Chevrolet Tacuma- LongTerm Test
Most car buying decisions made by UK families are born out of practical necessity. A few lucky motorists aside, most of us have a finite budget and a demanding set requirements that our chosen vehicle must fulfil. If your budget is £11,500 and your requirements include space for a growing family of five, your options are strictly limited. Any romantic leanings towards convertible sportscars or macho yearnings for throbbing V8 engines can be written off from the get go but even once the field has narrowed to cars that can actually do the job, there arent many which come in under budget.
One exception is Chevrolets Tacuma 1.6SX and weve been checking one out over the course of a long term test.
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Its a mini MPV built expressly for the purpose of transporting five persons and a fair amount of luggage in comfort while retaining an ultra low sticker price. From the instant we took delivery of our model, we could see that the Tacuma makes a decent stab at this task. On spotting the £11,295 list price for the 1.6-litre SX model weve been driving, your expectations tend to plummet.
Were talking around £2,500 less than basic versions of rivals like Citroens Picasso and nearly £3,000 less than Renaults Scenic. Corners, you imagine, must have been cut. In reality, though, the Tacuma doesnt fair two badly when compared to its mainstream rivals and it has the qualities to get the drop on fellow bargain basement models from the likes of Kia and Hyundai.
"In the end, the Tacumas best feature is its price"
Its quite an attractively designed vehicle for a start. The dramatic oval shape created by the side windows is a standout feature along with the pronounced swage lines cut into the flanks beneath the glass areas lower edge. The front end is neat and inoffensive and the same can be said for the rear, with its bulging light clusters. Aluminium-effect roof rails help enhance the look further.
Jump in behind the wheel and youll notice the absence of gimmicky innovations or extrovert aesthetics. The cabin is a much less interesting place to be than those of many other mini-MPVs but the standard of construction seems fairly good - despite questionable plastics quality in places. You certainly wont be overwhelmed with the complexity of it all as the controls are easily accessible and the instruments clear to read. The inclusion of a digital clock in a panel above the glovebox is a nice touch as is the cup holder draw that slides out of the centre console and there are controls for the CD stereo mounted on the steering wheel.
Head and legroom in the front are good while the rear bench offers adequate accommodation for three six-foot adults, even if the middle birth is a little tight. Theres certainly enough room back there for a trio of kids to travel in comfort with fold down trays in the backs of the front seats for them to rest their iPods and Playstations on. The rear bench splits three ways and when the middle section is unoccupied it can fold forward to create a central table. The seats can be folded, then simply tumbled forward to increase luggage space or removed entirely.
Actually getting them out is a trickier operation and the load-space benefit over just having all three seats tumbled forward isnt that great. You should get most of the things you need to carry into the Tacuma without having to leave the seats at home. Theres 325 litres of space available with all the seating in position and 1,600 litres with the rear complement removed. The driving position in the Tacuma is upright and comfortable, a little like sitting at your kitchen table.
The steering wheel adjusts for height as does the drivers seat, so its easy for drivers of varying dimensions to find the right position. The steering is light and the gear change has a pleasantly accurate feel. Although the Tacuma is no drivers car and has limited front end grip, it feels reasonably composed in corners and is fine for pottering about town. On longer runs, the ride quality is surprisingly good and the noise from the 103bhp 1.
6-litre engine isnt too overbearing. The engine itself is a relatively average 1.6-litre petrol. It does an adequate job of spiriting the Tacuma around, even if you have to rev it hard to extract the best performance, and its hard to imagine the typical Tacuma buyer longing for more power.
Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 12.2s while the top speed is 104mph and the average fuel economy is measured at 34mpg. We averaged closer to 30mpg on our Long Term Testbut the majority of our journeys were done around town. Its not a particularly impressive return at the pumps from a vehicle that campaigns predominantly on its low cost credentials and it seems clear that a good diesel engine could really help the Tacuma make a bigger name for itself in this sector.
In the end, the Tacumas best feature is its price and its credit to Chevrolet that the car doesnt represent too much of a compromise on practical grounds compared to its more expensive rivals. The design is simple and effective, with the Tacuma proving to be a capable, no-nonsense companion over the course of our long term test.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chevrolet Tacuma 1.6 SX
PRICE: £11,295 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 208g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.2s / 0-60mph 104mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 34mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4350/1755/1630mm
