CarCostCheck

VAUXHALL MERIVA (2016)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 10,165 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,737

£145/month

MOT Pass Rate

83%

Good

Road Tax

£195

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 8-20

1400cc Petrol

Solid Option

83% pass rate, £1737/year to run. Close to the national average.

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Petrol1400cc10 years old10,165 tests49k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1400cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137
Road Tax

Based on 1400cc

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£350
Total per year£1,737
Per month£145/mo
Per week£33/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

83% MOT pass rate(Good)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's close to the national average of 82%.

At 10 years old, 83% of VAUXHALL MERIVAs from 2016 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 10,165 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 49,088 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2016 cars439th of 586(top 75%)
Rank among VAUXHALL models522th of 882(top 59%)
vs national average+1%(82% avg)
vs 2016 cars average-2%(85% avg)
vs VAUXHALL average-1%(84% avg)

Mileage Analysis

49,088

Average miles

vs

74,000

Expected for age

The average 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA has 49,088 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 74,000 miles for a 10-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2017 model with a 84% MOT pass rate, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 66%. The 2016 sits between the two at 83%.

VAUXHALL MERIVA by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
201894%3332,949 mi
201784%6,93742,014 mi
201683%10,16549,088 mi
201582%13,28156,416 mi
201481%12,40361,266 mi
201378%13,58469,704 mi
201278%15,07678,172 mi
201176%25,84187,952 mi
201073%17,94785,986 mi
200969%10,17683,758 mi
200868%10,27788,694 mi
200768%9,14690,049 mi
200666%7,77991,712 mi
200568%4,66392,298 mi
200467%3,43693,297 mi
200366%68691,455 mi

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About the 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA

The 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA is a small family car with a 1400cc petrol engine. 10,165 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it one of the most commonly tested cars on UK roads. Among all cars from 2016, the average MOT pass rate is 85%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 49,088 miles at 10 years old, VAUXHALL MERIVA owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA Fuel Costs

The 1400cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,737 145/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 83% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

VAUXHALL MERIVA Reliability Trend

Newer VAUXHALL MERIVAs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 12 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA

At 10 years old, the VAUXHALL MERIVA is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 2017 model has the highest pass rate at 84%. With 10,165 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2016 VAUXHALL MERIVA stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
VAUXHALL MERIVA(2016)83%£1137£195Grp 8-20£1737
FORD FIESTA(2015)81%£955£30Grp 1-8£1390-£347
VAUXHALL CORSA(2015)78%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£15
FORD FOCUS(2014)80%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1677-£60
NISSAN QASHQAI(2017)86%£955£190Grp 5-15£1550-£187

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Vauxhall Models

Explore other Vauxhall cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

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