(Tue 02 Mar 10)

Vauxhall has confirmed that the entry price for its new Meriva compact MPV will be £15,495. For that you get the S model with a 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine, manual transmission, a CD/MP3 player, a graphic information display, electric windows, an electric parking brake and the FlexDoors system in which the rear doors are hinged at the back to improve access.

There is also an S A/C model, which is the same as the above but with air-conditioning and costs an extra £500. The Exclusiv, one step further up, has air-conditioning as standard, along with cruise control, curtain airbags and a FlexRail storage system, while the range-topping SE gets a panoramic sunroof, foldable trays on the back of the front seats and tinted rear windows.

Apart from the 99bhp 1.4 engine, the range also includes the same unit in 119bhp and (for Exclusiv and SE models only) 138bhp forms, plus a choice of 74bhp 1.3-litre and 99bhp 1.7-litre CDTi turbo diesels. All models get manual transmission except for the 1.7 CDTi, which from launch will be available only with an automatic, though a six-speed manual alternative will join the range in the near future.

The most expensive Meriva is the 1.7 CDTi SE, which costs £21,255. Vauxhall dealers are taking orders now.

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