Road Test: Vauxhall Meriva 1.6T 16V VXR 5dr

The new Vauxhall Meriva VXR is the Russian doll of the automotive world. It's a niche within a niche within a niche, and is for those who've spent their life dreaming of a go-faster mini-MPV.

Priced at a hefty £16,495, the VXR is the halo car for a subtly facelifted Meriva range. A restyled front grille and headlamps join forces with blacked-out rear tail lamps and a chrome strip along the hatchback. To this the VXR adds a body kit and 17in alloy wheels.

Hiding under the restyled bonnet is Vauxhall's new 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. A huge dollop of boost pressure liberates 178bhp and 170lb ft of torque.

Stamp on the throttle and it will even offer a short burst of overboost, raising the torque to a heady 196lb ft.

This is enough to propel it to 60mph in 7.9sec and on to 137mph. It's more than quick enough to scare proper grown-up cars and, therefore, must be put into another niche: 'genuinely amusing'.

Narrow, high-set MPVs are not the best starting point for top dynamics, but the boffins at the Opel Performance Centre have worked overtime to transform the Meriva.

The ride height has been reduced by 10mm at the front and 15mm at the rear, and the springs have been stiffened up.

Sadly, having invested so much time and money developing the dynamics, some bright spark in the press office decided to introduce the car on Germany's most northerly point, so all the cars were fitted with smaller, winter tyres, altering the car's behaviour dramatically.

We, therefore, can't tell you precisely how this car handles, except to say that the electrically-assisted steering is direct but lacks feel, and that it still rolls more than a 'normal' hot hatch. We'll have to wait until the first UK cars arrive to offer a definitive judgement.

The Meriva's cabin has been given a token makeover. In come Recaro seats and a three-spoke 'wheel, but neither hides the fact the upright driving position is anything but sporty.

Thankfully, the Flexspace seating system is retained and the Meriva remains as versatile as ever. This is one of the cleverer mini-MPVs.

Even Vauxhall admits it'll struggle to sell more than 400 Meriva VXRs each year. So, for a handful of people, this car will tick every box, but we'd advise saving up an extra £1,000 and buying a Focus ST.

Alistair Weaver