Rüsselsheim. Winning a title is hard enough; defending it is even tougher. While no football club has successfully defended the European Champions League crown, the Opel Meriva has retained its title as the champion compact van in the prestigious J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Report, once again scoring the highest rating in its segment.
In the ‘Germany 2014’ J.D. Power VOSS (Vehicle Owner Satisfaction Study), the Meriva has achieved an approval rating of 80.4 percent, placing Opel’s master of ergonomic design well ahead of competitors, including the Nissan Note and Citroën C3 Picasso. The Opel Insignia is also putting a smile on the faces of its owners. Opel’s flagship model achieved a strong sixth place in its keenly-contested, mid-size class with an extremely high 81.7 percent approval rating. Customers are therefore extremely satisfied with the Opel Meriva and the Insignia.
"The J.D. Power VOSS Report is an important indicator in the field of customer satisfaction and these results show that Opel’s strong focus on high quality has a very positive impact on customer satisfaction,” says Thomas Simon, Vice President Quality at Opel. “Owners – the people who buy our cars – are justifiably the toughest critics around if their vehicles show any signs of weakness, so these high approval ratings for the Meriva and Insignia make us at Opel very proud. The results are an incentive for us to continue investing in the quality and excellent real-world capability of our products."
Established institution in USA – and in Germany since 2002
J.D. Power and Associates is one of the best-known market research organizations in the world and its annual satisfaction survey has been carried out among vehicle owners in Germany since 2002. In the 2014 J.D. Power Report, more than 18,000 drivers were asked about their experiences in an online questionnaire. Participants had been driving their vehicles for around two years and a satisfaction rating is only given if at least 50 evaluable responses have been received. Questions in the survey cover four categories: quality/reliability, attractiveness, service standards and maintenance costs.
Premiered in January 2014 – new Opel Meriva now even better
Launched in 2010, the Meriva set the standard in its segment for affordable flexibility, and it still leads its class in the field of ergonomics. Features such as: rear-hinged FlexDoors which make it easier to get in and out; its highly adaptable FlexSpace rear seat concept; excellent ergonomic seats for the driver and front passenger; an elevated seating position for all occupants; the patented, fully integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier system, and numerous intelligent storage options all combine to make the Meriva a true champion of ergonomics.
The new Opel Meriva, premiered at the Brussels Motor Show in January, is now even more attractive, elegant, efficient and functional. It is distinguished by fresh design accents and state-of-the-art technologies which further increase comfort and efficiency. The gasoline and LPG engine portfolio, as well as the new generation 1.6-liter turbo diesel, already fulfills future Euro 6 emissions standards. The new 1.6 CDTI is regarded as the quietest and most efficient diesel engine in its class: the 110 hp version delivers combined cycle fuel consumption of just 3.8 l/100 km, with emissions falling below the 100 gram CO2 barrier at 99 g/km.
Upgraded transmissions also enable more precise and smoother gear shifts. In addition, Opel’s advanced IntelliLink infotainment system is quick and simple to use, integrating smartphone functionality inside the Meriva’s cockpit.
