SecondHandSense: Opel MerivaThe Opel Meriva may be a very practical car, but it is not a very attractive one. To understand why this is the case, it is necessary to go back to the concept stage of the car.
Opel reasoned, correctly, that not everyone needed a seven-seater MPV and, given its success with the Zafira, it seemed logical that those with smaller families might need a smaller car, but one that also had the advantages of an MPV build.
The engineers set to work and created the Meriva - a car that had many MPV qualities, but they also worked from a "minivan" plan. The result was a car that looked as if the designers had either caught up with it too late, or got completely muddled in the process.
In short it was clever and it was spacious, but it had little of the flair of a competitor such as the Citroën Xsara Picasso or the Mitsubishi Spacestar, which in its day was the choice of many families.
You would easily lose the Meriva in a crowded car park if it was not for the high roofline that distinguishes it. It has a stubby front, a sawn-off rear and high sides and that is about it.
Where the Meriva does shine, however, is when you consider the package that is concealed by these design shortcomings. It actually is a bit of a marvel and it is extremely clever. Driving along you have a rather commanding position on the road and there is lots of space.
On the other hand it is a small car designed for city driving and has very good qualities both in town and on the open road. It is light as a feather to park, and you have the added advantage of a small turning circle.
The car is based on the Opel Astra so you are getting many shared parts, engines and equipment. But apart from its dashboard and switchgear it is nothing like an Astra. The Meriva takes more of its practical attributes from the Zafira, including its flexible seating arrangement. You can move the rear seats forward and back and even conceal them according to your requirements.
For anyone with two children (there are even separate headphones for the kids to listen to the CD) or who might spend their weekends ferrying their artistic endeavours to the railings of Merrion Square, the Meriva is a really clever option.
There is a choice of 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol engines or a 1.7 diesel. The option that seems to make the most sense is the 1.4 litre. It is light, flexible, economical and practical. You will get less than 75 horse power but it is delivered well and quietly.
The Meriva has a four-star crash rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests which is not that impressive when you think the new little Fiat 500 has a five-star rating.
A 2004 model (it was launched in 2003) with a 1.4-litre engine, 56,000km on the clock and with basic equipment items such as twin airbags, power steering, electric windows and an immobiliser will cost you about €12,000. A 1.6-litre of the same vintage and with 76,000km up will cost about €10,000.
FOR:Great practicality, space
AGAINST:Anonymous styling