Vauxhall Meriva Owner Reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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Nice car to drive and be in - wife loves the car, husband hates electronic handbrake. With the car on 45,000 miles, the gearbox needed to be rebuilt as the bearings had gone. Went to drive to local Vauxhall dealer, Drive Weston Super Mare, power steering had failed. Also leaks from two hoses, luckily gearbox was paid for from the extra warranty we had taken out. We now have a fault on the fuel gauge, and in the past had a leaking drain plug on oil sump. It seems a great pity that a good car is spoilt by weak parts and far from perfect Vauxhall dealerships.

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No problems. Excellent in slippery conditions

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From new I haven't had to go to the dealers for any problems

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No problems experienced

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after 2000 miles the cooling system blew up without warning.

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No Problems todate

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only had one fault so far error codes

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Its still very new, but so far its very good

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Really practical and nice to drive

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Very good comfortable and reliable

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Yes Green thumbs up

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1.4 engine is way too unpowered for the size of the car. Problems with coil packs, and possible head gasket failure, similar to Corsa D of the same engine. Squeaks and rattles, cheap plastic cover over dials rattles. Interior is ok, but could do better. Won't be buying Vauxhall's again, bad history with them with both cars now.

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Over the past 3 months have had code 68 loss of power steering use of hand brake all light on dash flashing central locking now constant locking unlocking whilst driving checks done but still not solved paid out for new alternator which I might not have needed . This was an ex motobility car when I bought it 18 mnths no problems love my car but getting annoyed now .

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It is 5 star on the moment. Time will show what would be later. Have car for 2 weeks only.

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Apart from the initial problem ( would not start from cold) when fixed it has been reliable for nearly two years.

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ELECTREIC PARKING BRAKE CAME ON WHEN CHANGING DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR RATTLES NOT STARTING

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car is only one year old and low mileage so dont expect to have any problems, so yes it has been very reliable.

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No Problems

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I have had no problems.

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It's early days yet. I would expect a new car to be reliable.

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Up to now very reliable , but for its age it should be

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Practical, cheap to run & insure. Suits my needs perfectly

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Excellent, best car i've had recently

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Excellent all round

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Yes Green thumbs up

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This is a new model vauxhall meriva, which replaced a previous meriva. All though it looks larger it is basically has the same interior dimentions. The 1.4 turbo engine is very lively and more economic than the previous 1.6. In all it is a pleasant car to drive and has more features such as cruise control and puddle lights that my previous car lacked.

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A surprisingly excellent car in almost all respects. Very practical, very good auto gearbox, handling is very good for a car of this type and it's very highly geared (2000 rpm is 74mph in sixth gear) for a relaxing cruise. Very well equipped too, although at a fairly high price.

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I bought this Life model as my previous 06 reg was a Life model too. It has lots of equipment eg cruise control traction control, heated front windscreen and with heated mirrors. I've had no problems so far but only done 975 miles in it from new – the car had 48 miles on the clock and was 8 and a half months old as a pre-reg car. I had to buy it. The only thing I am shocked is that the fuel consumption is worse than my 06 plate model. I don't understand how its fuel consumption can be worse while its CO2 emissions are lower! This'll be the last Vauxhall I buy as I was going to get an automatic, but the tax was £220 per year compared to a C3 1.6 auto which was £130 per year. Vauxhall, you need to get the emissions down on your cars. A wake up call, I think.

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Hi, had allready the gearbox replaced because the gearbox is not compatible with the 1.7 and front brake discs on 26000 miles, car is very noisy and pulls to the left all the time. Had wheel alingment checked 3 times even at Vauxhall. Car is getting 42 miles to the gallon and not 65 and is way under power in 2nd and 3rd. Handbrake is a nightmare who drives like that no hill control. Interior is frustrating and many electric faults very poor vehicle. The roof is nice. Shame on you Vauxhall.

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It's true that this car does have some downsides, mainly concerning the electronic handbrake. I simply don't like it, and it seems an overly complicated solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Other negatives - poor headlights, even compared to the 10 year old Nissan with scratched, yellowed lenses that the Meriva replaced. And sometimes the seatbelt components can get accidentally trapped when folding the rear seats - one of our plastic sockets now has a big cut in it. And the ride is a little noisy - it's not the quietest car on the motorway. But the rest is all good. The little 1.4 turbo engine is often criticised in reviews for being gutless, and initially I would have agreed (although maybe that was due to switching from a big, lazy 2.2 turbodiesel), but now it has 4000 miles on the clock, it has smoothed out nicely and is much more responsive. And it really is lovely when revved - surprisingly quick for such a heavy car with a small engine - and beautifully smooth, better the more you rev it. And the handling is very nice for such a dumpy car - lovely firm steering, loads of grip and very enjoyable. The ride is firm though. And its very very well built. Solid and everything looks and feels great. The instruments are particularly well designed - very clear, stylish and nicely lit at night. We bought this car for 2 reasons - my infirm mother in law found it very easy to get into and get comfortable, and the kids loved the full length glass roof. Thankfully there are plenty of other reasons to love this car too. Its great to drive, the kids love it, and its very safe, comfortable and well built.

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Owning the car new from on a 61 plate, it has had plenty of faults, but the severity and potentially lethal issues I have had I cannot in good conscience recommend this car to anyone.

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ITS THE BEST

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no problems so far

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NO PROBLEMS SO FAR

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I have not experienced any problems with my car so far

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OK

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the car has not let me down as of now however there are noises it makes that sound wrong but the dealer is not interested

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Ride is too firm on 18 inch alloys. Otherwise good.

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A nice tallish car (helps with gammy knee)

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Bearing in mind what this car is designed for I find it hard to find a fault. It is being replaced in 2017 by a car that doesn't look as good, albeit I am sure it will be very nice. As a result I paid only £8499 for a brand new car. The "LIFE" is the base model, but still has air con, cruise control, electric windows, and Bluetooth. The interior has a decent feel of quality, and the switch gear is both attractive and functional. I would have been happier if the radio was DAB, and I would have sacrificed the cruise control for rear parking sensors. Some people don't like the electric parking break, but I have no idea why. It allows you to pull away without releasing it, which can only be a good thing, and you don't have to worry about getting it adjusted. The space is absolutely amazing for a car that isn't really that big. I can fit all my golf equipment in the back without having to move the rear seats forward. The rear leg room is fantastic, and the suicide doors are great, even though I know some people don't like them. Mine only has the 1.4 basic engine, and although it is far from fast, it is fast enough to keep up with the traffic, and cruises well on the motorway. It is incredibly smooth and very quiet. Road holding is good enough, and unless you drive like an idiot it will do everything you ask of it.

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I purchased a Vauxhall Meriva in 2015 which is a second car for my wife, our main car is a Mercedes Benz. The car was an ex mobility vehicle with 2,500 miles on the clock. We find the car very nice to drive and being golfers we appreciate the room in the back when the seats are down. Our previous vehicle to this was a Suzuki SX4 Z which we had no trouble with at all. I have had trouble with the starting, for some reason the car will not start and you never know when this is going to happen. As I write this report the car is in the garage for a second time (not starting). The main dealer who supplied it does not seem to have clue as to what is wrong. This does not instill much confidence in one. At the moment it has only 6,000 miles on from new. We also find that the 1.4 engine is grossly underpowered. On the bright side, being an SE model, the car is very well equipped( front and rear sensores, cruise control etc. etc.)

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This car is seriously underpowered - rubbish on the motorway and takes a lifetime to increase speed. On the plus side it's cheap to run and insure. Easy to park - I get in tight spaces with ease which is helped by parking sensors. I have an elderly parent with a wheelchair - this is the main reason for buying car. Owned it for 9 months now without any problems.

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Nice car but I regret the 1.4 engine. It is underpowered and despite careful driving, I'm only getting 33 MPG according to the display. It has lots of gadgets that I like but instructions could be improved.

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Has been reliable so far.

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Always starts well, never falters, no problems at all.

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never let me down but gearbox needed replaced after 8500 miles

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No Red thumbs down

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Starts first time every time

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excellent ride and comfort

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no problems so far

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Brilliant, just what i wanted

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List price was too high, but showroom deal was excellent. dealer was amazing and salesman was really nice. car has been superb throughout

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This is my third Meriva, I have always been pleased with the amount of space it offers, and now with the new 1.6 whisper diesel the MPG is superb. Generally for its price its pretty unbeatable, but I still don't like the electronic handbrake.

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I bought this car used from Thurlby Motors, within 3 weeks had to call breakdown service as car would not start, for the next 3 months had problems with cruise control sometimes working, sometimes not. Thurlby fitted new switch, this did not cure it. I managed to get the car there when not working, they plugged it in and admitted there were faults, arranged to repair it, cost them £781.50, I said was not happy with car and could not trust it. I paid £8,ooo for car and they agreed to change it for a year later model they had on sale for £8,495. My decision was right - while waiting a week for the changeover, I found the same problem was still with the car. In my advice to anyone considering buying from Thurlby in the light of the service department to find and repair faults is for them to think long and hard. Sales staff ok.

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apart from brakes being too sharp everything A1

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Red thumbs down

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I have encountered three engine failures since i have had this car. There seems to be some problem with the fuel system. The first failure happened at 203 mls on the clock. The last time it failed, 7000 + mls on the clock was in a situation as I was fearing, on a motorway, in the third lane, overtaking two lanes of HGV's. This put me and my passengers in a dangerous or even life threatening situation. It has been back to the supplier once for a diagnostic. Nothing was found, so nothing was done. It is now booked in for another diagnostic. I await the results. But I am not holding out any hopes for a reasonable result. I have no faith in this car any more

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During the first year had no problems

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Starts first time. No problems so far.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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NO PROBLEMS ALL YEAR

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Ive had no problems yet

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Yes Green thumbs up

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IT IS ALWAYS WORKING WELL

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No Red thumbs down

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not driven far enough to comment

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Yes Green thumbs up

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faultless

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No Red thumbs down

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Plenty of room, easy to get in/out. Very happy with car.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Poor build quality. Trim very fragile.

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No Red thumbs down

Vauxhall Meriva owner reviews

“The Vauxhall Meriva is a compact MPV with innovative door design to boost practicality. It’s roomy and high-quality, too.”

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