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. You'd 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.

The SX trim level is available as a 5-Door Hatch (£11,415) or as a Station Wagon (£11,915). For this kind of money, you're getting something a good deal smarter than many far more expensive cars. The well built and stylish interiors are certainly a cut above what you'd expect for this kind of money. Admittedly that's no great achievement, but when you realise the fit and finish are in fact superior to some of the mainstream bestsellers, the Lacetti suddenly seems a credible prospect.

A recent package of changes aims to further strengthen the car's 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.

"You're 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 10.7 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 doesn't 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 Lacetti's 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 you'll find that the Lacetti's 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, you'll 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, you'll not feel claustrophobic in the back of a Lacetti. Fold the rear bench down, keep a keen eye open for animal welfare types and you'll 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 isn't offered which is something of a shame, as this would be quite a looker.

It's 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 who's self assured enough not to worry unduly about badge equity.

TOP 4 LACETTI DEALS

The results below show the top LACETTI deals on buyacar

	Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX 5dr SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £177	Saving £2,862	Price £8,829
	Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX 5dr Auto Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £188	Saving £3,029	Price £9,299
	Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £169	Saving £2,738	Price £8,512
	Chevrolet Lacetti 1.8 SX 5dr Auto SW Estate
	ETR	Mthly £191	Saving £3,097	Price £9,475

typical 13.42% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000