FirstDrive: Chevrolet Epica:In America, Chevrolet vehicles are synonymous with cheap motoring. Nobody ever pays close to list price for one, and there are usually amazing finance deals to get them out the door.
GM shifts four million of them every year that way, even if it doesn't make much money from them.
On this side of the pond, there is no desire to make Chevrolet a bargain marque as it is in the US. Now that the transformation from Daewoo to Chevrolet is complete, GM has designs on moving the Chevy brand upmarket with a raft of new models planned before decade's end.
The Epica is the latest to arrive on our shores and first impressions are favourable. The Epica's not a bad looking car - neatly if unadventurously styled with tidy detailing, clean lines and well-resolved proportions. The interior is another major leap forward in terms of execution, with more soft-touch plastics and higher quality switchgear than any Chevrolet before.
It is a bit basic in terms of design, though, with a cheap-looking stereo (it comes from Cadillac), a clumsy in-dash box where the sat nav should go and a steering wheel that's too big and doesn't adjust for reach on the basic LS version.
Even though this impedes driver comfort, the seats themselves are very cossetting and space up front is ample. The rear seat isn't as roomy as we had anticipated, however, although the boot is gargantuan.
The Epica is the first GM product to use the Epsilon II platform, an ungraded version of the chassis that underpins numerous GM products from the Saab 9-3 to the Opel Vectra.
Ride quality is excellent, soaking up bumps and potholes with ease but not so soft that the car bounces or wallows along. The handling is decent, too, with some feedback and weight through the steering although there is a bit too much body roll and the front wheels don't exactly bite into the tarmac.
But while it's competent rather than exciting on tight back roads, the Epica's forte is long distance driving, where its comfortable ride and fine seats really help to while away the hours and its relaxed handling and noticeable tyre noise are less of an issue.
At launch only one engine is offered in the Epica, an unusual 2-litre unit that appears nowhere else in GM's global engine portfolio. Not only is it the smallest six-cylinder engine in production in the world, the fact that it's an inline six (as opposed to a compact V6 engine) mounted transversely in the engine bay only compounds its status as mechanical oddity.
With 144hp and 195Nm of torque, the 1,460kg Epica is no ball of fire (0-100km/h takes 9.9 seconds, top speed is 207km/h) but at least the engine is relatively smooth and refined. It's mated to a slightly rubbery five-speed manual gearbox or an optional five-speed automatic that's fairly responive and smooth-shifting, even though it lacks a proper manual override.
Unfortunately, from an Irish perspective, there are no plans for a tax-friendly 1.6 or 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine (as sold in Korea) but a new 2-litre diesel is in the works and should arrive some time next year.
The Epica, then, is a fine overall package - spacious, well made, surprisingly refined and not bad to drive. Its success should be guaranteed given what good value Chevrolets tend to be but, as previously mentioned, the company seems to be pushing upmarket and with that you also get some ritzy pricing.
At €26,995 the Epica is surprisingly expensive, putting it in the same price league as all the big players in this class - Mondeo, Passat, Avensis, 407. Granted, it's got a bit more power than its rivals, but in terms of specification it's actually a little below average (ESP, cruise control, climate control, parking sensors and rain sensing wipers are only standard on the €32,495 LT version) and that's before we even consider 2-litre running costs and residual values.
It's a good effort, and potentially quite a successful car if it wasn't priced out of contention. Why does Chevrolet need to be an upmarket marque in Europe anyway? There are plenty of us who like cheap motoring, too.
Factfile
Chevrolet Epica 2.0 LS
Engine:2-litre inline 6-cyl
144 hp @ 6,400 rpm 195 Nm @ 4,600 rpm
Top Speed:207 km/h 0-100 km/h - 9.9 seconds
Economy:8.2L/100km (combined)
CO2: 205g/km
Weight:1,460kg
Price:€26,995
Standard equipment (LS):Air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, electric windows, electric mirrors, remote locking, 10 airbags, front foglights, six-speaker CD stereo.