Test Drive Opel Meriva since 2010 Minivan

New Opel Meriva - Door Revolution

A new generation of Opel Meriva is a real gift for a journalist, especially for a lazy journalist. After all, the Germans did for us a huge part of the work they came up with the main topic of the article! You almost do not need to think about the doors and go to the cashier for the fee. Freebie!

Yes, the doors here are really unusual, the rear sprinkle towards the movement of the movement. The decision is far from a new such door opening scheme used on many models at the beginning and middle of the last century. Yes, and at the modern Rolls-Royce Phantom, the rear doors also open against the wind. But one thing is an exclusive Rolls-Royce, which is like a small African country, and a completely different Opel Meriva.

It's time to tell why manufacturers have abandoned the movement of rear doors on mass models against the movement of the rear doors on mass models (all sorts of exclusive in this case). There are several reasons for here, but the most important, perhaps, is safety. Imagine what will happen if the ordinary door will suddenly open while driving during the movement? By and large, nothing strength will shut it again. And if the door opens towards the movement? Yes, she can just snatch with meat! And if the passenger is clouded at the door during the trip, then it throws it under the wheels. Such cases occurred at the beginning of the last century much more often than, for example, the scandalous acceleration of Toyota cars (the body at the time was flocking, the doorways were flimsy, the locks were often wear out). True, times were the others, there were no speech about mass reviews, but the manufacturers did not claim themselves to abandon such rear doors.


Opel is confident that the most rear doors that open against the movement move will enjoy young families with children and elderly people. And really put the baby in a chair in Meriva has become much easier. Yes, and grandmothers from the interior is easy

But during the presentation of the new Opel Meriva, they did not speak about the problems of the past, although the old Opel Kadett, which after the war turned into our Moskvich-401, was standing at the presentation. But this model was present only for one goal to show that the idea of \u200b\u200bthe rear doors, opening against wool, was born many years ago. Like, do not be afraid, this is not an invention of insane scientists, it is a tradition.

 
The new Opel Meriva is better than old in all respects. It is immediately clear that the work of engineers did not disappear. It remains only to wait for prices

To prove the convenience of such doors, even modern computer technologies were used, thanks to which the avatar film was removed. Opolevtsy assure that they put on people a special suit, which translates into electronic code all the movements of a person. And such robots were forced to sit in various cars. And, allegedly, it turned out that with standard doors the body of a person is experiencing some terrible suffering when landing almost the entire spine was painted in a frightening red color. There was a feeling that it was a solid torment to get into the car with normal rear doors. But when the doors open against the movement of the movement, then all immediately, the spine when landing in the car is not strained, to fasten the child in the children's chair is now very easy, and indeed life is transformed for the better. Here is such an advertisement.


During the presentation of the new model in Opel, high attention was paid by stories. To do this, from the Plant Museum even got the pre-war Opel Kadett, whose doors also meet the movement of the movement. This Kadett is good for us later, it turned into Moskvich-401

But it is worth noting a few more points associated with the doors. They can sprinkle at an angle of 84 degrees, while standard machines are usually about 68-70%. And such a big corner really makes landing in the car very comfortable! And what about security? Opel assure that the rear doors will never open during traffic. After all, at a speed of 4 km / h, the doors are automatically blocked (in the event of a crash, the lock is turned off). However, another danger has been preserved with open rear doors you can touch. And in this case, they can disclose themselves from the oncoming flow.


Red Meriva Salon in style I looks too defiantly in a basule of my mother. Classic black finish, of course, not so fun. But this is the case when conservatism is a good

Interestingly, when we just arrived in Hamburg (namely there was a car's ride presentation), we sat for the start of the steering wheel of the old Meriva. And this was done not by chance the Germans wanted all journalists to appreciate how much new Meriva became better. And not only better, but also more! After all, if Meriva sample 2003 was built on the CORSA platform, then the current already larger ZAFIRA (which, in turn, is made on the basis of Astra). As a result, the length of Meriva increased immediately by 238 mm (up to 4288 mm), and the width is 117 mm. And it turned out that the new model in its size was already close to Renault Scenic or Ford C-MAX.

Yes, and to the seventeal Opel Zafira remained only 177 mm. It is in length, and in the width of Meriva, it was possible to rebuild Zafira at all! So I want to ask why the Opel do two so similar about the size of the car? However, internal competition is likely to last for a long time will shown a new Zafira next year, which, as we guessed, will become noticeably larger than the current one. And the status quo will be restored.

 
Opel Meriva received many frills that were previously unavailable to her. Among them are a panoramic roof, heated steering (for our winters the most), two-zone climate control. And in the list of options, the front chairs are indicated, which received AGR certificate from the German Society of Experts on Ergonomics. These seats are really very comfortable!

So there is nothing to be surprised that inside the new Meriva became spacious than before. Yes, and the salon also turned out to be pleasantly a soft plastic appeared, a large number of frills, and, most importantly, inside Meriva became very similar to a new Astra. There are almost no complaints about the quality of the assembly, everything is done on conscience, nothing creaks. Almost because the sense of reliability spoils a visor located above the instrument board. Of course, the driver will never touch him, but this does not mean that this element may be so harpik!


The rear seats can be folded in parts, which allows you to transport four passengers and still a lot of cargo if desired. It's nice that with a folded hind chairs formed a smooth floor

But with the practicality of Meriva all full order. Rear seats can not only adjust (each separately), but also shift to the parties. Moreover, the seats are very easy and simply, literally one movement at the same time a smooth floor is formed. And between the front chairs there is a multifunctional armrest, who even received his own name FlexRail System (this system is, alas, only for extra charge). The basis of FlexRail System is steel rails, which moves a large armrest (and it can be put on the second row of seats). And if you remove the armrest back, then between the seats can be calmly stored, say, a female bag. The last one is mentioned not just so according to Opolevtsev, studies have shown that girls really want to have a handbag with all its contents even while driving a car. Just in case, suddenly there is a standing man on the way.

 
And this is not all interior transformation options.

Meriva rides, by the way, very well (not in vain the car was built on Zafira trolley). The most pleasant impression was made by a car with a turbocharged 1.4 L engine, which issues 140 hp. and 200 nm. It goes paired with a 6-speed mechanic. Such a car allows you to safely carry in German autobars at a speed of 180 km / h (the maximum speed of 196 km / h) and feel completely calm and relaxed.


On the new Meriva there is a FlexFix system that allows you to carry bicycles. This design hides under the trunk floor and leaves the rear bumper. But remember when ordering FlexFix from a spare wheel will have to refuse. For Russian realities a very big drawback. After all, when the disk on the pit, the disk or get a side cut, then the sealant with the compressor (they compensate for the missing reserve) no longer help

Meriva confidently keeps the straight, engine liked elasticity (of course, for his volume), and also in the cabin quietly. The engine truly becomes heard only when it will spin up to 4000 revolutions. Not bad Meriva and on the winding road of rolls in fast turns, of course, there is, but they are very small for one-unifier. In addition, Meriva is clearly worth a given trajectory.


As always, at the beginning of work on the new Meriva, designers offered very bold sketches. However, the serial car also turned out to be very interesting.

It was still possible to ride by car with the same turbocharged engine, but with a capacity of 120 hp. (175 nm) It is already aggregated with a 5-speed mechanic. So this engine is no longer so cheerful. It seems that according to passport data, the difference in only 20 hp, but the feeling is that from herp escaped much more horses. A 120-strong motor is just a motor strangled under euro-5 environmental norms. It does not forgive mistakes with the choice of gear, it does not allow you to calmly accelerate almost from the place on the second, more often makes it work with the box of the box, does not actively accelerate the car. Although, in fact, for Meriva this engine will be quite enough.

Well, there is still an atmospheric version of the gasoline engine with a volume of 1.4 liters (100 hp and 130 nm), as well as two diesel engines: 1.3 l (75 hp and 180 nm) and 1.7 l (100 L.S. and 260 nm). Moreover, that is very strange, the automatic transmission is only 1.7 liter diesel. For our market, this news is not the best, but we hope that with the time the automata will appear on gasoline units.

To say something about the comfort of the suspension now I would not like. On the smooth German highways, Meriva was good for her running perfectly swallowed minimal irregularities that are found on the roads. But we all understand that in Russia the asphalt of another quality, so we will not put an assessment for comfort. But, probably, it will be about decent points.

 
The challenges itself did not arise. But over the visor that covers the dials from the sun, everyone managed to laugh. Against the background of a well-made salon, his chlipiness caused a perplexity of one movement of the trump card could be practically pulled out of their grooves

How much will it cost? There is no answer to this question yet, but in one you can not doubt the new Meriva will be more expensive than the old: the equipment and quality of the finishing materials have improved, the size of the steel has noticeably more. If now the simplest Meriva can be bought in Russia for 583,000 rubles, then the price tag for a new one, for sure, will overstep the mark of 600,000 rubles. But until we hurry and compare some particular configurations. Nevertheless, to understand the situation on the market, it is worth identifying competitors.

As already mentioned, one of the main rivals of the new Meriva for a while there will be a larger Opel Zafira, which, by the way, is going to Kaliningrad and due to this has a very attractive price list. Zafira in the basic version of Essentia with a motor 1.6 liters (115 hp) costs from 668 900 rubles. Equipment of such a machine includes four airbags, audio system, ABS, 16-inch discs
 
RENAULT SCENIC is worth at least 730,000 rubles. For the version of authentique with a 1.6-liter motor and mechanics. Equipping a little richer than the Opel Zafira in Scenic already has air conditioning, the start / stop button instead of the key, although the music in basic equipment is not included
 
The price of the simplest Ford C-Max begins with a mark of 721 700 rubles. But now there are discounts on this model (until June 30 C-MAX costs from 651,700 rubles). Equipping such a C-MAX is very simple: 1.6 L engine (100 hp), 4 pillows, ABS, front electric windows. For the musical system, air conditioning and so on need to pay
 
Skoda Roomster in terms of its dimensions is less than Meriva, but also all other above-mentioned models. But the price of the car is a little different from 559,000 rubles. (Kaluga's assembly included his contribution here. True, only the roomter with a 1.4-liter engine (86 hp) can be obtained for such money (86 hp) in the STYLE package with ABS, two airbags, 14-inch discs. Although the air conditioner will already be here. As well as very useful in Russia heated glass washer fibergists
 
Volkswagen Golfplus (top photo) costs from 647,000 rubles. per version with a 1.4 L motor (80 hp). Large Volkswagen Touran (below) is estimated at least 814,000 rubles. per version with a motor of 1.6 liters and already in a very decent configuration
 
Citroen C3 Picasso, taking into account current discounts, sold for 499,000 rubles. (engine volume 1.4 l, 95 hp). Equipment Next: Two Pillows, ABS, Front Electrical Windows, Electric Side Mirrors


Denis Smolyanov
Photo by author and company Opel


 

 
Technical characteristics
Type Hatchback
Engine
Working volume, cm 1364
Power, hp at rpm 140 at 4900
Torque, nm at rpm 200 at 1850
Dimensions, weight, volumes
Length, mm 4288
Width, mm 1812
Height, mm 1615
Wheel base, mm 2644
Clearance, mm.
Curb weight, kg 1360
Dynamic characteristics
Acceleration from a place up to 100 km / h, from 10.3
Maximum speed, km / h 196
Fuel consumption
Average conventional fuel consumption, l / 100 km 6.7
City, l / 100 km 8.8
Highway, l / 100 km 5.4
 

A source: AUTO.Mail.Ru.