Opel Meriva Explained

Opel Meriva
Manufacturer:Opel
Aka:Vauxhall Meriva
Chevrolet Meriva
Production:May 2003 – June 2017
Class:Mini MPV
Layout:Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Successor:Opel Crossland

The Opel Meriva is a car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Opel on its Corsa platform, from May 2003 until June 2017 across two generations. Described as a mini MPV, it was marketed as the Vauxhall Meriva in the United Kingdom, while in Latin America, the first generation model was marketed as the Chevrolet Meriva.__TOC__

First generation (2003)

Meriva A
Aka:Chevrolet Meriva (Latin America)
Vauxhall Meriva (United Kingdom)
Production:May 2003 – 2010 (Spain)
2003 – 2012 (South America) (until 2013 in Argentina)
Url:https://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA104101115.PDF
Guide to assembly plants in Europe
Website:automotivenews.com
Publisher:Automotive News Europe
Access-Date:27 January 2022

The first generation, named "Meriva A", was based on the third generation Opel Corsa C. It went on sale in May 2003. The first official pictures of the Meriva were released in August 2002.[1] It has been described as a mini MPV,[2] [3] a supermini-MPV,[4] a small people carrier, and an estate car.[5]

Like its larger counterpart, the Zafira, the Meriva has a flexible interior, marketed as "FlexSpace". Although it only has five seats divided into two rows, the second row can slide forward or backward, or be flattened into the floor, making a flat, level platform for increased boot space. The second row can accommodate two or three passengers.

In the two passenger mode, the seats are separated from the doors and from each other much like the front seats. In three passenger mode, the back seat looks like a regular one-piece seat. The front seat can be pushed fully backwards.

The Meriva was sold in South America (except in Chile) from 2003 through 2012 (2013 in Argentina) as the "Chevrolet Meriva", and was replaced in 2012 by the Chevrolet Spin.[6] The initial version had been co-developed by Opel and General Motors do Brasil. It was built in São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Engines

Initial launch

From launch, there were three petrol engines and one diesel engine. In 2005, the 1.6 8 v petrol engine was replaced with the more powerful and efficient 1.4 engine. The 1.6 turbo was available with a six speed manual gearbox as standard, and the other engines had five speed manual gearboxes as standard. The 1.6 (16v) and 1.8 petrols were available with five speed 'Easytronic' gearboxes as options.

Petrol

Both 1.4 and 1.8 were available as flexfuel in Brazil.

Diesel

Facelift

Petrol

Diesel

Facelift

When the Meriva was facelifted in February 2006, the front and rear ends were revised, and three new or revised engines came along as well as an extra trim level, the OPC/VXR.

Safety

The Meriva in its standard European market configuration received four stars for adult occupants and one star for pedestrians from Euro NCAP in 2003.[7]

The Meriva in its most basic Latin American market configuration with one airbag received three stars for adult occupants and one star for toddlers from Latin NCAP in 2010.[8]

Second generation (2010)

Meriva B
Aka:Vauxhall Meriva (United Kingdom)
Opel Meriva Activan (Denmark)
Opel Meriva Crossvan (Israel)
Production:June 12, 2010 – June 2017
Assembly:Spain: Zaragoza
Designer:Mark Adams
Doors:Conventional doors (front)
coach doors (rear)
Transmission:5-speed manual
6-speed manual
6-speed automatic
Wheelbase:26441NaN1
Length:42881NaN1
Width:18121NaN1
Height:16151NaN1
Successor:Opel Crossland X

The second generation, named "Meriva B", is slightly larger in size than the previous generation.[9] It has been described as a compact MPV,[10] a supermini-MPV,[11] a small people carrier,[12] [13] a small family car, and an estate car.[14]

The market launch took place on 12 June 2010. The Meriva B appeared in November 2009. The new model is 42881NaN1 in length, up from the 40521NaN1 of the previous version, which was based on the Corsa. The new model uses revised suspension layout from the former version but with a floorpan associated with the seven seater Zafira Tourer. The interior is similar to that of the 2009 to 2015 Astra and Insignia.[15] [16]

The new Meriva uses front seat technology from the Insignia and Astra. The seat adjustment range is 2401NaN1 in length and 651NaN1 in height.

The Meriva B debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March, and went into production in July 2010. The Meriva has rear-hinged rear doors, marketed as "FlexDoors". A panoramic sunroof is also available as standard on the top spec versions.[17] [18]

The Meriva B ended production in June 2017, and was replaced by an urban crossover named the Crossland X, and also a transition from MPV to SUV design, sister of the future replacement of the Citroën C3 Picasso.

Engines

From launch, the Meriva was available with five engines (three petrol, two diesel). The 1.7 diesel was only available with a six speed automatic gearbox, and the 1.4 turbo (140 PS) and 1.7 (130 hp) were only available with a six speed manual gearbox. Since September 2010, two more engines became available, both diesel, the 1.3 (95 hp) and the 1.7 (130 hp).[19] All petrol engines are Ecotec.

From 2011, Stop/Start was added to certain engines (engines with (S/S) are bold in column), a cleaner, more powerful 1.7 CDTI auto was added, and the petrol engines became slightly more efficient. A six speed automatic gearbox became available for the 1.4T (120) petrol engine.[20]

In January 2014. Opel introduced newly developed engine with restyled Meriva: 1.6 CDTI engine with 95 PS, 110 PS, and 136 PS.[21]

Petrol engine
ModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorqueNoteCO2 emission (g/km)Years
1.4 VVTI41,398 cc1000NaN0 at 6,000 rpm1300NaN0 at 4,000 rpm144 (2010–2011)143 (2011–2017)
1.4T VVT1,364 cc1200NaN0 at 4,800-6,000 rpm1750NaN0 at 1,750-4,800 rpm143 (2010–2011)139 (2011–2017)
1400NaN0 at 4,900-6,000 rpm2000NaN0at 1,850-4,900 rpm156 (2010–2011)151 (2011–2017)
Diesel engine
ModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorqueNoteCO2 emission (g/km)Years
1.3 CDTII41,248 cc750NaN0 at 4,000 rpm1800NaN0 at 1,750-2,500 rpm1292010–2014
1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX950NaN0 at 4,000 rpm1800NaN0at 1,750-3,500 rpm119 (2010–2017)109 (2011–2017)2010–2014
1.6 CDTI ecoFLEX S/S1,598 cc950NaN0 at 3,500 rpm2800NaN0at 1,500-1,750 rpm1052014–2017
1100NaN0 at 3,500 rpm3000NaN0at 1,750-2,000 rpm1052014–2017
1360NaN0 at 3,500-4,000 rpm3200NaN0at 2,000-2,500 rpm1162013–2017
1.7 CDTI1,686 cc1000NaN0 at 4,000 rpm2600NaN0at 1,700-2,550 rpmauto only1682010–'11
1100NaN0 at 4,000 rpm1602011–2014
1300NaN0 at 4,000 rpm3000NaN0at 2,000-2,500 rpm1382010–2014

Safety

The Meriva in its standard European market configuration received 5 stars from Euro NCAP in 2010.[22]

Facelift

A facelifted version was presented as a world premiere at the Brussels International Motor Show in January 2014.[23] It was also presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva 2002 review. 20 August 2002. 30 April 2017. autoexpress.co.uk.
  2. News: Vauxhall Meriva (2003-2010) review . 29 December 2006 . . 14 June 2022.
  3. News: Road Test: Vauxhall Meriva 1.6T 16V VXR 5dr . . . Weaver . Alistair . 7 March 2006.
  4. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva (2003–2010) used car review . Enright . Andy . rac.co.uk . . 3 July 2009 . 14 June 2006.
  5. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva Estate (2003–2010) review . Ross . David . 6 June 2019 . parkers.co.uk . . 14 June 2022.
  6. Web site: This Is The New Chevrolet Spin. GM Authority. 15 July 2015.
  7. Web site: Official Opel/Vauxhall Meriva 2003 safety rating. www.euroncap.com.
  8. Web site: Official results of the Chevrolet Meriva GL Plus + 1 Airbag 2010. LATIN NCAP - PARA AUTOS MAS SEGUROS.
  9. Web site: Opel Media - Europe - Meriva . https://web.archive.org/web/20130616162108/http://media.opel.com/media/intl/en/opel/vehicles/newmeriva/2009.html . 2013-06-16 . Media.opel.com . 2012-01-15.
  10. News: Vauxhall Meriva (2014-2017) review . . 23 February 2016 . 14 June 2022.
  11. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva (2010 - 2014) used car review . Enright . Andy . 28 September 2012 . rac.co.uk . . 14 June 2022.
  12. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva (2014 - 2017) used car review . 5 October 2018 . Crouch . Jonathan . rac.co.uk . . 14 June 2022.
  13. News: Vauxhall Meriva review . 13 January 2015 . . . 14 June 2022.
  14. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva Estate (2010 - 2017) review . parkers.co.uk . . 6 June 2019 . 14 June 2022.
  15. Web site: New Vauxhall Meriva review . Motortorque.com . 2010-04-20 . 2010-04-20.
  16. Web site: The Meriva B in detail . Motoring-news.com . 2010-04-07 . 2010-04-07.
  17. Web site: It's all-clear on new Meriva | Auto Express News | News . Auto Express . 2009-11-08 . 2010-04-30.
  18. Web site: Vauxhall Meriva news - New Meriva: unhinged - 2009 - BBC Top Gear . Topgear.com . 2010-04-30.
  19. Web site: The New More Efficient Vauxhall Meriva Diesel Engines . Carpages.co.uk . 2010-10-02.
  20. Web site: Vauxhall Official Site™ - New Cars - Used Cars - Vans. vauxhall.co.uk. 15 July 2015.
  21. Web site: The Opel Meriva: Great Upgrade for Ergonomics & Flexibility Champion . media.opel.de . 2014-01-22.
  22. Web site: Official Opel/Vauxhall Meriva 2010 safety rating results. www.euroncap.com.
  23. Web site: New Opel Meriva: World Premiere at the Brussels Motor Show. media.gm.com. 15 July 2015.