Chevrolet Tacuma : PRICE PERFECT?

Here's a Mini-MPV that's actually priced sensibly. June Neary checks out Chevrolet's Tacuma

I rather like the idea of one of those mini-MPVs. You know, like a Renault Scenic or a Vauxhall Zafira. Problem is, they're a bit pricey for me. Check out the dealers and you're talking around £13,500 to start with and probably upwards of £15,500 for the one with the decent engine and proper level of specification that you really want - which is why I wanted to try Chevrolet's Tacuma. Here's a mini-MPV that comes with all the usual flexibility and family-orientated virtues of the others but it's priced from a far more reasonable £11,500 or so. If it really delivers for that, then it will make a lot of sense from my point of view.

First impressions are good. Standard kit does after all include air conditioning, ABS, twin airbags, remote auto locking, an immobiliser/alarm, front fog lamps, electric windows and body-coloured mirrors and bumpers. If you want more, the plusher 2.0-litre CDX variant that I tried adds alloy wheels and colour-coded bodyside mouldings. All for not much more than you'd pay for the slowest, most basic 1.4-litre Renault Scenic. So, a decent family package for the money - but then I would have expected that from Chevrolet. I also expected a down-market interior and compromises in the kind of versatility that the European models have made their own - which is why a seat behind the wheel bought a pleasant surprise. Though things are still pretty plasticky, the quality of the trim is a lot better than I'd experienced with some of the company's older models. It's all fairly versatile too - as long as you're content with `just' five seats (some rivals offer six or seven). As you would expect from a car of this type, there are five individual seats (multi-adjustable with armrests in the front), storage drawers underneath the two front seats, airline-style flip-down trays for rear seat passengers, little cubby holes under the rear floor and a rear middle seat that can be folded flat to create a picnic tabletop. I liked the way that the front passenger seat could swivel to face those at the rear to facilitate family conferences. Another nice touch was the way that the centre rear seat could slide forward by 120mm to increase shoulder room for passengers in the outside pair of seats. One thing I didn't like was the way that the rear parcelshelf couldn't be removed or re-fitted without first folding the back seats forward. One advantage of choosing a five-seat mini-MPV rather than one with six or seven chairs is that luggage space is likely to be good. Nor does this Chevrolet disappoint in this respect, with 455litres of loadspace, a figure that rises to 1155 litres with all three rear seats tumbled forward. Unfortunately however, there's a high loading lip to overcome before you can get to the space on offer. In size, this car is 100mm shorter than Chevrolet's existing Astra-sized Lacetti Station Wagon but is 55mm wider and 160mm taller. This extra height allows passengers to sit more upright (particularly in the rear), which ensures the most effective use of available space.

I didn't expect the Tacuma to be a great driver's car - and it wasn't. Still, it handled competently enough. As for the cabin environment, well anyone who has mastered the controls of a payphone will feel quite at home inside. The 1.6-litre engine that most buyers will choose manages a respectable though hardly noteworthy fuel consumption average of 32mpg. There's no diesel option, a drawback that won't be put right any time soon. As for performance, this 1.6-litre has to be revved hard for any meaningful progress, its 103bhp produced at a sky-high 6000rpm. Peak torque is attained at a more manageable 3400rpm, making the Tacuma 1.6 a car that feels usefully strong even at medium engine speeds. The sprint to 60mph takes 11.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 104mph. Unfortunately there's no automatic option at this level - if you want a self-shifter you'll need to plump for the 2.0 CDX. This larger engine manages sixty in 10.8s on the way to a maximum of 112mph but more significantly, can achieve an almost identical fuel consumption figure in mixed driving. Other thoughtful features? Well, I liked the sunglasses compartment in the roof console, plus there are loads of cupholders - no bad thing in any mini-MPV. You'll find them in the centre console, in the armrest/picnic table on the back of the centre rear seat and in the pop-up picnic tables at the back of the front seats. The shopping bag hook for takeaways is also a good idea, as is the 12-volt socket in the centre console. Passengers (particularly kids) especially like the way that those in the rear sit slightly higher than those in the front.

By now, you'll have got the idea. Great value for money (with prices starting at £11,295) and high equipment levels, plus virtually all of the virtues you get in pricier European mini-MPVs.

If you're not bothered about a great driving experience and don't care about the badge on the bonnet, then the Tacuma's well worth a try.

Thursday July 19