Quiet too, especially when compared with the 1.7-litre unit that it will eventually supersede. With peak power of 136hp and 320Nm of torque it is pretty brisk. This is a unit we have previously experienced in the Zafira Tourer, and while it shone there it positively sparkles in the smaller car. Primary amongst these is the addition of the new 1.6-litre CDTi 'Whisper Diesel' engine. While the cosmetic changes are a little underwhelming, the modifications made to the drivetrain are anything but. Accessed through a rear-hinged 'Flex-door', the back seats can be slid fore and aft individually, collapsed into the floor to boost luggage space from 400- to 1,500 litres or the middle seat folded down and the two outer seats adjusted to make a 'lounge' seating area like that in the larger Zafira Tourer. The interior of the Meriva remains one of the most clever and useable in this class though. Seems only the Adam and Insignia will be getting the touchscreen and gesture controlled system. While it includes the smartphone integration and a seven-inch colour screen, it is accessed via the bewildering array of buttons that Opel has used since time immemorial. In fact, the most noticeable change is to the infotainment system, which is a cut-down version of the Intellilink system fitted to the Adam and Insignia. The 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' thinking continues inside where again, only a utter car bore will note that the rails for the Flex-Rail system no longer extend into the rear of the cabin, freeing up legroom or that the seats themselves have been re-profiled. The Meriva was a smart car anyway (in a mini-MPV sense) so probably did not need much alteration, but this facelift is closer to a small eyebrow lift rather than the full on rhinoplasty, collagen injections and Botox we have become used to. Some may even attribute the extra chrome bits to a higher trim level than they have previously seen. Only owners of the current car and Opel fans will be able to spot the discrete changes to the bumper necessitated by the new, Insignia inspired, front grille. The one applied to the Opel Meriva to mark the second generation model's four-year anniversary definitely falls into the latter category. Some mid-life facelifts are more extensive than others. And we suspect the best is still to come. While the extent of the Meriva's facelift (in a cosmetic sense) is minimal the new engine is welcomed. Opel's new 1.6-litre diesel engine is a star, offering refinement and frugality where the brand could not before.
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December 2022
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