Insurance Group: 6
MPG: 60.1
CO2: 124
0-62 Mph: 16.9 secs
BHP: 74 BHP
Range: 714 miles
PROS: The diesel engine is more efficient than the petrol and offers better economy for buyers on a budget.
CONS: The purchase price is considerably higher than that of the petrol and performance levels are slightly lower. There is a distinct lack of standard kit.
The 1.3-litre engine produces 74 bhp at 4000 rpm which is more than enough for a small family car and a torque figure of 133 lb-ft at 1750-2500 rpm ensures that there is plenty of pulling power on offer when you need it.
The steering is light and direct and the ride is very smooth on all but the roughest of road surfaces.
The top speed of 99 mph is lower than the petrol equivalent and acceleration is also slower with this diesel model reaching 0-62 mph in a lengthy 16.9 seconds.
Road and wind noise are well isolated but the engine can be a little noisy at higher engine speeds.
The Meriva is stylish both inside and out although the amount of equipment included as standard is disappointing.
Power steering, central locking, stability control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and a built-in stereo with CD player and MP3 connectivity all come as standard. Air conditioning can be added for an extra £510 whilst cruise control is available as a joint option with Bluetooth connectivity for £405. A built-in sat nav will cost buyers an additional £855 and rear parking sensors are £395. This means bringing the car up to speed could cost a significant amount of money and some buyers may find the fact that climate control and alloy wheels are not an option a disappointment.
The boot capacity is a decent 397 litres when the seats are all in place but can be expanded to 1,496 litres by folding down the seats.
Safety levels are fairly high and the car comes with driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard. An immobiliser is also fitted to deter thieves but there is no option for an alarm which puts the model at a slight disadvantage.
Reliability should be strong the high quality finish of the exterior and interior means that this car’s price tag is not evident from the appearance.
With a purchase price of £17,610 the Meriva is relatively well priced. Running costs are better than the petrol but at £1,405 more buyers will need to ask whether these savings are worth the additional outlay.
In general, insurance premiums fall under insurance group 6 which is relatively cheap whilst road tax is lowered to band D when compared to the S 1.4 16v petrol and this means the CDTi diesel is a far better option for those looking for long term ownership of a reliable and safe family vehicle.
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