KEEP it simple. That's the principle behind Chevrolet's Lacetti station wagon, of which there is just one version, with the emphasis on the main job of carrying people and their goods around.
The sole engine choice is a 1.6-litre 109bhp petrol unit which gets the car about efficiently but without a lot of zest - fully loaded, a long climb finds it out. The trim, too, is what you get, though to be fair, the Lacetti is well kitted out - aircon, cooled glovebox, reach and height-adjusting steering wheel, all-round power windows and alloys are just some of the items you may not expect to find in a sub-£12,000 car.
But let's cut straight to the main attraction. The Lacetti SW is just over 4.5m in length, and it is well used. Space for the occupants is impressive, with really good leg space and fair shoulder room for those in the rear seats, while in five-up mode there's 400 litres of luggage space; fold over the rear seats and that rises to a useful 1,410. The boot floor is low, wide and stepless, so loading is stress-free, and there is space to hide valuables beneath it. Fairly lengthy objects can be accommodated.
All this is backed up by roof rails and 25 in-cabin storage areas.
The cabin itself is generally routine, with some economy-class lower plastics on show, but the upholstery is fair, and comfort rates much the same. Having seat-height adjustment to go with the steering-wheel variations means it is easy for the driver to find an ideal position, while dials are displayed clearly, more so than the trip information.
With its modest power and 110lb/ft of pull, and at quite high revs, the car is never going to zoom away and you need to think about manoeuvres such as overtaking, but for general work it is okay. A higher average fuel return than 36.2mpg might be expected, though, and the carbon dioxide emissions should be better.
In terms of actual handling, the Lacetti is quite deft, with a turning circle of 10.4m, but you don't get much feedback through the steering. The car has independent suspensions front and rear, tuned, says Chevrolet, to European tastes, but it can be upset by the quality of some of our British backroads and it isn't exactly agile through bends. But it cruises along well on the motorway, with just some increased wind noise as the pace increases.
If the car scores an average as a performer, I must come back to the fittings because here you certainly get excellent value for money, In addition to the items mentioned earlier, the Lacetti includes front and side airbags, remote central locking, power and heated door mirrors, steering wheel audio controls, a Blaupunkt RDS radio/CD player with front and rear speakers and tinted glass.
That, and its ability as a luggage carrier, make it an attractive proposition for families, and that is enhanced by a good warranty. A simple concept, perhaps, but quite effective.
FAST FACTS
Chevrolet Lacetti 1.6 SX Station Wagon
Price: £11,615
Mechanical: 109bhp, 1,598cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 116mph
0-62mph: 11.4 secs
Combined mpg: 36.2
Insurance group: 6
CO2 emissions: 181g/km
BiK rating: 23%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 5yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust