Although the Chevrolet name may still take a little getting used to, the Matiz badge is one that British motorists are very familiar with. In a comparatively short space of time, the Matiz has come a long way. Remember how it was originally imported without a dealer network? Manufacturer Daewoo initially began selling them through Halfords stores alongside Magic Trees and chamois leathers. The Korean company experienced some financial difficulties in the intervening years but the popularity of the Matiz was never in question. Since being bought by General Motors and rebranded as Chevrolet, a whole new era of professionalism has been ushered in, both in terms of marketing and product development.

Chevrolet have forged a reputation in the US for bringing quality cars to market at affordable prices, so it's not such a great stretch to apply those brand values here in the UK. The problem is that demand for genuine 'econobasic' city cars as represented by the original Matiz has largely dried up. Partly it has to do with European safety legislation that decrees that cars generally need to be bigger and safer than before and a customer push for big car features in city tots has made citycars ever more sophisticated. Dearly departed Rover, for example, struggled to shift its utilitarian CityRover model, most customers preferring something a little more refined.

That's where Chevrolet's current Matiz may well score. The small engine and advanced manufacturing processes keep the sticker prices low (from £6,995 for the 1.0-litre SE). Plus there are a number of features that will appeal to those looking for something other than a bog-standard tin box. First shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show as the M3X Concept, this car retains many of the original Matiz's signature design cues. The front end is a little more mature, with bigger LED headlights and a more pronounced grille and bumper structure. The bonnet is domed high to ensure excellent pedestrian safety and there are recessed front fog lamps that give the Matiz an upmarket look. The rear retains the high-mounted round lamps that featured on previous Matiz models but adds a neat double exhaust pipe finisher that's centrally mounted.

"There's a new boldness and confidence to Chevrolet's work"

The sides are still rather vertical with a high roofline and a wheel at each corner look that maximises internal space. Much of the expertise in building a car like this is expressed in terms of its packaging. The small on the outside but big on the inside ethos is what drives many of the design decisions and Chevrolet have done a very good job with the Matiz in this particular respect. Seating four adults in comfort with excellent all round visibility was the starting point. Every other styling direction was subservient to that requirement, so unlike many other cars where the occupants are forced to conform to the car, Chevrolet have set out with the philosophy that comfort and ease of entry are priorities. At 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, the Matiz will fit easily into tighter parking spaces and will result in no grey hairs when negotiating urban width restrictions. It's also 1.5 metres high, so even if you plan on cultivating a luxuriant bouffant, there should be few problems with headroom.

The fascia is adventurously styled with centrally mounted instruments sitting atop the plane of the dashboard and key indicators residing close to the driver's line of sight. Body coloured detailing is a key theme as is metallic brightwork on many surfaces. The days of cheap black and grey plastics have long gone, marking the company's confidence in product development. This development mirrors the way Japanese consumer product design developed in the Seventies. In order to be taken seriously, Japanese companies first aped the sober black and brushed metallic finishes of Western hi-fi manufacturers. It was only when they established themselves as a force in their own right that the Japanese let their imaginations run riot. This seems to be just the stage where Chevrolet's Korean manufacturing and design facility are at, with a new boldness and confidence about their work.

The 1.0-litre engine isn't going to make the Matiz the most effortless motorway cruiser, but in its urban environment it'll fit the bill very nicely. There are no plans for a diesel engine to be slotted alongside the 1.0-litre petrol unit, although if Chevrolet could make the sums add up for the consumer, this would be a very attractive option. As it stands, the petrol engine will reach over 97mph, its 64bhp maximum power output being reached at 5,400rpm. Sixty from rest is 14.1s away and you should average over 50mpg.

Which brings us on to comfort. You don't expect a citycar to cosset you like a luxury saloon but you do expect at least to be able to have a conversation with your passengers at motorway cruising speeds and not to make everyone feel sick when you're running late over twisting secondary roads. The latest Matiz can now deliver in both these areas thanks to improved noise insulation and a new torsion beam rear axle.

Whichever Matiz version you go for, low servicing and insurance costs and a likely 50mpg average all combine to create a three-year ownership cost of around 13 pence per mile, making the Matiz one of the UK's cheapest cars to run.

Although the nature of the Matiz's target market has subtly changed, there's little evidence to suggest that Chevrolet can't keep the winning formula going. Balancing the cutesy appeal of the old car with more sophisticated customer demand hasn't been easy but the latest Matiz looks to have walked that tightrope with some elan.

TOP 1 MATIZ DEALS

The results below show the top MATIZ deals on buyacar

	Chevrolet Matiz 1.0 SE+ 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £102	Saving £2,567	Price £5,707

typical 14.94% APR

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