The innovative design of Opel's new Meriva makes it is a useful family car for a wide audience – including older drivers, writes PADDY COMYN
ONE DAY a car manufacturer will be brave enough to wholeheartedly market a car directly at the over-65s.
Remember the ads for cars such as the Toyota Starlet, a common sight outside bingo halls and the convents in the last century? Despite having core audiences closer in age to 60 than 16, grey-haired motorists rarely feature in adverts for cars.
Opel, cautiously, have made a small leap with the new Meriva.
At the launch presentation, as well as the vibrant young family larking about like they just won the lottery, there were elderly people. Not middle aged, not greying, but old. They put them in cycling gear and called them “baby boomers”. These were not, we were told, the type of old people who sit in chairs all day; they were active and vibrant.
Opel are wise to the demographic from which a large number of Meriva customers are likely to come. Meriva’s previous generation sold well, mostly in mainland Europe and mostly to older drivers. A taller car with easy access is as welcome to an older driver as an episode of Countdown.
The perma-tanned marketing folks in the car firms face a dilemma over this. It isn’t sexy to have a car so coveted by the older buyer. You have only to ask Ford about that one: their Fusion wasn’t quite the urban chic runabout they hoped for but it was easy on your hips.
So, seven years after the original Meriva, Opel has hit on perhaps the most cleverly thought-out new car in some time.
The Meriva’s rear-facing, rear-hinged rear doors open like a London taxi, in four stages and to an angle of 84 degrees, making it easy to get in and out. Loading a child seat is much easier, with the added benefit of being able to shield children from the road and shepherd them in to the car.
It is a simple idea that returned from illegality only through the dogged work of Rolls Royce. Safety issues had seen their demise in the early 1960s.
The move from old Meriva to new involves a dramatic change in styling, with a clever blending of a pinch of Astra here with a slice of Insignia there. The new car also benefits from Opel’s improved quality interiorr.
This is a larger car than the one it replaces. The old Meriva felt – and essentially was – like a Corsa MPV; the new car is more closely related to the larger Astra.
The front and rear seats have a wide array of adjustments: even taller passengers will be able to get comfortable in the back.
It has more cubby holes and storage spaces than an Ikea kitchen. When it arrives in July, we will initially be offered a choice of 1.4-litre petrol engines with 100bhp, and 1.4-litre turbo with 120bhp and 140bhp.
The diesel line-up initially will consist of 1.3-litre 75bhp and 1.7-litre with 110bhp. The petrol engines felt lively and refined, but not all that suited to the car. The 140bhp version was quick enough if you wound it up and the 120bhp version felt like a diluted version of this.
In Ireland, a diesel engine is the best choice, with as much horsepower as your wallet will allow. There will be further news on some new diesels later in the year, so the advice would be not to jump before then. And with the nature of our registration system, few are likely to.
The petrol engines are band C for the most part and the diesels band B, but the diesel’s emissions may be further improved upon.
We drove only the petrol versions, and mainly in a straight line so hand on heart, we couldn’t tell you whether this car handled well or not. Opel chose to put us on motorways, dual carriageways and little else, without so much as a sweeping bend to give us a clue to the chassis’s ability.
Have they something to hide? Probably not: they have shown with the Astra and Insignia they have considerable skill in this area. The steering felt assured and the driving position, on the excellent seats, is easy to get accustomed to and comfortable.
Prices are yet to be carved into stone but will start at €19,995 for the 1.4-litre 100bhp S version (the next level is SC, adding leather steering wheel, air conditioning and alloy wheels). The equivalent 1.3-litre diesel will cost about €850 more than the S. The SE comes with all the bells and whistles but could cost closer to €24,000. The SE spec in a 1.3-litre 75bhp diesel will likely be the best buy but unless you need to avail of scrappage in a hurry, wait for the new diesel engines.
This is a clever car and with the right engine and specification combination will be a great family car or runabout. And for seeking easy access as life is starts to take its toll, the Meriva is a good buy.
Factfile
Opel Meriva 1.4-litre 100bhp S Engine:1,364cc 4-cylinder petrol, 100bhp @ 6,000rpm, 130Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission:five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
0-100km/h:13.9 seconds
Max speed:177km/h
Fuel Economy:6.1 l/100km
CO2:144g/km
Tax:band C, €302
Price:€19,995 (availablex July)
