Chevrolet Epica

Chevrolet Epica – big on space, big on comfort, huge on value!

- From £13,595 on-the-road

- Choice of 2.0-litre engines – six-cylinder petrol or four-cylinder diesel

- Incredible levels of standard equipment

Introducing the car that's big on the outside, big on the inside and massive on value! The new Chevrolet Epica is now available in the UK, and offers all of the space, equipment and comfort you'd expect to find on an executive saloon, but for the price of a compact hatchback.

Starting at only £13,595 on-the-road, the Epica is lower in price than most 1.6-litre family hatchbacks, yet is bigger than most cars in the class above. At 4805mm, it is longer than a Ford Mondeo 5-dr, Peugeot 407 or Renault Laguna, yet costs considerably less and comes loaded with standard equipment – it's an extremely affordable way of owning the everyday legend that is a Chevrolet.

For those seeking even greater efficiency and economy, there's also a diesel option featuring a state-of-the-art common-rail four-cylinder engine, offering combined cycle fuel economy of 46.3mpg. Diesel customers will also have the option of a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Whichever Epica you choose, you can be guaranteed great value for money. The car will be available in two trim levels, LS and LT. Both versions have exceptional standard equipment, with the entry-level 2.0LS petrol getting air conditioning, cruise control, electric front and rear windows, a CD-stereo with MP3 input socket, remote audio controls, front fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, front, side and curtain airbags and power-adjustable mirrors.

LT spec cars add electronic climate control, rear parking sensors, leather seat trim, heated front seats, rain sensitive wipers, a CD Autochanger, electrochromatic rear view mirror, power-adjustable driver's seat, trip computer, electronic stability control and 17-inch alloys. LT models will be available only with diesel engines.

Designed and developed with European buyers in mind from the outset, the Epica broadens Chevrolet's product portfolio as part of the brand's aim to be represented in most areas of the car market over the next four years. It is built in a purpose-built state-of-the-art plant in Bupyong, South Korea, which produces over 150,000 Epicas a year.

Safety and dynamics featured highly in the Epica's development process – it features an advanced multilink rear suspension layout and MacPherson struts at the front, while passenger protection is enhanced by the inclusion of six airbags, with a seat-occupant detection system on the front passenger seat which prevents the airbag from activating if a child seat is fitted. LT models further benefit from Electronic Stability Control.

As well as offering lots of value, the Epica offers plenty of passenger space and practicality. The boot offers 480-litres of loadspace and can be released using a button on the car key, while the rear seat features a 60:40 split-folding system should you need to make room for a large or lengthy load.

The cabin is extremely spacious, with an ergonomically designed dashboard, plenty of stowage space and incredibly generous rear legroom, making it the perfect car for grown-up families.

Design

Styled at the outset to suit the European market, the Epica's handsome good looks are well-balanced, and proudly emphasise the car's substantial proportions – ensuring that it has the look and feel of a big saloon that many people would think cost twice the price.

At the front, it features large, wraparound headlamps and Chevrolet's distinctive new ‘crossbar' grille, with the Chevrolet bow-tie logo prominently displayed in the centre.

The body of the car rises in a bold, wedge-like profile, while at the rear the Epica has an equally distinctive look, characterised by smart circular taillight lenses and – on LT models – a classy chrome strip above the number plate housing.

The elegant design themes continue inside – the dashboard layout is ergonomically thought out, with smart silver-rimmed dials and a neatly presented centre console that incorporates all of the audio and ventilation controls.

All of the materials are of a high grade, with soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and door trims, leather around the steering wheel rim and part-leather seat trim even on the entry-level LS. LT models get full leather.

But the beauty of the Epica's design isn't solely in its good looks. It's a highly practical car, designed to seat five adults in comfort. Its wheelbase of 2700mm allows for a spacious passenger cabin, with shoulder room of 1443mm in the front and 1430mm in the back, plus 960mm of kneeroom for rear seat passengers. Few other cars in this sector of the market can offer such a comfortable amount of passenger space, especially at this price level.

The boot is incredibly spacious, with 480-litres of space, while gas struts replace complicated hinges on the boot lid to maximise available load area. The back seat splits in a 60:40 ratio to further increase the available load space.

In order to make the driver's life easier, the boot can be opened using a button on the ignition key, while there's also an electronic boot release button on the driver's door to allow further flexibility.

Safety

Despite the fact that it is packed with safety features and in petrol form comes with a six-cylinder engine, Epica is not a heavyweight car. In fact, at 1,460kg it's relatively light for a car of its size, and this in turn aids its agility. By using high-tensile steel for 40 per cent of the car's structure, Chevrolet's engineers have created an incredibly strong bodyshell while at the same time allowing many of the components to be thinner and lighter without compromising the car's safety.

The modern chassis is full of active safety features. With MacPherson struts at the front and an advanced multi-link rear suspension set-up, the Epica ensures a high level of passenger comfort and stability.

Disc brakes all round, ventilated at the front, add further reassurance, as do four-channel ABS and electronic brake-force distribution. The latter system monitors the condition of the road, the payload and the number of passengers, then regulates the brake-force distribution accordingly to each of the four wheels to ensure the least dramatic braking characteristic and shortest stopping distance. LT models also get electronic stability control as standard.

Of course, sometimes a collision is unavoidable, and because of that, Epica has been designed with as much of a focus on passive safety.

All Epicas come with front, side and curtain airbags and a front seatbelt pre-tensioner system, while the body has been designed in such a way that crash energy is broken down and channelled through the car's shell, distributing the force of an impact over four different load paths to help reduce the possibility of injury.

Other safety features include seatbelt warning lights and an audible alarm on the front seats, ISOFIX child seat mountings and height-adjustable headrests.

Security also features prominently on the Epica's agenda, with remote central locking and an electronic immobiliser on all models.

Value and equipment

The Epica offers unbeatable value for money for a car of its size. At 4,805mm long, it is larger than most family saloons, yet from just £13,595 the prices are anything but huge, and are even more astonishing when you take a closer look at the equipment list.

Epica will be available in two trim levels, LS and LT. Both versions have exceptional standard equipment, with the entry-level 2.0LS petrol getting air conditioning, cruise control, electric front and rear windows, a CD-stereo with MP3 input socket, remote audio controls, leather-covered steering wheel, front fog lamps, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, driver's side lumbar support, 16-inch alloy wheels, front, side and curtain airbags and power-adjustable mirrors.

That's an incredible list of kit for just £13,595, irrespective of the fact that Epica is a large saloon car with a six-cylinder engine.

The LS diesel offers the same specification as the petrol at £14,595, while LT spec cars add electronic climate control, rear parking sensors, leather seat trim, heated front seats, rain sensitive wipers, a six-CD Autochanger, eight speakers, electrochromatic rear view mirror, power-adjustable driver's seat, trip computer, chrome door handles, power-folding door mirrors, electronic stability control and 17-inch alloys. LT models will be diesel only and will cost £16,595 with a five-speed manual gearbox, or £17,695 as a six-speed automatic.

A choice of six colours are offered – Granada Black, Poseidon Blue, Sanddrift Grey, Dark Denim Grey, Poly Silver and Galaxy White.

A range of tailored accessories is also available from Chevrolet retailers, including bespoke Epica car mats, a tow bar with electrics, alloy wheel upgrades, a rear spoiler and a body kit.

Insurance groups are 9D for the 2.0 petrol models, and 9D for the diesels.

All Epica models come with a three-year, 60,000 mile warranty, and service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles.