Sensible Secondhand Reviews: 2017 Vauxhall (Opel) Meriva B 1.4 Tech Line - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@jenwing3011]

Thank you for this informative review, Ive just purchased a Meriva Tech line 1.4 2014 as I need both a family car and a car my elderly Mum can get in and out of easily, its also economical so ticked all the practical boxes for me. I was pleased to see you came to the same conclusions as Ive not taken delivery yet so that has given me more confidence in my choice.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

No problem at all, Jen! My mother has dementia and issues with her back, so finding something she can get in and out of without too much difficulty is often on my mind. These Merivas are actually very good value if you find a decent one. The non-turbo 1.4 is not particularly fast, but it should be fairly reliable if looked after properly.

[@adamtoms2726]

Thank you sir for a wonderful review of my Meriva. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Certainly the lower down trim levels are incredibly poorly equipped. The tech line for me gave me everything I was looking for. The panoramic roof and the flex rail limit headroom and legroom in the back so much that it spoils the practicality of the Meriva found on the SE spec. Another stellar review sir and glad you enjoyed it.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I have looked at one of these before for a client, but did not have a chance to drive it. I am glad that I have now had the opportunity, and this Tech Line specification would probably suit most buyers. Even without the Flex Rail, the storage is better than average. Glad you enjoyed the review, sir!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

I really do like this version of Meriva, mainly due to the Flex Doors, myself and my wife looked at one of these about eight years ago before our first child was born, but we went for a Mark 2 Focus instead as my wife was not sure the Meriva would be big enough.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I think it depends on how you measure the size as the Meriva has the sliding rear seats, but having tested a Mark II Focus and a Mark II Focus Estate recently as well as this Meriva, I would probably say the standard Mark II Focus is less practical than this one, although the Flex Rail system can get in the way of the rear seat sliding if it is installed. The Flex Doors are actually incredibly sensible.

[@davidbarnes7084]

I have owned this model of Meriva with a 67 plate since March 2021 and have been generally very pleased with it. I was a bit wary of the electric parking brake at first but have quickly got used to it. I particularly like the way the brake self releases as you move off. I do find the engine a little underpowered when climbing hills so this might suggest the Turbo version as a better choice. One drawback not mentioned in the review is the blindspot created by the wider than usual central door pillar. This makes it hard to see approaching vehicles as you glance over your left shoulder when pulling out at a sharply angled T junction. I have had a couple of near misses dues to this and have become ultra cautious now I am aware of it.. You also have to be vigilant on motorways when vehicles "undertake" you on an inside lane. The driving position and ride quality are extremely comfortable. I feel no back discomfort at all even after a journey of 100 to 200 miles and this is not something I can say about previous vehicles I have owned. This is a very stylish, comfortable and practical vehicle to drive with plenty of boot space. Stowage space can easily be extended with the rear seats folded back. All in all, an excellent secondhand buy.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting, David! Yes, you do get used to electronic handbrakes after a while if they are properly designed. I had an MG HS manual on test last month, with an electronic handbrake, and it worked surprisingly well. I hardly had to use the button at all. I didn't find the visibility a problem for some reason from that point of view, but I wasn't able to take it on a motorway in the short time I had, so I am sure that you are right. The seats are very good, and these are very good value at the moment.

[@seancooke7332]

The Meriva looks great in Silver. It really does look very spacious. Having travelled to work in a 2012 Astra for years I can confirm that the buttons on the dash are very easy to use and the demist function of the heater is amazing, compared with that of the previous generation Astra which was very poor. Like the Flex Doors. In fact, the Meriva looks like a very appealing package.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, an identical dashboard to the Astra J, I think. I can't remember exactly, but I think these may have had a heated windscreen available. The Flex Doors are indeed wonderful for getting in and out.

[@roygardiner2229]

Thanks for another interesting video. Videos like this are very informative for innocents like me: they can dispel some of my preconceptions. For example, I don't usually favour Vauxhall as a marque but in this case I liked the array of buttons rather than a touch screen. The sheer amount of space was appealing, too. The downsides included the absence of a spare wheel.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, you can get a spare wheel for these, they just cost extra, unfortunately. You would get used to the buttons eventually, I am sure. The space for such a small car as well as the flexibility is astonishing.

[@stevenjones19-m8i]

Hi,great video,I’ve owned my Meriva Life for 5 years and it drives brilliant and is still low mileage,I do like the Tech Line spec like this one it has more gadgets.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, Steven! Yes, this was a very nice surprise. I also filmed a Seat Ibiza later that afternoon which belongs to the same owner, but I much preferred this. You are right, the Tech Line is an excellent trim level.

[@darrenwalsh4794]

I own one of these. The only things I don't like about it is the electric handbrake (sorry, but I prefer to feel some resistance when applying a hand brake) and the flex rail (to me it's just a wasted massive void) I'm actually thinking about getting the optional arm rest to fill this space up. Otherwise it is a great little car.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I am not a fan of the electric handbrakes, especially on manual cars. The Flex Rail was perhaps not the best idea, but I suppose they tried... Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@frothe42]

I also like this Meriva, very much so! I do like the rear doors, and the IP and other controls are very GM; you see them on most vehicles within the GM line-up which includes rebadged Buick vehicles with Vauxhall/Opel underpinnings. The only negative, which is minor, is the ceiling mounted center shoulder strap, which I find annoying. It's strengths outweigh that minor weakness. Excellent presentation and review!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, a lot of cars of this type have the rear seat belts of this type, as there isn't anywhere else to put them... The indicator stalks and window switches and steering wheel in particular are very similar to a lot of General Motors products of the time which were sold in North America.

[@frothe42]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting On other Vauxhall/Opel vehicles, placement of three point center seatbelt are either on top or integrated into the setback. I forgot to mention that the center information display does looks similar to other vehicles in their lineup, as you mentioned. I wished a vehicle like this have been sold in the US as their is so much to like about the Meriva. Only Asian vehicle manufacturers, especially the Koreans, are building cars that people desire, and need.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@frothe42 , yes, there was some overlap at the time as both the Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic were sold in North America and Europe, as well as things like the Buick Regal and Verano, which were versions of the Insignia and Astra, but the Meriva never made it to North America.

[@stuartsaunders4518]

I really do like an electronic handbrake, having had a Seat Leon with one (the VW type with Auto hold) I detest going back to a manual handbrake in my former Polo & now T Cross, they are very clumsy & dinasour like I do agree however with your comment about the touchscreen function instead of physical buttons for basic things like adjustment of heater, they are unnecessrily complicated. I had a couple of days recently of using a VW Golf 8 and what a hideous experience battling with s complicated touch screen, no thanks!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the Golf Mark VIII does have a ridiculous system for operating the climate control with those touch sliders, also shared with the new Octavia and Leon. Although the dashboards in Vauxhalls of this era did have a lot of buttons, a lot of viewers on this channel would say that they prefer them. Manual handbrakes are becoming less and less common now, they will probably disappear quite soon, and be mourned by people like me.

[@johnedwards3198]

I certainly saw the Mark1 suffer abysmal intermittent and random power steering failure. I believe it was featured on Watchdog back in the day but certainly glad to see how they completely revised the design aesthetic and mechanicals

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I think it was the same with the Corsa C, upon which the Meriva A was based. The Meriva B was completely different, I think only a couple of the engines were shared.

[@PlanetautoUK]

Some nice design aspects, and suicide doors, strangely now making a comeback and with a whole host of new names

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes indeed! Whatever name you give them, they seem to work very well indeed. Surprisingly good value these days.

[@markonmotoring]

A former work colleague had one of these. It's one of those cars you never seem to see. Vauxhall's styling at this point became most agreeably understated and elegant. The suicide rear doors are very interesting though would have been more so without a B pillar. I think the Ford B Max may have had suicide rear doors with no B pillar though I'm sure there will have been other compromises to retain structural integrity.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Ford claimed that the lack of B-pillar did not compromise structural rigidity, but you would have to see the crash test results to see if that were true. The Meriva B is actually not a bad looking car for what it is, same thing with the Corsa E and Astra J which overlapped production with the Meriva. I prefer it to the Crossland X, that is for sure.

[@markonmotoring]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I think that the B Max from memory may have had a shorter rear door opening a bit like the RX8 and that modern mini that they incorrectly called a clubman. You know the one that open only on one side so that children in RHD cars have to exit into the road. 😅

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@markonmotoring , yes, the RX-8 was very clever, but the rear space is still very limited in them, unfortunately. I remember the Clubman rear door, sir...

[@williamegler8771]

I would rather drive one of these over a compact SUV any day...

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Unfortunately, Vauxhall didn't replace it like for like, which is a shame.

[@johngallagher909]

Would this be a good car to learn to drive in?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's based on the Vauxhall Corsa D platform, although it is a bit bigger. A pleasant car to drive with good visibility, so probably not bad at all for a learner.

[@johngallagher909]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thank you, I’m looking for a car that’s reasonably priced to teach my son to drive and that I could use also as a day to day car. That’s helpful

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@johngallagher909 , yes, I think it could be a good compromise. I do source cars for people on a professional basis if you do happen to need any help, the links to my website, etc, are in the video description if that is any use to you.

[@johngallagher909]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thanks Joseph, I had a look at your website. I live in Ireland so I’m too far. Your videos are very good. Best wishes, John

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@johngallagher909 , that's a shame, sir, I will have to book a holiday in Ireland at some point, as I have never been!

[@viennguyen8402]

Viet Nam, xe đẹp quá

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you very much indeed!

[@ismailulutas4414]

Its a 2010 car

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

No, it is from 2017, which is why it has a 17 on the number plate.