Faults:

Reversing lights, faulty switch at 20,000 miles.

General Comments:

Very versatile family car.

Interior functional, basic Vauxhall standard, but fine.

Very clever rear seat mechanisms to allow good options of space for luggage or passengers and all seats stay in the car - a big plus.

1.7 CDTi 100 bhp engine fantastic. Quick, very torquey and good for 55+ mpg on a run.

Servicing cheap and parts readily available.

Would definitely buy same model again, recommend highly.

Faults:

Had a pull to the left (a common fault on Merivas)

Rear headrest plastic cover came adrift.

Buzzing noise from dashboard (found to be the front plastic wheelarch moulding not on properly)

General Comments:

I wasn't in this car for very long (only Sept to Dec) but covered 4,000 miles in that time, and was pleasantly surprised.

I had the choice of this or one of the new Zafiras, but chose the Meriva as both were 1.6 engines and I thought the Zafira might be a bit slow.

At first I wasn't sure about Merivas, you don't see many around, and they look a bit dumpy, but I found the comfort levels generally good, (shame there's no tilt adjust on the steering wheel though), and the 1.6 engine gave better performance than I expected, being smooth and revving freely, but turning over at low revs at cruising speed due to longish gearing.

The handling was so-so, I know they get good write ups in the motoring press, but I found the steering pretty vague, plenty of roll in the bends and if you entered a bend quickly and then braked sharply, the back end actually kicks out a bit, making it feel unstable. Also crosswinds tended to catch it out as well.

The interior is dull, but functional, roomy for passengers, but the boot isn't as big as you'd expect for a car that encroaches on basic Focus c-Max and Renault Scenic pricing.

Would I put my own money into one-no, probably not, I'd buy a Picasso which is bigger, the same price and has a lot more about it, but I wouldn't blame anyone for going the Meriva route.

Faults:

Nothing major. The car's engine does sometimes display a tendency whereby the engine seems to "hesitate" - as if it is going to cut out.

I am going to book it into my local "Network Q" garage, for an engine managment diagnostic check.

General Comments:

Seats are very comfortable and supportive for long journeys.

Not much storage space inside the cabin.

Windscreen washers are very poor - I had to by a new set of washer jets, then drill the bonnet and fit them. It has cured the problem of the jets of water hitting the windscreen as a vapourised mist. I wasted almost a whole bottle of water on it.

Glove compartment is so small, as to be totally inadequate for any practical service.

Rear window gets very dirty when driving.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Comfortable.

Quiet.

Economical.

The Flex-5 seating is really useful.