VAUXHALL is adding more choice to the Meriva people carrier range launched on to the flexible family car market a few weeks ago.

The Meriva has five doors and five seats - or one seat or any combination between.

It is compact, designed to be child-friendly as well as easy to park and drive around town.

Now, to widen the car's appeal further, Vauxhall has added another model, the Expression, and introduced a lively 1.7-litre CDTi common rail diesel engine. Expression, at £9,995 on the road, takes its cue from the Life model and is available with either the 1.6-litre petrol or 1.7-litre DTi diesel engine. It has 14in wheels on low profile tyres.

The addition of the Expression trim level to the Meriva range brings it into line with Agila, Corsa, Astra and Vectra.

Meanwhile, the new Euro 4 compliant common rail CDTi engine, already creating considerable interest in other models, becomes the fourth Meriva engine choice. As well as excellent fuel economy it also allows the company driver to avoid the three per cent benefit in kind diesel surcharge.

From next month, the Meriva Life 1.7-litre CDTi model will cost £13,470 on the road, the Enjoy model £13,970 and the top-of-the-range Design £14,470. All have air conditioning as standard. A Design version without air conditioning is available at £13,970.

The 143 g/km emission figure gives added value, putting Meriva in the Vehicle Excise Duty Band A, cutting the road fund licence from £165 to £115.

Updated: 09:31 Friday, September 26, 2003