Purpose and style

The Chevrolet Lacetti is a practical car that will get you from A to B with ease and in reasonable comfort.

The Chevrolet Lancetti

The Lacetti is available as a five-door hatch, an estate and a tasteful-looking saloon that displays a contemporary shape and dynamic stance. The hatch
version has two engine options and the estate and saloon are limited to just one – hence the saloon we tested was the 120bhp 1.8-litre CDX.

Although it doesn't give the smoothest of driving experiences, as a whole, it does provide a reasonable
ride.

The 1.8-litre unit delivers a lively drive with a respectable amount of punch.

The Lacetti CDX feels stable on straight roads and undemanding bends but it doesn't feel quite so proficient when negotiating tight corners and sharp bends.

However, the traction control maintains your line by preventing the tyres from losing grip on difficult surfaces and extreme corners.

The cabin is a civilised place to be. It's uncomplicated and the wood-grain-effect dashboard boasts three large dials and controls that are easy to read and reach.

There's also a power outlet in the console that's useful for your mobile or MP3 player.

Up front, the seating is comfortable, supportive and adjustable, while rear-seat passengers enjoy decent legroom. Numerous storage options dotted around the cabin, such as a lidded armrest bin, storage tray under the passenger seat and the overhead sunglasses holder, add to the comfort factor.

Refinement levels aren't bad either, with little noise intrusion into the cabin and wind noise only becoming noticeable at high speeds.

The boot provides a decent 405 litres of luggage space and by altering the 60/40 split and folding the rear seats, space can be increased to an ample 1,225
litres.

Priced at £12,395 on the road, it's excellent value for
money, especially when taking into account the comprehensive level of features that come as standard – a lot of which would only be available in much more
expensive cars.

For example, included as standard are such things as a
cool box compartment inside the glove box, electrically adjustable door mirrors with heating function, tinted glass – the list goes on and on and even includes an
operator-based satellite navigation system that connects you to a central control centre.

With a combined fuel consumption of 38mpg, running
costs are deemed reasonable. The Lacetti also has a “three-year customer care package”, which includes three-year warranty cover and AA roadside recovery.

To further reduce your running expenses, you can opt for the three-year/30,000-mile servicing package at just £145.

Top Back to Motoring Home