VAUXHALL MERIVA (From Warrington Guardian)

VAUXHALL MERIVA

VAUXHALL'S versatile long wheelbase Meriva, which entered the showrooms last summer, is a five-seater that makes use of what's called FlexSpace which enables the user to convert the three rear seats into two offering executive car comfort.

Meriva also offers more headroom than it sister car, the larger Zafira, and more than 2,000 litres of stowage space when the front passenger seat is taken out.

With the rear middle seat folded, a useful travel box called Travel assistant becomes an arm rest with cupholders.

It can be stowed in the boot when not in use or removed altogether.

There are three trim levels, called Life, Enjoy and Design and a choice of 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines and prices range from £10,005 to £13,495.

The Life specification features powered front windows, remote central locking, a radio and cassette player, ABS brakes with brake assist, driver and passenger airbags, electric powered steering, a front centre dome lamp with theatre style lighting, black instrumentation which includes a rev counter, powered exterior driving mirrors, roof rail sliders and 15 inch steel wheels.

Enjoy also provides air conditioning, steering wheel controls, a CD player with a separate audio system for rear passengers, seat back tray tables and net pockets, a boot power outlet and, with the 1.8 litre engine, cruise control.

At the top end, Design also has alloy wheels, front fog lights, dark tinted glass, a leather covered steering wheel, a boot net, under seat storage and body coloured features.

Options include a DVD entertainment system to enable rear passengers to watch films, play music or date CDs and connect games consoles.

The exterior design in based on Zafira but its four window arrangement is emphasised by a four-window arrangement.

Eight and 16 valve 1.6 litre and 16 valve 1.8 litre petrol engines are available along with a 1.7 litre common rail diesel.

The option of Vauxhall's Easytronic automatically shifted manual gearbox is also being offered.

With the monocab market still growing at a pace, Vauxhall are hoping to sell 25,000 versions of Meriva this year.

Meriva is built for Europe at General Motors' plant in Zaragoza in Spain and assembly for the American continent is taking place in Brazil.

Insurance groups range from 3T to 5T and service intervals are at 20,000 miles or a year.