New Vauxhall Meriva (2010) spotted

The 2010 Vauxhall Meriva testing at the Nurburgring

Vauxhall have been testing the 2010 Meriva at the Nurburgring. The 5 Seat Compact MPV will launch at Geneva 2010.

This is one of the best shots we’ve seen yet of the new Vauxhall Meriva – Vauxhall’s compact, five-seat MPV – which has been caught out testing round the Nurburgring. Not quite its natural turf, we must say.

This Meriva is an all new design and follows the family theme set by the new Astra and Insignia. But we think it’s a bit of a ringer for the new Kia Venga we saw at Frankfurt last week. Still, there’s a limit to what you can do with a set criteria and a five-seat MPV, so that’s no huge surprise.

The new Meriva gets a longer wheelbase and track than the current Meriva and also gets the required bigger front end to comply with the latest Euro Standards. Also clear are what is supposed to be rear-hinged suicide doors at the back. Frankly, we think they’d be a nightmare with kids getting in and out, and they’d be much better off being sliders. Which they could be, but the consensus is suicide doors as that’s what the Meriva Concept from the Geneva Show in 2008 had (Meriva Concept pictures at the end).

Engines on the new Meriva should reflect those in the new Astra, including the 138bhp 1.4 litre turbo. In addition there will be a non-turbo 1.4; 2 x 1.6 litre petrols and a choice of three diesels.

It seems likely that the new Vauxhall / Opel Meriva will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March before going on sale in the Summer.