Vauxhall Meriva Exclusiv 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The 1.3-litre diesel engine does a decent job in this car. The maximum power output is 94 bhp at 4000 rpm and it produces 133 lb-ft of torque at 1750-3500 rpm which means that progress is leisurely rather than fast.

The steering is light and the suspension does a great job of protecting the car’s occupants from discomfort. Rough roads can still be felt in the cabin, however.

The top speed of 104 mph is more than enough for most drivers and 0-62 mph takes an adequate 13.8 seconds. Road and wind noise are all but imperceptible in the cabin, however the engine does like to make its presence known.

Equipment which comes as standard includes power steering, central locking, stability control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and a built-in stereo with CD player and MP3 connectivity.

Cruise control also becomes a standard feature in this model whilst options unavailable on other models are offered. These include climate control for £305 and alloy wheels for £565. Rear parking sensors still cost £395 and a built in sat nav system will still cost £855. However, Bluetooth connectivity can be added at a much lower price of £225.

The Meriva is a good looking car and is tylishly appointed on the inside. It feels very well made too.

The dashboard is well laid out and all the major controls fall easily to hand. The boot capacity is a decent 397 litres when the seats are all in place but can be expanded to 1,496 litres by folding down the seats.

The Meriva feels well screwed together so reliability should be good. Having said that, Vauxhall haven't got the best repuation for reliability in the business, often coming towards the bottom in the J D Power Survey.

The car comes a good range of standard safety equipment with driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard. An immobiliser is also fitted to deter thieves but this model does not have the option of an alarm which is a disadvantage.

With a purchase price of £19,495 the price of the car will be a little steep for some buyers. Whilst the in-car technology is improved and there are more options available to buyers, it still lacks some of the standard features of rival models and this means those wanting all the modern benefits will be expected to pay out a fairly high additional fee.

However, the economical benefits are far better in terms of running costs and this makes this model a great investment for families. Carbon emissions of just 119g/km put the car into an exceptionally low tax bracket (C) and insurance premiums are also more than manageable, falling under insurance group 7. The fuel economy of 62.8 mpg is the biggest advantage and means that this car is ideal for families willing to sacrifice in-car luxuries for financial efficiency.