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Chevrolet Epica 2.0-litre petrol 5-speed manual road test report

2.0-litre petrol 5-speed manual

The new Epica really is big on the outside, big on the inside and big on value and the new saloon from Chevy starts at an ultra competitive price of £13,595. Sadly the design is a bit bland but with Chevy only predicting to shift 500 units per annum then the Epica has a chance of achieving its goals.

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Performance

Our Epica test car had a six-cylinder two-litre petrol power plant under the bonnet – which was incredibly smooth. Put your foot down and you’ll hear the tranverse engine purr as the Epica pulls away. The engine delivers 141bhp, giving it a top speed of 129mph and it has a claimed 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds. Engine noise is hidden, by the roar from the tyres - this is quite intrusive which is unfortunate. If you’re doing motorway miles this car is ideal as it is very relaxing to drive while on B roads it is competent at getting you to your destination.

Ride & Handling

The Epica was made for motorists who spend hours on the motorway – the ride is comfortable and with the amount of kit that you’ve got at the touch of a button you’ll soon be eating up the miles in a relaxed manner. However, the Epica is no match for the Ford Mondeo in the handling stakes just yet but the Chevy boffins are getting there. The steering is weighted quite well and while the Epica does roll in corners you’ve got to consider that this Chevy is larger than the Ford Mondeo, Peugeot’s 407 and the Renault Laguna.

Build Quality & Reliability

Chevrolet has upped its game in the past few years, which means build quality is now close to being on a par with sister GM brands. All the shut lines are neatly finished and the doors close with a solid thud, which is usually a sign that a car has been well made. On the inside the cabin is a little dull but the plastics are solid. There’s plenty of kit to keep you entertained on the road as you have aircon, cruise control, electric front and rear windows plus a CD-stereo with MP3 socket. There’s also remote audio controls so you won’t even have to take your hands off the steering wheel.

Safety & Security

Not only is it a cheap car for its size it’s loaded with safety equipment. On the front of the car there’s MacPherson struts and it has a multi-link rear suspension to ease your ride. To get you stopped quicker Chevy has fitted disc brakes all round while the Epica has also got ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) as standard. On the inside to protect the occupants our entry-level model came equipped with front, side and curtain airbags as standard. While security features include remote central locking and an electronic immobiliser.

Space & Practicality

There is space in abundance in the Chevrolet Epica – it will easily sit four people in the car with a middle arm-rest for those in the rear. The arm-rest has also got two drinks holders for maximum practicality. If that’s not enough storage, there’s also one pouch each on the rear seat of the driver and front passenger while the central console has a deep storage space to keep further nik-naks in. Move to the boot - and you’ll find 480-litres of load space. This increases further as the rear seats fold with ease.

Ownership & Value

Our test car, was powered by the 2.0-litre petrol unit and according to the maker it should return 34.5 on the combined cycle and it emits 205g/km which puts in a tax band of F. If you spend a lot of time on the motorways and you need a segment D car then the Epica which costs from £13, 595 is worth a look as its packed with entertainment and safety kit.The Epica is positioned in the D segment of the UK car market, which means it will be competing against the likes of the Ford Mondeo.

Submitted: 14/05/2008 15:07:15

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