WHEN General Motors took over the Daewoo car concern it decided that these Korean-sourced vehicles would be marketed under the Chevrolet name.
And since then the range has not looked back.
The Chevrolets sold in the UK may not be prime examples of the great American-built legends, but they do offer value for money and they are getting better and better.
One model that demonstrates this is the Lacetti which caries the Chevrolet name rather well. GM was determined to dump the name Daewoo, but some cars like the Matiz were still commonly perceived as Daewoos and not Chevrolets.
But not so Lacetti which demonstrates that keen pricing and a good standard specification leads to healthy sales.
The Lacetti has a supermini price while offering dimensions - especially inside - not too far away from cars the size of a Ford Focus.
The Lacetti 1.8 Sport Station Wagon proves the case conclusively offering a lot for £12,995.
This car may not have the most beautiful lines in the world but it is astonishing in what it offers for the price.
For instance it has a lively 1.8 four cylinder engine, a maximum speed of 120mph, power steering, traction control, alloy wheels, central locking, engine immobiliser, sports exhaust, two-tone leather seat trim and a lot more.
The Lacetti comes in saloon, hatchback and estate styles.
One the the main plus points of this car is the smoothness of driving, usually associated with vehicles a cut above.
For the money, the size of the car and what you get make it extremely good value and this explains why the retained value is projected to be very good for a car which is not expensive.
If I have a quibble it is that the ride is just too firm but this is offset by extra insulation which reduces the amount of engine and wind noise reaching the inside of the car.
The 1.8-litre engine which takes the car from 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds is also economical with a combined economy figure of 38.1mpg.
FAST FACTS
Chevrolet Lacetti 1.8 Sport Station Wagon
Price: £12,995
Mechanical: 122bhp, 1,799cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 120mph
0-62mph: 9.5 secs
Combined mpg: 38.1
Insurance group: 9
CO2 emissions: 183g/km
BiK rating: 23%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 5yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust