Special Offer detail

SMALLER THAN THE AVERAGE CHEVY

Models Covered: (5 dr Citycar 800cc, 1000cc petrol [LE, S, SE, SE+, SX])

BY STEVE WALKER

When we think of Chevrolet, it’s behemoth pick-ups, gas-guzzling muscle cars and extensive station wagons that are readily called to mind. At least, that was the case when the cute Chevrolet Matiz arrived to challenge our perceptions. The antithesis of the kind of vehicles that Chevrolet were known for selling across the pond on home soil, the Matiz took some getting used to with it’s all-American badge. Get used to it people did, however, along with the other Europeanised Chevrolets that emerged at the same time. In a sense, this unassuming little citycar was a stepping stone that helped facilitate mighty Chevrolet’s entry into the UK. Is it worth considering as a used buy? It’ll certainly fare better on the school run than a pre-owned Corvette.

The Daewoo Matiz was launched in the UK in April 1998, and it was initially sold through Halfords superstores until a network of Daewoo dealers could be recruited. The car did reasonably well for itself and when Daewoo joined the choir invisible in 2004, it was rebadged as a Chevrolet. It joined the Kalos, Tacuma and Lacetti in an ex-Daewoo Chevrolet line-up that paved the way for the American marque’s entry into the UK market. From January to April 2005, original Daewoo Matiz models were sold with Chevrolet badging from rebranded Chevrolet dealerships. This short run was ended by the arrival of an all-new Matiz which was in development when Daewoo bit the dust. Buyers of early Chevrolet Matiz models should make certain that they know what their getting. The rebadged old Matiz had circular headlamps while its replacement’s are almost diamond in shape. Chris Waddle and Glen Hoddle would have approved and most buyers did too with the newer car taking on a more grown-up, westernised appearance than it’s cutesy predecessor. The old Matiz was only offered in 62bhp 1.0-litre guise in SE, SE+ or LE trim. The more modern version offered entry-level 800cc power in S trim with SE, SE+ and SX derivatives getting a 65bhp 1.0-litre engine.

The post April 2005 Matiz is a better car than the ex-Daewoo model in a number of key areas but we’ll start at the beginning with the original Matiz. Buyers get space for four adults, yet exterior dimensions that enable you to almost park sideways in the garage should you so wish. This was a car you could place on your driveway without too much embarrassment: something you could remove the badges from and place in a much more prestigious showroom. It’s also a car that could genuinely challenge the class-leading European opposition, though sadly it could not do so on equal terms. Daewoo and then Chevrolet, campaigned at the lower end of the market majoring on low prices and good specification levels. It’s a simple vehicle, but reliable and although the interior does feel as if it’s built down to a price, there’s nothing particularly offensive in there and it should age fairly well. The main selling point other than the price tag was the styling. Buyers either loved the wide-eyed, disarming look of the front end that was so obviously far-eastern in origin, or they hated it. The split tended to be made largely between the two sexes with the sweet little Matiz finding favour amongst females while simultaneously repulsing men. The next Matiz followed along broadly similar lines to its predecessor but it also represented an improvement across the board. The styling is more universally appealing on this version, although it’s still a strongly effeminate vehicle that’s unlikely to register too many sales among the lumberjack and nightclub bouncer communities. Inside, the feel is much more modern and the materials are superior but don’t expect levels of build quality that you’d get from mainstream citycars of the same era. There’s an airy feel inside the car with plenty of light through the large glass area. Rear seat accommodation is better than you have any right to expect in a vehicle this size, while the boot is large and conveniently shaped. Extra practicality is added by the 60/40 split rear bench. The S trim level offers power steering, dual front airbags, three point belts for all five seats, ABS, remote central locking and a CD stereo. Upgrade to the SE models and there’s body colouring for the door handles, electric front windows and height adjustment for the driver’s seat. Finally, the SX chips in with air-conditioning, alloy wheels, front fog lamps and side airbags amongst other things. The wing mirrors can not be adjusted from inside the car on the S, which can be a bit of a pain.

Prices for the last of the rebadged Chevrolet Matiz models are predictably lower than for the first of the newer cars. An 05-plate 1.0-litre SE round headlamp model will fetch £3,900 while a diamond headlamp SE car on the same plate is valued at more like £4,400. Opt for the smaller 0.8-litre engine and prices start just over £3,700 for an 05-plate model while the range-topping SX should fetch over £4,500 on the same 05-plate. Insurance is an almost negligible Group 2.

Neither of the Chevrolet Matiz models have developed any significant faults during their existence. The car will, in all likelihood, have transported children, so check the cabin for rips, stains and other damage wreaked by small hands. The luggage bays should also be examined for evidence of wear and tear. These models should have been exposed to a fair amount of city driving, so check the exterior for knocks and scrapes, and check under the bonnet for accident damage or paint overspray. Otherwise, the usual reminder to obtain a service history applies. The Chevrolet aftersales package is excellent with special free servicing deals offered on their cars from time to time, and a used Matiz may well be better serviced than many of its rivals. Avoid high-mileage cars if possible.

(approx based on a 2005 Matiz SE) Matiz spares aren’t anything to panic about. Air filters cost £7, whilst fuel filters will only relieve you of £11, and spark plugs are less than £3 for a full set. A cam belt will only be £30 to replace. Easy.

The Matiz looks as if a spell behind the wheel would be about as much fun as eating flour. Fortunately it isn’t. All right, so rest to sixty takes an age on the way to just 89mph and even slight motorway inclines leave the noisy three-cylinder engine gasping for breath. Around town, however, it’s quite nippy enough, with sharp, direct steering and excellent all-round visibility. If the notchy gearbox leads you to enquire about an automatic one was available from November 2005. The diamond headlamped Matiz was a similar proposition from a driving perspective. The suspension absorbs potholes very well but wallows around a lot in corners. Fuel economy was improved significantly, however, with the later 1.0-litre cars being 15% more fuel efficient with a combined figure of 54mpg despite a 3bhp power increase over the old 1.0-litre engine. The 0.8-litre option is perky off the line but really only suitable for urban use. 0-60mph takes a mind-numbing 18.2s compared to 14.1s in the larger-engined car. Neither of the powerplants sound particularly comfortable at higher speeds. Still, the Matiz makes a reasonable case for itself dynamically and excels financially. As an inexpensive second car for your family, a used Matiz could be just the ticket.

If you’re an undemanding driver who is after something cheap and cheerful, the Chevrolet Matiz is one of the best bets around. For light shopping and A to B city jaunts, its compact dimensions and zingy engine work very well. Out on the open road, it becomes a bit engulfed and other rivals with larger engines acquit themselves far more comfortably. As a second car, a used Matiz is almost too cheap to turn down. It’s reliable, modern looking, and a nearly new example will confer the peace-of-mind that made it such an attractive new buy. Recommended.

CITY SLICKER
The Chevrolet Matiz Citycar Has Now Even More Street Credibility With The Addition Of An Automatic Gearbox. Steve Ghosley Reports.

The Chevrolet Matiz has developed into something of a cult classic as a nippy urban runabout. And urban runabouts, you would have thought, need automatic transmission. Surprising then, that so few of them have it. Chevrolet hope to change this trend and their dealers are actively encouraging buyers of the popular 0.8SE variant to opt for a four-speed automatic gearbox that makes this little car even easier to manoeuvre and drive.

There used to be a time when automatic transmissions were only considered viable for cars with 2.0-litre engines or bigger but advances in electronics and technology have seen useable clutchless derivatives available on most cars, irrespective of their engine size. The 796cc three cylinder petrol engine in the Matiz 0.8 SE would seem at first glance to be unsuitable for the demands of an automatic transmission but the new ‘box offers the full flexibility of a conventional system and is aided by sophisticated electronic controls. These aim to match the needs of the engine with the demands of the transmission, thereby optimising the performance of both. The result is a very practical, if not wonderfully exciting, drive. Bearing in mind that the majority of customers for a Matiz do not have lightening fast performance at the top of their wishlist in the first place, this is of little relevance. The small engine and a range of advanced manufacturing processes have enabled Chevrolet to keep the price of this 0.8-litre SE variant low at only £7,425 on-the-road. Plus there are a number of features that will appeal to those looking for something other than a bog-standard tin box. First shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show as the M3X Concept, this car retains many of the first generation Matiz’s signature design cues. The front end is a little more mature, with bigger LED headlights and a more pronounced grille and bumper structure. The bonnet is domed high to ensure excellent pedestrian safety and the rear retains the high-mounted round lamps that featured on previous Matiz models. Overall the latest styling gives the Matiz a much more upmarket look.

"The Matiz 0.8-litre SE automatic is an inexpensive car to run, with low servicing and insurance costs"

The sides are still rather vertical, with a high roofline and a wheel-at-each-corner look that maximises internal space. Much of the expertise in building a car like this is expressed in terms of its packaging. The ‘small on the outside but big on the inside’ ethos is what drives many of the design decisions and Chevrolet have done a very good job with the Matiz in this particular respect. Seating four adults in comfort with excellent all round visibility was the starting point. Every other styling direction was subservient to that requirement, so unlike many other cars where the occupants are forced to conform to the design, Chevrolet have set out with the philosophy that comfort and ease of entry are priorities. At 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, the Matiz will fit easily into tighter parking spaces and will result in no grey hairs when negotiating urban width restrictions. It’s also 1.5 metres high, so entry and exit is easy and there should be few problems with headroom. The fascia is adventurously styled with centrally mounted instruments sitting atop the plane of the dashboard and key indicators residing close to the driver’s line of sight. Body-coloured detailing is a key theme, as is metallic bright work on many surfaces. The days of cheap black and grey plastics have long gone, marking the company’s confidence in product development. The three-cylinder 0.8-litre engine has been thoroughly uprated and now develops 51.5 PS or 50bhp with a maximum torque of 71.5Nm at 4,400rpm. It’s not the most rapid performer (with a top speed of 84mph). Nor should you try and race anything away from the lights, as the standing start to 62mph will take you a very leisurely 21.9 seconds. Where this car really performs is at the petrol pump, delivering over 49.6mpg on the combined cycle and emitting a miserly 132g/km of CO2. The citycar market has moved on since the Matiz first launched in the nineties and customers now are expecting more refinement in their cars than they previously enjoyed. Chevrolet have recognised this and have fitted out this SE model pretty astutely. It features power-assisted steering, remote central locking, an engine immobiliser, electric front windows, rear seat headrests, ABS brakes, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, a rear wash/wipe, a digital clock and a CD player with four speakers. Safety has also been improved, with driver and passenger airbags as well as seat belt pre-tensioners all coming as standard. The body structure of this Matiz uses state-of-the-art light but strong steel to improve its performance in a crash. The Matiz 0.8-litre SE automatic is an inexpensive car to run, with low servicing and insurance costs. The price includes delivery, road tax, a three year comprehensive warranty and three years' AA roadside cover, making it one of the cheapest cars to run in the UK. Certainly, for those on a budget, this little Chevy represents a sound choice for those where the majority of their journeys are on busy city streets. As other citycars have grown in size with each new model, Chevrolet have bucked the trend by keeping the current Matiz small on the outside, yet improving the space available inside the car. This, along with its modern cute looks and practicality, should ensure that, automatic or no automatic, it remains one of the top selling citycars in the world.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Chevrolet Matiz 0.8-litre SE Automatic PRICE: £7,295 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 2 CO2 EMISSIONS: 132g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph – 21.9s / Max Speed – 84mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 49.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height inches" 137.6/59.0/58.8"

CONCEPT MEETS REALITY
Chevrolet have big hopes pinned on the latest 1.0-litre version of the tiny Matiz City car. Andy Enright assesses its chances….

Although the Chevrolet name may still take a little getting used to, the Matiz badge is one that British motorists are very familiar with. In a comparatively short space of time, the Matiz has come a long way. Remember how it was originally imported without a dealer network? Manufacturer Daewoo initially began selling them through Halfords stores alongside Magic Trees and chamois leathers. The Korean company experienced some financial difficulties in the intervening years but the popularity of the Matiz was never in question. Since being bought by General Motors and rebranded as Chevrolet, a whole new era of professionalism has been ushered in, both in terms of marketing and product development.

Chevrolet have forged a reputation in the US for bringing quality cars to market at affordable prices, so it’s not such a great stretch to apply those brand values here in the UK. The problem is that demand for genuine ‘econobasic’ city cars as represented by the original Matiz has largely dried up. Partly it has to do with European safety legislation that decrees that cars generally need to be bigger and safer than before and a customer push for big car features in city tots has made citycars ever more sophisticated. Dearly departed Rover, for example, struggled to shift its utilitarian CityRover model, most customers preferring something a little more refined. That’s where Chevrolet’s current Matiz may well score. The small engine and advanced manufacturing processes keep the sticker prices low (from £6,995 for the 1.0-litre SE). Plus there are a number of features that will appeal to those looking for something other than a bog-standard tin box. First shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show as the M3X Concept, this car retains many of the original Matiz’s signature design cues. The front end is a little more mature, with bigger LED headlights and a more pronounced grille and bumper structure. The bonnet is domed high to ensure excellent pedestrian safety and there are recessed front fog lamps that give the Matiz an upmarket look. The rear retains the high-mounted round lamps that featured on previous Matiz models but adds a neat double exhaust pipe finisher that’s centrally mounted.

"There’s a new boldness and confidence to Chevrolet’s work"

The sides are still rather vertical with a high roofline and a wheel at each corner look that maximises internal space. Much of the expertise in building a car like this is expressed in terms of its packaging. The small on the outside but big on the inside ethos is what drives many of the design decisions and Chevrolet have done a very good job with the Matiz in this particular respect. Seating four adults in comfort with excellent all round visibility was the starting point. Every other styling direction was subservient to that requirement, so unlike many other cars where the occupants are forced to conform to the car, Chevrolet have set out with the philosophy that comfort and ease of entry are priorities. At 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, the Matiz will fit easily into tighter parking spaces and will result in no grey hairs when negotiating urban width restrictions. It’s also 1.5 metres high, so even if you plan on cultivating a luxuriant bouffant, there should be few problems with headroom. The fascia is adventurously styled with centrally mounted instruments sitting atop the plane of the dashboard and key indicators residing close to the driver’s line of sight. Body coloured detailing is a key theme as is metallic brightwork on many surfaces. The days of cheap black and grey plastics have long gone, marking the company’s confidence in product development. This development mirrors the way Japanese consumer product design developed in the Seventies. In order to be taken seriously, Japanese companies first aped the sober black and brushed metallic finishes of Western hi-fi manufacturers. It was only when they established themselves as a force in their own right that the Japanese let their imaginations run riot. This seems to be just the stage where Chevrolet’s Korean manufacturing and design facility are at, with a new boldness and confidence about their work. The 1.0-litre engine isn’t going to make the Matiz the most effortless motorway cruiser, but in its urban environment it’ll fit the bill very nicely. There are no plans for a diesel engine to be slotted alongside the 1.0-litre petrol unit, although if Chevrolet could make the sums add up for the consumer, this would be a very attractive option. As it stands, the petrol engine will reach over 97mph, its 64bhp maximum power output being reached at 5,400rpm. Sixty from rest is 14.1s away and you should average over 50mpg. Which brings us on to comfort. You don’t expect a citycar to cosset you like a luxury saloon but you do expect at least to be able to have a conversation with your passengers at motorway cruising speeds and not to make everyone feel sick when you’re running late over twisting secondary roads. The latest Matiz can now deliver in both these areas thanks to improved noise insulation and a new torsion beam rear axle. Whichever Matiz version you go for, low servicing and insurance costs and a likely 50mpg average all combine to create a three-year ownership cost of around 13 pence per mile, making the Matiz one of the UK’s cheapest cars to run. Although the nature of the Matiz’s target market has subtly changed, there’s little evidence to suggest that Chevrolet can’t keep the winning formula going. Balancing the cutesy appeal of the old car with more sophisticated customer demand hasn’t been easy but the latest Matiz looks to have walked that tightrope with some élan.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Chevrolet Matiz 1.0-litre range PRICE: £6,995-£8,395 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 2 CO2 EMISSIONS: 139g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph – 14.1s / Max Speed – 97mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 50.4mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height inches" 137.6/59.0/58.8"

COOL LOGIC
Chevrolet’s latest Matiz offers sense and spirit wrapped up in one compact citycar package. Jonathan Crouch checks it out…

Small it may be but the Matiz citycar is of big importance for Chevrolet. Over 1.3 million examples of this car’s predecessor now pound roads around the globe with up to 75% of buyers being women. The current MK2 version then, must improve on this legacy – and it’s well prepared to do just that.

The first time you see one, you might already guess that this is a Matiz: the family likeness, especially from the side, is very evident and the cheeky front end still smiles away at you. This is also still a small car, in a sector where other rivals are growing into superminis. But if you wanted a supermini, you’d have bought one. Chevrolet feel with good reason that citycars should be small, so this car remains very compact – 1495mm wide and 3495mm long. Of course, you don’t want it to feel that small inside – and fortunately, this Matiz doesn’t. As before, it comes with five doors, by no means a given in this class. All are wide-opening with low sills to aid easy entry and exit in tight supermarket carparks. So far so good then. Even the prices shouldn’t put you off, ranging from £6,265 for the entry-level 0.8S model through to £6,995 for the 1.0SE version that most customers will probably choose. At the top of the range, laden with air-conditioning and alloy wheels, sits the 1.0SE+ at £8,395 – but for that, you might as well have bought the aforementioned supermini. Or perhaps not. This car has a different, free, fun and chuckable joie de vivre very unlike the more responsible but ultimately rather dull feel of something in the Fiesta/Corsa class. As with the original Matiz, it’s hard to pin down exactly where this comes from. Probably, it’s a combination of a more flexible design brief, the compact size and the cheeky styling.

"Sense and logic with a dash of spirit…"

Chevrolet’s Korean designers had to get serious however, when it came to tackling some of the failings of the original model, mostly centred around fuel consumption, safety and comfort. Let’s start with fuel consumption. For such a tiny machine, the original Matiz simply wasn’t as frugal as it should have been. In an effort to correct this, the engineers put their new design through the equivalent of an automotive slimming programme, as result achieving a weight saving of around 13 kilos. That, along with a sleeker 0.344 drag coefficient, has contributed considerably to fuel consumption across the board that’s 15% better. The 1.0-litre model averages over 50mpg on the combined cycle while the 0.8-litre variant records nearly 55mpg and now emits just 119g/km of CO2, slipping it down to tax band B. It can’t have been easy for the designers to achieve those weight savings when at the same time, they had to make the car safer with far more widespread use (51% as opposed to 37%) of high strength steel. It was very necessary to do this however. In high winds with huge lorries roaring round you, it was easy to feel very vulnerable in the original Matiz. For a variety of reasons, this one feels much more substantial – and a lot safer as a result. Which brings us on to comfort. You don’t expect a citycar to cosset you like a luxury saloon but you do expect at least to be able to have a conversation with your passengers at motorway cruising speeds and not to make everyone feel sick when you’re running late over twisting secondary roads. The latest Matiz can now deliver in both these areas thanks to improved noise insulation and a new torsion beam rear axle. It isn’t very rapid in 0.8-litre guise (where 21.9s is required to get from rest to sixty) but the 14.1s figure for the 65PS 1.0-litre model many will choose should be quite adequate for most. As a vehicle for the urban environment, this car simply must be easy to live with and as a result, stowage areas have been increased in size and quantity. There are drinks holders, a large glovebox and I found trays for maps, CDs and all the usual clutter that I seem to usually end up carting about with me. The passenger seat undertray was a nice touch and there’s even a bespoke holder for your sunglasses neatly positioned above the driver on the plush SE+ version. The fascia is adventurously styled with centrally mounted instruments sitting atop the plane of the dashboard and key indicators residing close to the driver’s line of sight. Body coloured detailing is a key theme as is metallic brightwork on many surfaces. The days of cheap black and grey plastics have long gone, marking the company’s confidence in product development. This development mirrors the way Japanese consumer product design developed in the Seventies. In order to be taken seriously, Japanese companies first aped the sober black and brushed metallic finishes of Western hi-fi manufacturers. It was only when they established themselves as a force in their own right that the Japanese let their imaginations run riot. This seems to be just the stage where Chevrolet’s Korean manufacturing and design facility are at, with a new boldness and confidence about their work. There are even three colours for the instrument panel – blue, green and orange. Whichever version you go for, low servicing and insurance costs and a likely 50mpg average all combine to create a three-year ownership cost of around 13 pence per mile, making the Matiz one of the UK’s cheapest cars to run. Overall then, a car which should continue to maintain Chevrolet’s 10% share of the citycar segment. More importantly, with so many buyers of the original Matiz having been women, this car will continue to appeal to a female audience becoming more demanding by the day. Most good ‘A sector’ models are these days good enough to make you question the need for something supermini-sized. This one adds a dash of spirit into the equation too – which might be enough to make the difference, not only for traditional Matiz customers but for a whole host of new ones.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Chevrolet Matiz range PRICE: £6,265-£8,395 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 1-3 CO2 EMISSIONS: 119-139g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.0] 0-60mph – 14.1s / Max Speed – 97mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [0.8] (urban) 40.9mpg / (extra urban) 67.3mpg / (combined) 54.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height inches" 137.6/59.0/58.8"

TARDIS FOR SIZE
The entry level 0.8-litre version of the tiny Chevrolet Matiz city car now offers city dwellers lower emissions as well as a cheeky urban scoot. Steve Ghosley gives it a whirl….

Chevrolet’s classic urban runabout, the tiny Matiz, has been popular in the UK since the late 1990s. The latest version retains its cute looks on the outside and still maintains its Tardis-like reputation by offering plenty of room for four occupants on the inside. The entry-level S model with its 0.8-litre engine now boasts even lower emissions of 119g/km and is the version we look at here. As a result, it claims to offer value-for-money in a no-nonsense package. So, as other citycars get larger and more sophisticated, can this one still cut the mustard?

Well let’s start with the improvements first. Previously, this Matiz returned emissions of 127g/km, not particularly good for a citycar with an engine smaller than 1.0-litre in size. Cutting that figure by 8g/km makes an awful lot of difference in the UK, meaning that the car now falls into the Band B road tax classification. This means a Matiz buyer will pay just £35 a year at current rates to tax their car, compared to £115 for the previous Matiz 0.8S. What’s more, should you ever venture into the centre of London (or any of the other cities shortly to feature congestion charging), then you won’t have to find the usual charging fee, given the 100 per cent discount available to all vehicles with CO2 emissions of below 120g/km (subject in London’s case to a £10 registration fee). Otherwise, the second generation Matiz recipe remains as before. With this car, Chevrolet has gone back to basics. Citycar buyers, it says, aren’t interested in getting a bigger car: those who want that will buy a supermini like their Aveo. Nor are they generally up for startling performance. No, what interests them is the miles per gallon figure, the overall cost of running their chosen car and the ease with which they can get around town. When this Matiz is measured against this set of criteria, it returns a pretty impressive CV. The small engine and a range of advanced manufacturing processes have enabled Chevrolet to keep the price of this 0.8-litre S variant low at only £6,265 on-the-road. Plus there are a number of features that will appeal to those looking for something other than a bog-standard tin box. First shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show as the M3X Concept, this car retains many of the first generation Matiz’s signature design cues. The front end is a little more mature, with bigger LED headlights and a more pronounced grille and bumper structure. The bonnet is domed high to ensure excellent pedestrian safety and the rear retains the high-mounted round lamps that featured on previous Matiz models. Overall the new styling gives the Matiz a much more upmarket look.

"For those on a budget the Matiz 0.8-litre S could represent an irresistible package"

The sides are still rather vertical with a high roofline and a wheel at each corner look that maximises internal space. Much of the expertise in building a car like this is expressed in terms of its packaging. The ‘small on the outside but big on the inside’ ethos is what drives many of the design decisions and Chevrolet have done a very good job with the Matiz in this particular respect. Seating four adults in comfort with excellent all round visibility was the starting point. Every other styling direction was subservient to that requirement, so unlike many other cars where the occupants are forced to conform to the car, Chevrolet have set out with the philosophy that comfort and ease of entry are priorities. At 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, the Matiz will fit easily into tighter parking spaces and will result in no grey hairs when negotiating urban width restrictions. It’s also 1.5 metres high, so entry and exit is easy and there should be few problems with headroom. The fascia is adventurously styled with centrally mounted instruments sitting atop the plane of the dashboard and key indicators residing close to the driver’s line of sight. Body coloured detailing is a key theme as is metallic bright work on many surfaces. The days of cheap black and grey plastics have long gone, marking the company’s confidence in product development. The three-cylinder 0.8-litre engine in this entry level model is never going to be that exciting to drive but then most journeys will usually be short and executed in heavy traffic. Anyone contemplating driving any distance and on motorways should consider spending the additional £500 for the 1.0-litre model. The 0.8-litre Matiz will reach a top speed of 90mph but don’t try and race anything away from the lights as the standing start to 62mph will take a very leisurely 18.2 seconds. Where this car really performs is at the petrol pump, delivering over 54mpg on the combined cycle. Opt for the four-speed automatic option and fuel economy is barely affected. The citycar market has moved on since the Matiz first launched in the Nineties and customers now are expecting more refinement in their cars than they previously enjoyed. Chevrolet have recognised this and have fitted out this entry-level model pretty astutely. It features power-assisted steering, remote central locking, engine immobiliser, ABS brakes, 60/40 split folding rear seat, rear wash/wipe and a CD player. Safety has also been improved with driver and passenger airbags as well as seat belt pre-tensioners all coming as standard. The body structure of the new Matiz now uses state-of-the-art light but strong steel to improve its performance in a crash. The Matiz 0.8-litre S is an inexpensive car to run with low servicing and insurance costs. The price includes delivery, road tax, a three year comprehensive warranty and three years' AA roadside cover, making it one of the cheapest cars to run in the UK. Certainly, for those on a budget, the Matiz 0.8-litre S could represent an irresistible package. As other citycars have grown in size with each new model, Chevrolet have bucked the trend by keeping the latest Matiz small on the outside, yet improving the space available inside the car. This, along with its modern cute looks and practicality, should ensure that the Matiz remains one of the top selling citycars in the world.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Chevrolet Matiz 0.8-litre S PRICES: £6,265-£7,495 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 2 CO2 EMISSIONS: 119g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph – 18.2s / Max Speed – 90mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 40.9mpg / (extra urban) 67.3mpg / (combined) 54.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, anti-lock brakes WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height inches" 137.6/59.0/58.8"