Ask the expert: What’s the best car to replace a non-Ulez-compliant Vauxhall?
Dear Alex,
My sister drives a diesel Vauxhall Meriva. She doesn’t want to change it, but minimal use and her home being “absorbed” into the extended Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) in London dictate it.
The Meriva’s ease of ingress and egress is important, as is the automatic gearbox. Is there such a thing as a Euro 6-compliant Meriva? If not, what do you suggest she buy?
– MB
Dear MB,
The Meriva was offered with a Ulez-compliant 1.6-litre diesel from 2014 onwards, yet this engine was never offered with an automatic gearbox.
The auto only came with the older 1.7-litre engine; when the Euro 6 emissions regulations came into force at the end of 2015 this model was phased out entirely, leaving the 1.4-litre turbo as the only automatic option.
If your sister is happy to switch to petrol, therefore, this would seem the most obvious and affordable solution. Granted, it will be less economical, but hopefully with the low mileage that will be an easier cost to swallow than the additional £12.50 daily charge. Alternatively, she could try a Ford C-Max.
It’s a little bigger than the Meriva and offers the same sort of easy access. It doesn’t cost the earth, the 1.5-litre diesel engine comes with an automatic gearbox and it’s Ulez-compliant.
A happy medium might be the Kia Venga. You can only get an automatic gearbox with the 1.6-litre petrol engine, and it can feel a bit slow in this form, but if your sister isn’t too worried about that the Venga is generally pretty dependable, roomy, compact and well-equipped.
It won’t be as efficient as her diesel Meriva, but it should be a little more frugal than the turbocharged petrol alternative. An added bonus is that Vengas are generally bought by the kinds of people who look after them carefully, so it’s easy to find a tidy, well-maintained example.
For new and used buying guides, tips and expert advice, visit our Advice section, or sign up to our newsletter here
To talk all things motoring with the Telegraph Cars team join the Telegraph Motoring Club Facebook group here
