New Vauxhall Meriva 2014 revealed

A new Vauxhall Meriva has been revealed, with an updated look and a new diesel engine. This new model will be available to buy from next month, with deliveries starting in January 2014.

The updated Vauxhall Meriva gets a new grille, chrome trim on the front foglamps and some new headlights. LED daytime running lights and taillights are available as an option, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels.

A new 1.6-litre CDTi diesel engine will be available in the new Vauxhall Meriva. This new engine has 134bhp and can get 64.2mpg and 116g/km CO2 emissions, which is a ten per cent improvement over the old 1.7-litre diesel engine that it replaces. However, it is still more expensive to run than the larger, more practical Vauxhall Zafira Tourer, which will manage 68.9mpg and 109g/km when matched with the same engine.

This new engine’s performance is an improvement over the old engine as well, with the 1.6-litre diesel going from 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds – about a second faster than the 1.7-litre. The 1.4-litre petrol engines are carried over from the old model, with varying power outputs from 99bhp to 138bhp.

New Vauxhall Meriva prices and specs will be announced closer to the car’s launch. Current models get an MP3 CD player, aux-in for your iPod, ISOFIX child seat fixings and electric front windows as standard. Mid-range Exclusive (a/c) models getting air-conditioning, cruise control and an alarm system and top-spec SE models getting a panoramic glass roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seats and tinted windows.

Practicality is the main focus of the Meriva, with the car featuring special rear-hinged doors to make getting people and things into the back easier. The Meriva rivals the innovative Ford B-MAX and but has a bigger boot – with 397 litres of space compared to the Ford's 318 litres. Fold the rear seats down and the Meriva's boot expands to an impressive 1,496 litres.

The current Vauxhall Meriva costs from £12,505 for the entry-level Expression model with a 1.4-litre petrol engine, and we don’t expect too much change from that price when the new model arrives next month.

For the full Vauxhall range visit the CarBuyer Vauxhall reviews page.