Auto Trader Ten Point Test Rating - 72
Model tested: Vauxhall Meriva VXR
Price: £16,595
Insurance group: 12
Tested: June 2006
Road tester: Stuart Milne
Just when you thought every niche had been filled, Vauxhall has waded into battle with the intriguing Meriva VXR.
Combining the performance of a card-carrying hot hatch with the practicality of a mini-MPV, the Meriva VXR is unlike anything else on the road.
So, is the Vauxhall Meriva VXR a jack of all trades, or a master of none? Read on for our full road test, or click below to skip to a section.
Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor
1. Looks
Posters of the Meriva VXR aren't likely to be adorning the walls of kids' bedrooms, but it certainly isn't ugly. The smooth and cute looks are beefed up with a bodykit, 17 inch alloys and a huge chrome tailpipe. Look carefully and you'll see the VXR sits slightly lower than regular Merivas, thanks to its sport suspension setup. The Meriva has been VXR'd, without looking like a Max Power project.
Verdict 7/10
2. Looks inside
Like the exterior, the Meriva's internals are more form over function. Everything is well screwed together and seems to be pretty robust. A nod is given to the VXR's sporting pretensions with a chrome VXR-branded gearknob and a flash on the steering wheel. Apart from a faux carbon fibre strip across the dash, and some silver bits around the dials, the interior could be from any other Meriva. Far better are the ultra-supportive Recaro bucket seats, which look great and hold you firm when cornering.
Verdict 7/10
3. Practicality
The VXR scores well here, which is just as well given it’s the Meriva's primary purpose. Despite its diminutive exterior dimensions, there's bags of space thanks to a high roofline. There's plenty of room up front, and even more in the rear, with three independently sliding rear seats. Sadly, passengers in the rear will need to be slim, or good friends as the back seats are very narrow. The seats fold to create a flat load area, and increase the boot capacity from an adequate 350 litres to a cavernous 1,410 litres. Loading bulky gear is easy too, with a low sill at the back.
Verdict 9/10
4. Ride and Handling
Surprisingly for a small, high sided car, the Meriva VXR handles very well, carving its way through bends with more composure than some hot hatches we've driven. The suspension is 30 per cent stiffer than on common-or-garden Merivas, which banishes bodyroll and gives the driver more confidence when making rapid progress. The ride isn't bad and despite low-profile tyres, there's not too much road noise.
Verdict 7/10
5. Performance
The VXR moniker is only given to the hottest Vauxhalls, so we knew it would be a strong performer. It will dispatch 60mph in just 7.9 seconds and finally run out of puff at 137mph. Its 180bhp, turbocharged, 1.6-litre engine has lots of mid-range punch meaning overtaking is a simple process, thanks to its 'overboost' feature. If the accelerator pedal is pressed quickly to the floor, it increases performance by 15 per cent. Unlike similar features on other cars, the driver need not press any buttons as it's activated through normal driving functions. A close-ratio 6-speed gearbox is a nice touch.
Verdict 9/10
6. Running Costs
Apart from its heavy price tag, the VXR shouldn’t be a killer to run. It will manage an average of 32.6mpg and group 12 insurance is about average for a hot hatch. Service intervals are every 20,000 miles, or 12 months, whichever is sooner. As with most cars, there's a 3 year, 60,000 mile warranty and a six year anti-corrosion warranty. The Meriva comes with 12 months Vauxhall Assistance breakdown cover, followed by two years of less comprehensive roadside breakdown cover. Depreciation is likely to cause the biggest headache, with nearly new examples selling well under the original purchase price.
Verdict 8/10
7. Reliability
Vauxhalls are generally pretty reliable, and our experience of the Meriva didn't indicate anything different. Our test car felt solidly built and there was no flimsy trim which may break over time. The Reliability Index lists Vauxhall as ninth best for frequency and cost of repairs.
Verdict 8/10
8. Safety
The Meriva scores well in the EuroNCAP crash tests, with a four star occupant rating. However pedestrians are not served as well; it achieves just one star. The VXR comes with all the safety kit you'd expect, including six airbags, active headrests, ABS with brakeforce distribution and brake assist and collapsible pedals that reduce the chances of leg injury in a crash.
Verdict 8/10
9. Equipment
Our test car featured the £1,200 optional satnav system which only displays the next direction, rather than a full map, but performed well. The bark from the stereo - with its steering wheel-mounted controls - more than matched the VXR's bite. Naturally air-con came as standard, although climate control isn't available, even as an option.
Verdict 7/10
10. X-Factor
If you're a family-orientated petrolhead, with one eye on performance and the other on practicality, the Meriva VXR is an interesting option. Unmatched by anything else on the road, this hot mini MPV is an unlikely hero. There is no greater wolf in sheep's clothing.
Verdict 9/10
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