Right from the outset, Chevrolet are at pains to stress that this Lacetti Sport most certainly isn't a 'hot hatch', so don't bother comparing it to obvious examples of the breed. It doesn't really campaign in the less powerful 'warm hatch' class either, populated mainly by younger unattached drivers unable to afford the insurance on powerful sporting hatchbacks. This Lacetti is a five-door for a start, with room for the whole family, and has the looks - if not the power - to carve its own, more practical niche in the shopping rocket market.

So while we wave goodbye at this point to those who would really rather 'red mist it' in a shopping rocket, let's look at what this particular Chevrolet actually offers. Well, it looks good, which always helps. The Sport has a purposeful stance with lowered suspension and the 15-inch alloy wheels fill the wheelarches nicely. The front spoiler has integrated foglamps and there's also a rear spoiler that further differentiates this model. The cabin is a good deal more upmarket than you may be expecting at this price point with full leather seat trim finished in smart charcoal grey, while a leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob, plus metallic-effect inserts on the doors and facia aim to add to the car's sporty appeal.

Chevrolet claim the Lacetti Sport will appeal 'to both young singles and families'. It's certainly not shy of standard equipment. Many cars several thousand pounds dearer don't feature half the kit the Lacetti packs for around £12,495. As well as anti lock brakes and front and side airbags there's air conditioning, a Blaupunkt CD stereo, audio controls on the steering wheel, heated door mirrors, remote central locking and electric windows all round. Hide the Chevrolet badge on the front and most would reckon this to be the thick end of £16,000 worth of car.

"Hide the Chevrolet badge on the front and most would reckon this to be the thick end of £16,000 worth of car"

There are no real engine mods in evidence but the Sport features the marque's most powerful petrol engine, a 121bhp 1.8-litre unit. This offers performance that is crisp rather than searing, the car breaking 60mph from a standing start in 9.8 seconds and registering a top speed of 121mph. The engine thrives on revs, with maximum power registering when the rev counter is nudging 6,000rpm but it's not overly harsh on the ear. Drive the car a little more sensibly and you'll easily match Chevrolet's combined fuel economy figure of 38.1mpg.

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 Matiz citycar and the Kalos supermini. This model's shape is certainly 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 this Chevrolet offers a surprising amount of room for a 'compact' car. With 932mm of rear legroom and 275 litres of boot volume, 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. There's also the option of an estate model should you need extra carrying capacity.

The rear light clusters are an interesting design feature, 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 in five-door or Sport Wagon estate guise. A three-door Lacetti Sport would have been a real cracker.

Although the Sport is without doubt the most enjoyable car in the Lacetti line up, it's not clear if there will really be enough sporty-minded but sensibly-orientated family motorists queing up to buy it. It certainly offers very good value for money and is attractively styled. Moreover, give it a chance and you'll find a very accomplished car with a whole host of standard features. Whether this is enough remains to be seen.

TOP 1 LACETTI DEALS

The results below show the top LACETTI deals on buyacar

	Chevrolet Lacetti 1.8 Sport [119] 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £183	Saving £3,026	Price £9,252

typical 13.14% APR

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