Vauxhall Meriva SE 1.7 CDTi (130ps) 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Meriva handles well and the suspension is excellent, making for a very comfortable ride.

The maximum power output is a decent 128 bhp at 4000 rpm which is more than enough for a small family car and 221 lb-ft of torque at 2000-2500 rpm also ensures that the Meriva has plenty of low-down pulling power.

The top speed of 122 mph is more than enough for families and the Meriva can get from 0-62 mph in just 9.9 seconds - fairly impressive for a car of this type.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and a built-in stereo with CD player and MP3 connectivity. Alloy wheels also become a standard feature unlike on other Meriva models.

Cruise control also becomes a standard feature in this model whilst options unavailable on other models are offered. Climate control, for example, becomes available at a cost of £305. 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. Leather seats also become available at £1,050.

The Meriva is a good looking car and much better looking than its hideous predecessor.

The dashboard is relatively well organised and the controls feel firm and sturdy. This gives a sense of reliability and makes the controls easy to operate when driving. 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.

Mechanical reliability is considered strong within this model and the high quality finish on the exterior and interior means that this car’s price tag is not evident from the appearance.

The Meriva should be safe and the car is fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard. An immobiliser is also fitted to deter thieves and this model also receives an alarm.

With a purchase price of £20,960 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.

Just like the Meriva Exclusiv CDTi, this model achieves 54.3 mpg which, whilst good, is unable to match the more economical diesel models. Carbon emissions are 138g/km, putting the car into VED band E.

Compared to the Exclusiv there is no difference in performance and that means buyers are essentially paying an additional £1,465 purely for in-car features. Those willing to compromise on these luxuries should consider other CDTi models which offer better efficiency on the road with fairly decent performance specifications as well.