Vauxhall

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer
The boot is being put into the Astra – a bigger boot that is! But as well as being practical, this estate version will be good looking, too. Like its Insignia sibling, the Astra Sports Tourer will have a rakish roofline, while inside it will boast fold-flat seats, a twin-height boot floor, and there’s even the possibility of a sliding rear bench. See it later in 2010.

Vauxhall Meriva
Bigger, more practical and with a sporty look, the new Vauxhall Meriva compact MPV will reach showrooms in spring. It’s based on a cut-down version of the latest Astra’s platform, and will offer much more space inside than its predecessor. As with the stunning Flextreme concept, the Meriva will have rear-hinged back doors – made famous by Mazda’s RX-8 – for easier passenger access.

Inside, there will be five seats, with those in the rear able to be removed or folded flat. Going into battle with rivals such as the Nissan Note and Honda Jazz, the supermini-MPV gets engines from the Astra, including 1.7-litre and 1.9-litre turbodiesels, and small capacity turbocharged petrol units. These will offer real punch, plus low CO2 emissions and excellent fuel economy. Stop-start will be standard across the line-up, too. What’s more, there’s even the chance of a range-topping 237bhp 2.0-litre turbo VXR model.