Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX Range
Chevrolet are not a manufacturer who do things by halves. Over 175 million Chevys have been sold to date and at present, one is manufactured every seven seconds ready for sale in one of ninety markets around the world. Youd expect then that customer choice would be a major part of their selling proposition as it is in the case of the 1.6-litre Lacetti model featured here.
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A recent package of changes aims to further strengthen the cars value proposition. Buyers can now, for example, expect to find little touches like alloy wheels, preparation for trailer connections, rear seat heating ducts, a rear seat coathook and a space saver spare tyre. Remote central locking and anti lock brakes are, as before, fitted as standard to SX models, along with four airbags, 15-inch alloy wheels, powered and heated door mirrors, air conditioning and steering wheel mounted stereo controls. The steering wheel and gear knob are leather-covered and the exterior door handles and bodyside mouldings are colour-keyed.
"Youre getting something a good deal smarter than many far more expensive cars"
The 109bhp 1.6-litre unit manages a top end of 116 mph and it dispatches the benchmark sprint in a sprightly 10.4 sec. With an even better fuel economy figure than the 1.
4 (39.7mpg combined), the Lacetti 1.6 has a range of over 520 miles from the 13 gallon tank. As an alternative to the manual five-speed transmission, an electronically-controlled adaptive four-speed automatic transmission is also offered on the Hatch and Station Wagon models.
The ride and handling have been optimised for European driving conditions, Chevrolet doing most of their chassis tuning at MIRA near Nuneaton. Twin front and side airbags, four-channel anti lock braking and five three-point seat belts are offered as standard on every model, the front belts featuring load limiters. Styled by Italdesign, the Lacetti certainly doesnt smack of something bargain basement. Chevrolet have forged quite a relationship with this design house, having been extremely happy with the styling work performed on the original Matiz citycar and the Kalos supermini.
The Lacettis shape is well resolved; a purposeful wedge with strong shoulders and a very pert rump. The wheel at each corner look not only gives a dynamic stance but also maximises internal space. Break out the tape measure and youll find that the Lacettis wheelbase is a full 2600mm long, longer than cars like the Alfa 156 and the Audi A3. Given that most cars in the Mondeo class campaign with a wheelbase of around 2670mm, youll appreciate that the Lacetti offers a surprising amount of room for a compact car.
With 932mm of rear legroom and 275 litres of boot volume in the Hatch, youll not feel claustrophobic in the back of a Lacetti. Fold the rear bench down, keep a keen eye open for animal welfare types and youll be able to swing a generously sized cat in the 1,045 litres of fresh air at your disposal in the Hatch. This rises to 1,410 litres in the Station Wagon variant. The rear light clusters are an interesting design feature of the Hatch, bisected as they are by the shutline of the hatchback, and the stub tail and roofline of the car look very much like a Vauxhall Astra -which may be something less than a coincidence.
The almond-shaped clear glass headlamps and well-defined wheel arches are signature post millennial design features and the Lacetti looks the part even in traditionally frumpy five-door guise. A three-door model isnt offered which is something of a shame, as this would be quite a looker. Its vitally important for Chevrolet to establish a meaningful presence in the family hatch sector. First impressions suggest the Lacetti will be able to stand toe to toe with some of the more established family hatch favourites.
Assuming you get the right deal, the 1.6SX models looks to be interesting propositions for the motorist whos self assured enough not to worry unduly about badge equity.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX range
PRICE: £11,115-£11,615 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 178g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.4s / Max Speed 116mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 39.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Heightmm 1925/1452/1180mm
