Comparison is inevitable really between the Vauxhall Meriva I am testing today, and the Nissan Note I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. Both are designed to fill the mini MPV niche, which means the cars have a small footprint but a large and flexible interior. The end result however couldn’t be more different.

Available in a vast range of models starting at £11,235 for the 1.4 Expression, there are various petrol and diesel options right the way up to the sporting VXR range topper. There should be something to suit most tastes, and with 0% finance over two years on selected models, they are also affordable. The model I tested came towards the top of the range, a 1.7 diesel Design which was also fitted with the VXR body pack.

The Meriva is based on Vauxhalls ever popular Corsa floor pan, from the outside though you would never know. The body is of a tall one box design which stands surprisingly high, so it appears more cube like than a lot of its rivals. The nose takes the familiar Vauxhall family look which then runs back in to a mini Zafira style side and rear body work. The overall the effect is handsome and the additional body kit gives it a certain degree of road presence.

The interior will feel very familiar to anyone that has owned a Vauxhall before, with its somewhat slabby design. The ergonomics of it are sound with well sited and clearly marked controls, although it looks a little sterile. Touch the dashboard though and you realise that Vauxhall have invested a lot of time and effort in getting the materials right for this car. There is a substantial feel to the car as a whole and for a vehicle designed to be abused by the rigours of family life, this is a good thing. The large glass area and drivers sunroof go a long way to making the interior feel airy and light, despite the drab coloured materials used.

Without getting the tape measure out, despite a similar sliding system, the rear leg room is doesn't look or feel as generous. Head room is not so good and is compromised for anyone over 6ft because of the intrusion of a second rear sunroof. The boot however is relatively big for such a small car, and is certainly capable of taking all the paraphernalia needed for a young family weekend away. Also, if it still isn’t big enough then Vauxhall have equipped this car with their flex seat system, which allows the split rear seats to fold completely flat.

Considering this is classified by Vauxhall as one of their range toppers the standard accessories fitted to this car as standard are quite poor. From a safety point of view the omission of a Bluetooth hands free is bordering unacceptable. What is worse, it cannot even be had as an option unless you choose the Club specification car. On a slightly more pedantic point, the Meriva’s stereo also lacks an auxiliary input port for things like MP3 players and the like. On a positive note, it does come with cruise control, manual air conditioning and twin headphone outputs in the rear.

Start the engine and the 1.7 diesel rattles in to life. It is one of Vauxhalls older units and from the drivers seat it certainly feels it. When the car gets rolling things don’t really improve. With only 100bhp on tap, the car often feels like it is struggling to carry its weight, often getting bogged down which creates a big hole in the power band courtesy of turbo lag. Despite its languid nature, this particular model is capable of returning a combined fuel consumption figure of 54.3mpg and only emits 139g/km of CO2.

To compound the engines problems, the gear change can be best described as both rubbery and notchy, far from a pleasure to use. Quick changes baulk and there is no joy to be had from swapping cogs. In fact I would go as far to say as it is the worst change I have experienced in a car in many years.

Next up is the ride and handling and unfortunately things do not improve. The Meriva set up has definitely been biased more towards comfort, rather than handling prowess. For a mini MPV this is quite an important facet, but somewhere along the line Vauxhall left out the bit that gave the driver any enjoyment.

The first thing you notice as you enter a corner is body roll. The Meriva is quite a high vehicle and one that carries a reasonable amount of weight for its size. As the car pitches you hang on to the steering wheel as the flat seats release their purchase on you as you slide either towards the door or the passenger’s seat. As the car settles in to the bend, there is a wobble, as if the damping isn’t quite up to job of containing the weight of the tall body. Pushing the car to the limit is a fruitless exercise as well, creating understeer that cannot be dialled out by using the throttle. Ultimately this is a safe car for the average driver, but those who know what they are doing should look elsewhere.

Its not that the chassis isn’t capable, certainly it is keen enough to turn in despite the steering feeling artificially weighted, it’s just that you can’t deride any pleasure from driving it. Ordinarily, I may have been a little kinder to the Meriva, considering the type of vehicle it is, but having recently driven the Note and knowing how good that car is with regards to both ride and handling, then I can’t do anything other than criticise Vauxhall for this poor showing.

On the whole then, the Meriva is a competent if uninspiring car. It is ideal for those people who do not have any interest in driving, but appreciate the qualities of solid build and economical running. If you want to enjoy your driving however, then it is probably best to look elsewhere.