All Chevrolet Tacuma reviews

"The top of the range Tacuma 2.0-litre CDX costs a good deal less than the entry-level 1.4-litre Renault Scenic"

It's so easy to be swayed by the obvious choices. Read the motoring press at any length and if you're in the market for a mini-MPV, you'll end up convinced that life begins and ends with the so-called premium brands. Dig a little deeper and you'll discover that it isn't necessarily the case. Choosing a more affordable mini-MPV may mean you go without a few of the gadgets that work their seductive magic on the showroom floor but if you want a practical vehicle that won't perpetually remind you how much you paid, the Chevrolet Tacuma 2.0-litre CDX makes a very credible choice.

Bear with us here. Some of you may be tempted to reject the Tacuma on the strength of its unfamiliar badge but this is to fall victim to the clever brand management tactics of manufacturers who have realised that charging more and offering less is, with a little care, a viable long term strategy. Chevrolet have never subscribed to that school of thought and have built their brand on no-nonsense value for money. Retailing at just £12,295, the top of the range Tacuma 2.0-litre CDX costs a good deal less than the entry-level 1.4-litre Renault Scenic yet offers a very presentable level of equipment. Pay a little extra and you can even get a version with an electronbically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0-litre engine isn't the last word in technical sophistication but it does pack a decent punch. It'll power the Tacuma to 60mph in a mere 10.5 seconds which means that it'll easily outsprint something like an Alfa Romeo 147 1.6. A top speed of 112mph isn't to be sniffed at either and although the actual figure may seem academic, it means that typical motorway cruising speeds don't see the engine being flogged within an inch of its life. With plenty left on the rev counter at 70mph, you won't crucify your fuel economy either ' a significant problem with smaller engined fully loaded mini-MPVs. Drive the Tacuma in a measured fashion and you should see ana average of around 31mpg. The 236g/km of carbon dioxide emissions aren't anything to be too proud of (more than an Audi A8 3.0-litre) but its doubtful too many company car drivers will turn to the Chevrolet first. This vehicle will instead sell to those with growing families who have realised that trying to cart the kids about in a plush family saloon just isn't using the right tool for the job.

The 'Tacuma' name may be slightly familiar since in its original form, this car was sold in the UK as a Daewoo, mostly with a toothy chromed front grille that put some prospective buyers off. Now re-launched under the Chevrolet banner, the car looks much smarter yet still retains its value for money emphasis. On the current model, standard kit includes air-conditioning, ABS, twin airbags, remote auto locking, an immobiliser/alarm, electric windows, the provision to connect a trailer, coat hooks in the back and body-coloured mirrors and bumpers. CDX specific equipment includes alloy wheels and c olour-coded bodyside mouldings. There's useful versatility too, despite the fact that 'only' five seats are on offer (as opposed to the potential - but cramped - six in rivals like Kia's Carens and seven in the Vauxhall Zafira). All the usual mini-MPV touches are in evidence: five individual seats (multi-adjustable with armrests in the front), storage drawers underneath the two front seats, airline-style flip-down trays for rear seat passengers, little cubby holes under the rear floor and a rear middle seat that can be folded flat to create a picnic tabletop. Nice touches include the way that the CDX's front passenger seat can swivel to face those at the rear to facilitate family conferences and the way that the centre rear seat can slide forward by 120mm to increase shoulder room for passengers in the outside pair of seats. One advantage of choosing a five-seat mini-MPV rather than one with six or seven chairs is that luggage space is likely to be good. Nor does this Chevrolet disappoint in this respect, with 347 litres of loadspace, a figure that rises to 1155 litres with all three rear seats tumbled forward. You can also take the three rear seats out completely and increase luggage capacity to a whopping 1,847 litres ' almost commercial vehicle proportions. Unfortunately however, there's a high rear loading lip to overcome before you can get to the space on offer. Since driving enthusiasts don't tend to buy mini-MPVs, the fact that this car hardly leads its class in terms of handling response will come as little disappointment to most potential customers. Nevertheless it feels safe and surprisingly composed thanks to a fully independent suspension set up that has been optimised with the assistance of Porsche. All you really need to know is that it responds ' and performs ' quite competently around twistier roads. As for the cabin environment, well anyone who has mastered the controls of a payphone will feel quite at home inside. So, with an after sales care package that's hard to beat, the Tacuma 2.0-litre CDX makes an awful lot of sense. Why blow all your money on what will end up as a family workhorse when you can opt for the Chevrolet and free funds up to spend on something else? When you spy folk at the wheel of their expensive mini-MPVs, you needn't feel at all inferior at the wheel of a Tacuma. Just have a quiet chuckle to yourself, safe in the knowledge that you know where the smart money goes and they most certainly don't.