Top Gear’s ‘reasonably priced car’ is a Chevrolet Lacetti CDX. For under £13k it gives you a 1.8-litre 121bhp engine, leather trim, climate control air conditioning, satnav, traction control and star quality by association. Lacetti is the midrange representative of Chevrolet UK’s value for money proposition which aims to match fixed price servicing packages and three-year roadside assistance with competitively priced, unpretentious cars.
New Chevrolet cars find a balance between features and cost that places them right in the middle of the market for most of their models. This means that many consumers will know they are making a sensible decision when they buy a Chevrolet. Some Chevrolet models, like the Tacuma MPV and the tiny five-door Matiz – which recently benefitted from a styling refresh – have been around for a while, but are making increasing sense in a tough market. The Chevrolet Tacuma is a Picasso alternative that will keep most families (and the finance provider) happy at well under £12k, while the characterful little Matiz comes in at around half that price. More recent and modern additions to the range include the Aveo 1.2 city car offering three- or five-door mobility, MP3 compatibility and neat styling at prices beginning below £8k; the Epica family car with a choice of 2.0-litre six-cylinder petrol or four-cylinder diesel engines at £13-£14k; and the Captiva SUV, effectively a restyled – and at under £17k for the 2.4 petrol variant, considerably cheaper – Vauxhall Antara.