Chevrolet Lacetti

Our verdict

The Chevrolet Lacetti is a budget hatch that isn’t quite as good as other similarly-priced machinery in this bracket.

Comfort

Can deal with lumps and bumps well enough, but the spring and damper rates are all over the place - even between individual cars - so this isn't a good car for distance work. Bit noisy in there, too.

Performance

No diesels, three petrol engines in 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8-litre flavours, ranging across the bhp spectrum 94, 108, 120bhp. The 1.4-litre is a thrashy way to get to 62mph in 11.6 seconds and on to 109mph, the 1.6 is better at 10.7 and 116mph and the 1.8-litre isn't worth the extra when you consider it barely beats the 1.6 with 9.5 seconds to 62mph and 121mph.

Cool

Less cool than walking.

Quality

Feels cheap, looks cheap. Is cheap.

Handling

Corner? What corner? Too much rock'n'roll from the Lacetti to make it handle properly - this isn't a car that enjoys actually driving.

Practicality

A small boot at 275 litres, though there is space for four adults inside, all of them cringing themselves double.

Running costs

Cheap to run, with every model getting nearly 40mpg and low insurance groups. Not cheap enough to buy to make it worth it. Worse residuals than a potato.