Vauxhall has assumed that people who buy a compact MPV require not just a lot of interior space but particularly easy access to that space. For that reason, the Meriva has doors that open to an unusually generous 84 degrees, and those at the back are rear-hinged, which makes it easier to attend to the needs of a small child. It's a clever and effective system, though some people prefer the sliding rear door arrangement of the Ford B-MAX.

Another intriguing feature is FlexRail, an extended centre console with various storage compartments (not available on all versions). Having introduced this in 2010, Vauxhall backed off slightly for a 2014 update by making FlexRail shorter than before to solve a rear legroom problem it had created for itself.

Another change for 2014 was the introduction of the 1.6-litre CDTi "whisper diesel" engine and the replacement of some outdated gearboxes with new and substantially better ones

Performance

The "whisper diesel" mentioned above is as quiet as its nickname suggests, and very nearly the most powerful engine in the range at 134bhp. It's beaten only by the 138bhp version of the 1.4-litre turbo petrol which some people consider unrefined, though we think it suits the Meriva very well.

There also less powerful versions of the whisper diesel and 1.4 turbo, which we like too, a 1.4 non-turbo which is fine if you don't need to get anywhere in a hurry, an even slower 1.3 diesel (0-62mph in 16.9 seconds!) and an old 1.7-litre diesel. The main point of interest in the case of the 1.7 is that it's available only with automatic transmission. 

Ride and Handling

In theory, these should trash the ride quality, but in fact they don't affect it too badly, and they add extra panache to the car's appearance.

One of Vauxhall's weak spots these days is that two apparently similar cars with different engines can have sharply contrasting handling and ride quality. The Meriva is a case in point. On some roads the 1.4 turbos feel underdamped to the point of discomfort at the front, yet if you drive a 1.6 CDTi over the same roads on the same day (as we have done) it is much better controlled, and accordingly more comfortable. Optional extras for the Meriva include 18" wheels fitted with what Vauxhall describes, over-dramatically, as "ultra-low profile" tyres. In theory, these should trash the ride quality, but in fact they don't affect it too badly, and they add extra panache to the car's appearance.

Interior and Equipment

The first-generation Meriva was basically a rebodied Corsa. This one is more of a standalone model, though in some ways closely related to the Zafira.

Now that Vauxhall has started paying serious attention to interior design, the Meriva is quite attractive inside, but lower-specification models are rather basic. The FlexRail system is not part of the first two trim levels, and steel wheels are standard on the first three. Spend more money and, reasonably enough, you get more stuff, such as a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel and front and rear parking sensors, though unfortunately no Meriva is available with a spare wheel. Cycling fans can have an ingenious fold-away bike carrier for an extra £515, and the range-topping SE has the £1200 option of Vauxhall's smartphone-based IntelliLink infotainment system first seen in the ADAM supermini. Officially the Meriva is a five-seater, but only a very small person could be comfortable in the middle of the back row. Folding down the rear seats raises the luggage volume from 400 to 1500 litres, which is very competitive for the class. A preference for form over function in the rear window design makes reversing more difficult than it needs to be.

Cost

The cheapest Meriva costs just under £13,000, though as pointed out you don't get a lot of equipment for that.

The cheapest Meriva costs just under £13,000, though as pointed out you don't get a lot of equipment for that, and you can spend nearly twice as much if you pick a top-spec model with all the trimmings. The slower 1.6 CDTi, with 109bhp, is under the 100g/km threshold, so you don't have to pay any Vehicle Excise Duty. Paradoxically, a 94bhp version of the same thing doesn't have quite such good green figures. Automatic-transmission Merivas are the least economical and have CO2 ratings of 160g/km and above, so they make more sense if you're not doing many miles each year.

Our Verdict

The Meriva range is quite variable and includes some models that are unlikely to be of much interest. On the whole, though, it works well, largely because of that interesting door arrangement. There are engine/gearbox combinations to suit most potential customers, but it may be some time before Vauxhall comes up with a version we like better than the one with the whisper diesel engine.