I just bought a Vauxhall (GM) Meriva, and it's a very roomy & versatile car, without being huge. It's very like the Pontiac Vibe I used to drive in the states, which was part of the appeal.
It definitely drives/handles like a car, not an SUV or van. And although it seems a lot bigger, when I looked at it side-by-side with my old car (a Renault Modus-- compact hatchback), it's really only about 6 inches longer, so parking hasn't been an issue.
I'd recommend you give them a look, as it seems like it'd be a very good family vehicle. (Just note that there's a difference in body style with the pre-2010 models, which I don't think are as roomy).