -horsepower turbodiesel 1.7 but in the transmission machine. Although it is advanced, 6 -speed, but tight. For a leisurely measured ride, quite suitable. However, for extreme, such as overtaking, its phlegmatic disposition requires prudence. Moreover, the manual mode of the machine, as a rule, activates the charge of vigor, almost does not change the character of the machine. I suppose, unlike a purely manual KP. In the course of acquaintance with the novelty, I happened (though as a passenger) to ride a mini-wen with mechanics and gasoline engine 1.4-turbo. Meriva comes to life in such a configuration, and the question of temperament disappears by itself. I admit that the leitmotif in this tandem sets the motor, but the box, I am sure, plays an important role. In addition to the mentioned power units, Russian Meriva, i.e. collected in Kaliningrad for our market is equipped with an atmospheric gasoline 1.4 and a turbodiesel 1.7 (110 hp). Both options with a five -speed manual gearbox. The price starts from a mark of about 600 thousand rubles. And its maximum of 800 thousand with a little. Delicious? Given the size, qualities and with a competent choice of configuration.

We do not love
The buttons on the steering wheel are very convenient, which are just in the reach of the finger reach. Comfortable
The decomposed seats form an even floor. Practical
This door layout has many advantages. Peculiar

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Acceptable fuel consumption, convenient entrance-output, good sound insulation, excellent visibility, good brakes
- thoughtful automatic gearboxes, a darked instrument shield

Specifications
Dimensions - 4288x1812x1615 mm
Engine - turbodiesel, 1686 cm3, 100 hp at 4000 min-1
Transmission - automatic, 6 -speed
Dynamics - max 172 km/h; 13.9 s to 100 km/h
Fuel consumption - 6.4 l/100 km in mix. cycle
Competitors - Kia Venga


Our opinion
The new Opel Meriva turned out to be a very attractive car. Preserving and increasing the best qualities of his predecessor, he perfectly illustrates the concept of practicality. At the same time, the aesthetic data of the machines have risen to a new level.


Author: Igor Kuznetsov


 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [September 2011]