Vauxhall Meriva

The new oil-burner is easily the pick of the Meriva engine line-up. It does a good job of offering up excellent performance and economy, without sacrificing refinement. When matched with the practical cabin and impressive on-road dynamics, it makes the Vauxhall one of the best cars in this class. The price is high, but customers will be guaranteed top-notch family transport.

The Corsa isn’t the only Vauxhall to get an updated engine range; the Meriva is at it, too. Buyers now have the option of two new CDTI diesels: a 1.3 ecoFLEX and a 128bhp 1.7-litre. We drove the latter to see if it deserves its place at the top of the supermini-MPV’s price list.

The figures are impressive enough. While it’s not as frugal as the smaller 1.3 CDTI, the flagship diesel still claims 54.3mpg combined economy and 138g/km CO2 emissions – meaning £110 a year road tax. That’s despite the healthy power output and excellent 9.9-second 0-62mph time.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Vauxhall Meriva

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On the move, the engine is refined for the most part, but it can get intrusive when pushed hard. The good news is that its 300Nm of torque comes low down – between 2,000rpm and 2,500rpm – so you rarely need to use the upper part of the rev range.

On the open road, the Meriva handles well for a car of its size. The blend of well weighted steering, strong grip and good body control means plenty of cornering poise. It’s comfortable, too, with the soft suspension soaking up even the roughest road surfaces and making long motorway journeys a breeze.

And all this hasn’t affected the cabin’s flexibility. The back seats are big enough to take three adults comfortably, and they slide by up to 10 inches, so you can trade boot space for legroom. The rear-hinged FlexDoors give excellent access to the rear, and the £500 optional FlexFix system sees a bicycle carrier hidden in the back bumper.

The 1.7-litre diesel is the perfect match for this practical Vauxhall, blending impressive refinement with strong fuel economy and performance.

But the price is the stumbling block. In SE trim – which brings a panoramic sunroof, air-con and cruise control – this car costs £20,150. The top-spec version of its rival from Kia, the Venga, is £15,000.