Opel Meriva
by Sam Livingstone

The Opel Meriva could be a massively significant new car. In 1995 Renault’s Megane Scenic gave birth to the ‘mini MPV’, which has since grown to become an established class sector. Opel were quick to follow the Scenic with the innovative Zafira which became the new class benchmark with its Flex 7 seating system. Now, with the Meriva, Opel have beaten Renault’s second generation Twingo to market with the first production ‘micro MPV’, which may also become an established class sector.

Based predominantly on the Corsa platform (but with some bits of Astra too) the Meriva is 4040mm long and 1694mm high, between a Corsa and an Astra in length and as high as a Zafira.

The exterior design conforms to the current Opel design identity with corporate face and sharply delineated body side swage line that dives in the front wing in parallel to the outer edge of the lamp, and rear lamps and boot aperture treated in a similar way to the Corsa. Inside the relatively formal Opel form language continues in the IP and door inners, much of it coming straight from the Corsa.

The car is significantly more spacious to sit in at the front than the Corsa, but the unique feature of the car and its interior, is the ‘FlexSpace’ rear seats developed by Johnson Controls and the space and versatility they provide.

In the default position the rear bench provides greater levels of accommodation than a normal lower medium (Astra sized) hatchback, and significantly more than that of most small cars (with the possible exception of the Honda Jazz). But by pulling the upper centre section forward and depressing it and the lower centre section down into the floor, the remaining two outer seats are then free to move inwards (by 75mm each) and rearwards (by 70mm) to afford large car class levels of rear legroom for the two rear passengers.

The seats may also be slid farther forward (typically useful when the front passenger needs to access a child seated behind) and may be reclined. The seats can also be folded flat into the floor to provide a low flat floor for loading. Front seat mounted ‘picnic’ trays and a front passenger seat that folds forward flat, complete the Meriva’s list of MPV qualification.

The Meriva provides a unique combination of space and versatility for the size and price. As a main car for a young family of 4 or the second car for a family of 4 or 5, it has some clear benefits over established lower medium cars, just as mini MPVs have clear benefits over upper medium cars. Perhaps the Meriva will become the Scenic of the noughties.

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