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The Vauxhall Meriva's a sporty-looking box... that's refreshingly football-free

Updated: 17:00 EDT, 10 July 2010


By bedtime tonight, it'll be all over  -  the terrible month when wives have had reason to moan for the full 30 days and not just part of it. To be fair, I'm on their side.

The World Cup has taken priority over everything. Love it or hate it, I'm glad it only happens once every four years. The other day I had to get up at 3.30am to record my show just so it would be ready for broadcast before the latest match. I'm not making a habit of that, believe me. The Vauxhall Meriva has got a longer wheelbase than the first generation, so there's even more room inside

What is it about 11 blokes playing with a ball that takes over every front room, pub and workplace? You don't get it with rugby or cricket. And it doesn't end with the match, either  -  you have to watch Gary Lineker and Adrian Chiles and all their mates endlessly discussing it during the game and after. Don't get me wrong: I'm not moaning. Anything beats watching repeats of Murder, She Wrote in the afternoon. It's just that I think it's time a man spoke out in sympathy with our womenfolk after what they've been going through these past weeks.

The other day I saw a long-suffering mother trudging down the high street with her beloved son kitted out head-to-toe in an expensive England strip. He was about 18 months old, for God's sake.

On the other side of her was the dad, all 19st of him, with his beer gut encased in an XXXL England shirt that was still too small, together with the official shorts, socks and trainers. They must have been gathering dust for the past four years: the only time he'd been running was to catch last orders at the chippy. The Vauxhall Meriva's instrument panel

Not only did she have to put up with the humiliation of walking around town with him; she then had to go home in a car adorned with those St George's flags you stick up in the windows. And the kids wouldn't get to watch Tinky Winky for a month as Dad's backside put down roots on the sofa and the empty beer cans piled up around the telly. And what did England do? Shamble to a draw in the first two games and an unconvincing win against the mighty Slovenia, then lose to the Germans. As I write I've no way of knowing who'll be playing in the final, but as we all painfully found out, it's not us.

Anyway, I'm going to stand in the shoes of a hard-working mother this week, because the car I'm testing is made with her in mind  -  probably more so than any car in history. I should be honest up front: I can't see myself buying a car like this. In fact, I thought the original Meriva was one of the most boring cars on the road. But even I can see there's a lot to like about this second generation. The centre console

The first thing you notice is the new FlexDoors: the rear ones are hinged at the back like on a Rolls-Royce. Open front and back at the same time and it's like a great big cupboard for filling up with kids. What's more, the doors open wider than most  -  and stay there.

There's also the FlexRail: two rails that run between the seats from front to back, with a coin tray/cup-holder/armrest thing attached to them that you can slide back and forth. I could have done without it. It's plastic, looks breakable and means you have to plug your iPod in at floor level, leaving wires trailing. The handbrake has been removed to make room for it and replaced with an electronic one, which is probably safer but takes some getting used to.

The biggest improvement is in the Meriva's looks. Vauxhall and Ford are permanently head-to-head in the family market, so it's important the Meriva can compete with, say, a C-Max. With its giant light clusters, sporty front grille and crease lines, I think the Meriva has the edge.

In fact, it's better-looking than the stuff Mercedes is selling in this category. The inside is improved as well, with a posh steering wheel and nice chrome dials NEALE -  although the overall theme is still childproof plastic.

This Meriva has got a longer wheelbase than the first generation, so there's even more room inside. There are big bottle-holders in the doors and cubbyholes all over the place, and the two outer seats on the back row can slide backwards and forwards and to the side. I'm not really sure why, but then I haven't got kids. I can tell you that when you fold them flat there's more than enough room for two Princess Diana clematises. Or 1,500 litres, as Vauxhall prefers to measure it. The steering wheel

Mine was the 138hp 1.4-litre petrol turbo, the most powerful of the five-engine range. The smaller of the two diesels will probably be the top seller at two grand less, but this one was rather good. Power comes quickly, and around town the Meriva was as easy to drive as any car I've tested. It didn't strain or stall, there was little body roll and speed bumps didn't make the petals drop from the cargo in the rear.

On the motorway I was getting about 50mpg and the six-speed gearbox and clutch were nice and light. Push the car really hard and you see a few minor flaws, such as understeer and uneven power, but that's not going to happen to the sort of people who will buy one of these. Much better to cruise along and enjoy the high driving position and smooth ride.

So have I become a Meriva customer after a week behind the wheel?

No. But I respect anyone who has. It's twice as good as the old one for about the same price. Even better news for the ladies: as of tomorrow you won't see any stupid little flags stuck in the windows. In fact, there's no more football until... let's check the calendar... Oh, August 14. Ah well  -  enjoy the next five weeks. You've earned it. The 1,500-litre boot £18,140, vauxhall.co.uk

Engine 1.4-litre turbocharged

Power 138hp

Max torque 200Nm at 1,850-4,900rpm

Top speed 122mph

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel consumption 42mpg

CO2 emissions 156g/km (£155/year tax band)

Standard features 16in steel wheels, electronic stability control, heated door mirrors, electronic parking brake, steering-wheel controls, front and rear 12V outlets, FlexSpace easy-fold seating, air conditioning, seven-speaker radio/CD, cruise control

Optional extras 16in alloys, hill-start assist, deflation-detection system, active rollover protection, sports seats, panoramic sunroof, adaptive forward lighting, fog lamps, front and rear park assist, Flex-Fix bike-carrying system, 12V outlet in rear seats or boot, dual-zone electronic climate control, 7in colour sat-nav, hands-free Bluetooth, embedded hands-free phone


What's hot on the road this week


The Chevrolet Camaro, the muscle car turned movie star - Bumblebee in the recent Transformers films - is going on sale next year here in the UK. The official announcement came as the car was displayed at last weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed. It comes in just one spec - 6.2-litre 426bhp V8 - and will go from 0 to 60 in five seconds; the top speed is capped at 155mph. The price is yet to be announced. Mini has injected new life into its entire model range, sprucing up the looks and taking the opportunity to launch a 1.6 diesel engine. Besides new bumpers, lights and wheels, all models now come with DAB radios as standard, and Mini claims its new convertible, achieving 70mpg with CO2 emissions of 105g/km, is the most efficient on the market. The new-look Ford Mondeo will be on sale in the UK from October. It's been given a sharp facelift in line with the new S-Max and Galaxy models, featuring LED lights front and rear. There are changes under the bonnet as well, with new 238bhp 'EcoBoost' 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre TDCi engines available. It also has smart regenerative braking, blind-spot sensors, a lane-departure warning system and a rear-view camera. By Chris Hall


JAMES MARTIN: The Vauxhall Meriva's a sporty-looking box... that's refreshingly football-free

