Vauxhall’s Meriva will come of age with a new look and class-leading Euro-6 diesel engine when the model goes on sale in the UK next month. Launched in 2010, the second-generation Meriva turned the compact MPV class on its head, with its clever FlexDoors system – rear-hinged rear doors which allow a 20 per cent larger opening for passengers – and FlexSpace system, which allows rear passengers a variety of different seating combinations.
The Meriva now gets a new grille, chrome accents that frame the front fog lamps and newly-designed headlamps with an ‘eagle-eye’ graphic. For the first time, LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights are available as an option. Complementing the design revisions are new optional 18-inch alloy wheels. Fresh from its launch in the Zafira Tourer, Vauxhall’s all-new 1.6 CDTi diesel engine is now available in the Meriva.
The Euro-6 compliant engine, which is already setting a high benchmark in the industry for efficiency and refinement, produces 136PS and 320Nm of torque at 2,000rpm, yet achieves a remarkable 64.2mpg combined and 116g/km of CO2 emissions. This equates to a 10 per cent improvement in economy/emissions over the 1.7 CDTi, which the new unit replaces. Diesel engine performance from the new Meriva has also been improved, the 1.6 CDTi model accelerating from 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds, nearly a second quicker than the 1.7 CDTi, thanks to its additional 6PS and 20Nm of torque.
The Meriva’s petrol engine range (1.4 100PS, 1.4T 120 & 140PS) remains and is now fully Euro-6 compliant. Like all Vauxhalls, the Meriva comes with Lifetime Warranty, which offers first owners peace of mind for as long as they own the car, up to 100,000 miles. A separate pricing announcement will be made next month when the new Meriva goes on sale, with first customer deliveries in January 2014.