Ford B-MAX vs Opel Meriva vs Renault Scenic: which one has the lowest running costs?
Ford B-MAX vs Opel Meriva vs Renault Scenic: which one has the lowest running costs?
By Farzana Chaumoo
MPVs used to be firm favourites for families because of their handling, practicality, and spacious interiors. We do a generic comparison for running costs of three MPVs, that are not only old but also no longer sold new, the Ford B-MAX, Opel Meriva and the Renault Scenic.
Running costs
Ford B-MAX owners should find running costs reasonable. Servicing, maintenance costs and replacement parts at a Ford dealer aren't too costly. With decent claimed fuel economy and sensible servicing bills, it should prove cheap to run. It shouldn't be expensive to insure either which will help keep annual bills down.
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol with stop/start or the 1.6-litre TDCi diesel (not in SA) were said to keep potential expenditure to a minimum. The 1.0-litre returns around 7.0l/100 km (real-life fuel consumption). Research displays that the older these cars get, specifically the EcoBoost and diesel derivatives, they will potentially cost more to maintain than the standard petrol models.
The Opel Meriva was said to be good value for money and currently offers better residual values than its predecessors (no longer sold new in SA). Equipment levels were relatively decent and Opel's efficient engines aren't expensive to run. Opel's servicing was also very competitive. The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine in the Meriva was said to be very thirsty and consumed around 8.2l/100 km on a real-world test while claimed figures suggest 6.7 l/100km.
Against some mainstream rivals, the Renault Scenic offers great value. It also offers high levels of safety equipment which help keep insurance premiums down. Diesel engines are frugal. Renault's Scenic petrol 1.6 models claim fuel consumption of 7.2-7.5l/100 km while the diesel 1,6 dCI Dynamique is said to return 4.4l-5.8l/100 km. The 1.9-litre Grand Scénic 1.9 DCi was said to return around 5,6l/100 km and is the best figure here.
CO2 emissions
Opel Meriva 1.4T - 196 gm/km
Ford B-MAX (92kW) - 114 g/km
Renault Grand Scénic 1.6 dCi Dynamique - 114 g/km
Renault Grand Scénic 2.0 dCi - 184 g/km
Insurance
Insurance premiums differ amongst drivers and will depend on your personal profile. Please contact a vehicle insurance company to give you a quote on a model that you're interested in purchasing.
Reliability
Reliability for Renault has been an Achilles' heel in the past but over the years, the French automaker has committed to improving their name on the list of automakers who are known for reliability and durability.
The Meriva was a hit-and-miss when it came to reliability and Opel later made claims to have improved in that department. The model felt well built and of good quality and proves durable. There's still 2007 models that can be found selling on site.
Overseas, Ford has performed particularly well in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys and later models are proving to be relatively solid.
Verdict
The Scenic and the B-MAX fight for a win here. Both of these aren't hot sellers so it comes down to personal brand preference, and what you’re actually looking for in an MPV versus what you can find on the used market. It’s always good to get a car with a full-service history when shopping for a used car, and one that is well-maintained will not rank up your expenses.