The Opel Meriva is a car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker
Opel
Opel Automobile GmbH (), usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Gr ...
on its
Corsa platform, from May 2003 until June 2017 across two generations. Described as a
mini MPV
Mini MPV—an abbreviation for mini multi-purpose vehicle—is a vehicle size class for the smallest size of minivans/MPVs. The mini MPV size class sits below the compact MPV size class and the vehicles are often built on the platforms of B-segm ...
, 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)
The first generation, named "Meriva A", was based on the third generation
Opel Corsa C
The Opel Corsa is a supermini car manufactured and marketed by Opel since 1982 — as well as other brands, namely Vauxhall, Chevrolet, and Holden.
At its height of popularity, the Corsa became the best-selling car in the world in 1998, re ...
. It went on sale in May 2003. The first official pictures of the Meriva were released in August 2002. It has been described as a
mini MPV
Mini MPV—an abbreviation for mini multi-purpose vehicle—is a vehicle size class for the smallest size of minivans/MPVs. The mini MPV size class sits below the compact MPV size class and the vehicles are often built on the platforms of B-segm ...
, a supermini-MPV, a small
people carrier
The term "the people" refers to the public or common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. In contrast, a ...
, and an
estate car
A station wagon ( US, also wagon) or estate car ( UK, also estate) is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door (the lift ...
.
Like its larger counterpart, the
Zafira
The Opel Zafira is a car manufactured and marketed across three generations between 1999 and 2019 by Opel. Based on the Opel Astra platform, it is developed to occupy the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment.
The Zafira was also marketed und ...
, 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
The Chevrolet Spin is a mini MPV produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque. Developed by General Motors do Brasil, GM do Brasil, the vehicle replaced the Chevrolet Meriva, Meriva and Chevrolet Zafira, Zafira in South America with an o ...
. The initial version had been co-developed by Opel and
General Motors do Brasil
General Motors do Brasil is the largest subsidiary of General Motors in South America, one of the oldest and largest car producers in Brazil.
Founded in 1925 and initially located in the historic district of Ipiranga, São Paulo, the company ass ...
.
It was built in
São José dos Campos
São José dos Campos (, meaning Saint Joseph of the Fields) is a major city and the seat of the Municipalities of Brazil, municipality of the same name in the state of São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Brazil. One of the leading industrial and res ...
, Brazil.
File:Opel Meriva rear 20071126.jpg, Rear view
File:Opel Meriva A 1.8 Cosmo Facelift front 20100716.jpg, Opel Meriva (2006–2010)
File:Opel Meriva A 1.8 Cosmo Facelift rear 20100716.jpg, Rear view
File:Opel Meriva OPC front Facelift.jpg, Opel Meriva ''OPC'' (2006–2010)
File:Opel Meriva OPC (18205179538).jpg, Opel Meriva ''OPC'' (2006–2010)
File:2005 Vauxhall Meriva Enjoy Twinport 1.4.jpg, Vauxhall Meriva
File:2010 Vauxhall Meriva Design facelift 1.4.jpg, Vauxhall Meriva (facelift)
File:2007 Vauxhall Meriva VXR 1.6.jpg, Vauxhall Meriva VXR
File:Chevrolet Meriva GL 1.8 2005 (16521789960).jpg, Chevrolet Meriva (2005)
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
Easytronic is the Opel tradename for a type of transaxle-based automated manual transmission, as used in some Opel/Vauxhall cars.
Easytronic is not a tiptronic gearbox design; it does not have a torque converter. It is fundamentally a convention ...
' gearboxes as options.
Petrol
*1.0
*1.4
Twinport
In internal combustion engines, a variable-length intake manifold (VLIM),variable intake manifold (VIM), or variable intake system (VIS) is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology. As the name implies, VLIM/VIM/VIS can vary ...
, with (since 2005)
*1.6 (8 v), with
*1.6 (16 v), with
*1.8, with
Both 1.4 and 1.8 were available as flexfuel in Brazil.
Diesel
*1.7
CDTI, with
Facelift
Petrol
*1.4 Twinport, with
*1.6 Twinport
*1.8, with
*1.6 turbo, with (OPC/VXR model only)
Diesel
*1.3
CDTI, with
*1.7 DTI, with
*1.7 CDTI, with
*1.7 CDTI, with
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
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven, Belgium. Formed in 1996, the first results were released in February ...
in 2003.
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
The Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP) is an Automobile safety rating, automobile safety assessment programme for Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 2010, it offers independent information to consumers about the safety l ...
in 2010.
Second generation (2010)
The second generation, named "Meriva B", is slightly larger in size than the previous generation.
It has been described as a
compact MPV
Compact MPV (an abbreviation for Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is a vehicle size class for the middle size of MPVs. The Compact MPV size class sits between the mini MPV and large MPV (minivan) size classes.
Compact MPVs remain predominantly a ...
, a supermini-MPV, a small people carrier, a small family car, and an estate car.
The market launch took place on 12 June 2010. The Meriva B appeared in November 2009. The new model is in length, up from the 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.
The new Meriva uses front seat technology from the
Insignia
An insignia () is a sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function. It can be a symbol of personal power or that of an official group or governing body.
An insignia, which is typically made of metal or fabric, is a standalone sy ...
and
Astra
Astra (Latin for "stars") may refer to:
People
* Astra (name)
Places
* Astra, Chubut, a village in Argentina
* Astra (Isauria), a town of ancient Isauria, now in Turkey
* Astra, one suggested name for a hypothetical fifth planet that became t ...
. The seat adjustment range is in length and 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.
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
The Citroën C3 Picasso is a car produced by the French motor company Citroën from 2008 to 2017. It has a five-door mini MPV design and was first unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show as a concept car named "Drooneel". The Picasso is the mini ...
.
File:Opel Meriva 1.4 Design Edition (B) – Heckansicht, 11. März 2012, Heiligenhaus.jpg, Meriva B (rear view)
File:2011 Vauxhall Mervia SE 1.4 Front.jpg, Vauxhall Meriva B
File:Vauxhall Meriva Concept - Flickr - Alan D (2).jpg, Opel Meriva B Concept
File:Opel Meriva FlexDoors 2012.jpg, Meriva's FlexDoors, Salón del automóvil de Santiago 2012, Chile
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). All petrol engines are
Ecotec Ecotec (capitalized ECOTEC, from "Emissions Control Optimization TEChnology") is a General Motors (GM) and Opel Automobile GmbH (Opel) trademark that refers to a series of emissions technologies that were implemented throughout a range of GM engines ...
.
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.
In January 2014. Opel introduced newly developed engine with restyled Meriva:
1.6 CDTI engine with 95 PS, 110 PS, and 136 PS.
Safety
The Meriva in its standard European market configuration received 5 stars from
Euro NCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven, Belgium. Formed in 1996, the first results were released in February ...
in 2010.
Facelift
A facelifted version was presented as a world premiere at the
Brussels International Motor Show in January 2014.
It was also presented at the
Frankfurt Motor Show
The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility trade fairs. I ...
in September 2013.
File:Meriva B Facelift Front.jpg, Opel Meriva (facelift)
File:Meriva B Facelift Heck.jpg, Rear view
File:2017 Vauxhall Meriva Life 1.4.jpg, Vauxhall Meriva (facelift)
Sales
Chevrolet Meriva
See also
*
Opel Zafira
The Opel Zafira is a car manufactured and marketed across three generations between 1999 and 2019 by Opel. Based on the Opel Astra platform, it is developed to occupy the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment.
The Zafira was also marketed und ...
*
Chevrolet Spin
The Chevrolet Spin is a mini MPV produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque. Developed by General Motors do Brasil, GM do Brasil, the vehicle replaced the Chevrolet Meriva, Meriva and Chevrolet Zafira, Zafira in South America with an o ...
References
External links
New Vauxhall Meriva review
{{Authority control
Meriva
Euro NCAP small MPVs
Latin NCAP small MPVs
Mini MPVs
Compact MPVs
Station wagons
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Cars introduced in 2003
Cars discontinued in 2017
2010s cars