The Meriva was a tough nut to crack, both literally and figuratively. The tests performed on the model had to take into account its construction, mainly the FlexDoors, the defining trait of the MPV.
Safety wise, the Meriva is equipped with three-point safety belts for all five seats, front and side airbags for both front passengers as well as head curtain airbags in front and rear. The Pedal Release System is used to decouple the pedals in the event of a frontal collision, while the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) featured as standard helped the model to land a high rating.
For pedestrian protection, the Meriva also scored high thanks to the way it was built. The hood has been found to be pliable enough in the decisive surface area to reduce the severity of the head’s impact in a typical pedestrian accident.
Presented at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March, the new Meriva comes in three equipment levels: Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo. It is equipped with ergonomic front seats, a FlexSpace rear seat system and integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier.
The 2011 Opel Meriva has an engine line-up comprising three gasoline and two diesel units, ranging from 75 hp to 140 hp. All of them comply with Euro 5 emissions standards.
The Meriva joins the other new models in the Opel lineup, the Astra and the Insignia, in receiving the five star rating.
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