The Vauxhall Meriva MPV has received a minor refresh, comprising primarily of cosmetic updates and a new 1.6-litre diesel engine capable of 64.2mpg.
Externally the revised Meriva gets newly designed headlamps, a different grille and additional chrome trim around the front fog lights.
The most notable change is the replacement of the old 1.7-litre turbocharged diesel engine with Vauxhall's new 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel. It produces 134bhp and 236lb ft, some 5bhp and 15lb ft more than the outgoing unit.
More importantly, the new engine is also much more efficient than the one it replaces. It returns 64.2mpg, compared to 53.3mpg, making it some 20 per cent more economical.
Emissions are also cut, from 139g/km of CO2 to 116g/km, resulting in a drop in road tax from £125 to £30 a year. Acceleration is improved too, with the new engine knocking 0.8sec from the 0-60mph time of its 1.7-litre predecessor, down to 9.1sec.
The rest of the engine range is now Euro-6 compliant and comprises a 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel, a 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol and two turbocharged 1.4-litre petrols.
New options include LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Meriva also comes as standard with Vauxhall's 100,000 mile 'lifetime' warranty.
Pricing for the facelifted Vauxhall Meriva has yet to be announced, but expect the new car to cost upwards of £12,500. First customer deliveries are expected in January 2014.
Click here to read the full review of the Vauxhall Meriva.
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One thing that does remain.....
....is the button fest on the centre console as per most be newer Vauxhalls. I noticed the face lifted Insignia has a simplified version, I'd have expected similar in a car aimed at families.
more attractive
This looks a lot cleaner than the old car just like the Astra, the pre facelift versions of both looked bland. Facelift has helped a lot.
Confused
Not only have Vauxhall had an efficient 1.7tdi powering their new Astra from launch, they also had a 2.0tdi which broke 120g/km. Even the heavier 2.0 powered the estate version only rose to 124g/km, the 1.7 still being £30 road tax. Why has it taken them so long to update the Meriva?
Other thing I see from the pics is the continued use of an electronic handbrake. Anyone noticed that the 2013 facelift Astra has dropped the electronics and returned to a manual handbrake?
opt
Hasn't dropped it, it's now an option on the top models.
Electronic handbrake
Other thing I see from the pics is the continued use of an electronic handbrake. Anyone noticed that the 2013 facelift Astra has dropped the electronics and returned to a manual handbrake?[/quote]
Mine on my Astra Tourer has been superb. Love it; in fact I'm not sure how well I would cope without it now. Totally reliable after 50k - tho on a hill a gear is always engaged just in case!
**Kiss of death**