Test Drive Chevrolet Epica since 2006 Sedan

Long work with a short history

A large (long) work, a big event in the life of the country, a significant historical event all these are the meanings of the word epic, nadered me from different dictionaries.
 

By combining them, you can get a fairly flattering source data about the new Chevrolet Epica (EPIC and there is an epic). But the manufacturer, it is clear, the epithets did not regret. It remains to check how reason they are.

 

Epic Chevy Heir to a few cars at once, but study its family tree in detail, I think there is no point. It is enough just to remember that GM released Korean Chevrolet to the Russian market at the end of 2004, and then the place in class D was occupied by Evanda. That is, she stayed at this place for 2 years. Mizere is even taking into account the fact that now the timing of the car's life on the conveyor decreased.
 

What did not like in Evanda to the manufacturer, so soon decorated to replace? True, you can soon argue: Evanda is because Daewoo Magnus, and he is the same age century. But still, such a brief appearance of the car eloquently says: outdated, not for sale! Therefore, Epica debut required Chevrolet Dat in business class.
 

I go, I go, I go past, and she does not erect everything. What am I talking about?! Oh, yes: about the car! Wow, long: 5 m (without 20 cm)! Almost like Camry in this dimension. The body line rises without any bends, side glasses seem small on the background of massive doors. All this as well as the front and, especially, the rear swells visually lengthes the car.


Epica design is simple: you can even say, simple. Is that its headlights much more bizarre than Evanda. Well, not in them, happiness: strict beauty, maybe neoriginal, but effective. Compared to the predecessor, Epica turned out and harmonious, and concise. Applause!

Epica design is clearly different from the design of Evanda and obviously for the better. The predecessor of the epic looked not serious enough for a business class, and probably it became one of the factors of her failure in Russia.
 

Big outside big inside! Not a god of news which pattern, but because there is no less pleasant. Epica Salon is not only spacious, but also a truly comfortable, everything is done in it without visible shortcomings. I sit in a chair no complaints, the steering wheel is also good (although, on my taste, it could be done a little less). Pry to the touch leather finish. You sit down and immediately understand what you are comfortable. Is it not valuable praise for debutant? Looked in the trunk, too, delighted: still, 480 l with folded seats!
 

When evaluating the details of the enthusiasm doused. The instrument panel looks pretty for a business sedan. She is very similar to the one that pleases the eye in Lacetti, but there metal rims give the interior well-known chic, and here it is not impressive completely. Just like the computer screen on the central console, which welcomes you with greenish, as on prehistoric calculators, glow.

 

Large salon, many options here, it seems, Epica developers slightly confused. All elements need to somehow control, they all require their own buttons, keys or, in extreme cases, space on the screen. And the point is not that there are many of them: no less in Saabach. But there helped aviation experience, and here it was nowhere to help. And in Epica, the buttons of different sizes are everywhere where you can only on the steering wheel, on the left and right of it, on the center console, at the gearbox selector and the computer screen loads you with a variety of data.
 

As a result of the number of fuel, the driver can learn three in different ways; In order to look at the clock, he needs to turn his head cool: far, to the right of the radio, there are simple electronic clocks; Symmetrically, they are alarm button. Each detail separately does not cause complaints, but together they, in my opinion, do not fold into a harmonious picture.
 

Prices
Basic price Chevrolet Epica $ 22 990. Note that it already has frontal and side airbags, as well as curtains, immobilizer, and, remote door opening system. At the same time, the simplest version has several differences that can become principled for many. So, the most inexpensive EPICA will be equipped with air conditioning only (in all other versions there are climate controls), ABS (in the rest of the course stability system), the wheels will be R16 (in the remaining R17) Most differences in the cabin: the base version has only tissue upholstery, The steering wheel is regulated only in height, the radio with MP3 does not have a CD changer, there is no information display in the car, parking sensors, rain sensor. Side mirrors do not have electrically regulators, sunscreen visors with backlight mirrors, front seats of heating and lumbar backpage, and the driver, besides, electrically regulators. It is worth thinking but all these luxury is already in the next version (for $ 26,990). Two other configurations differ from it by transmission and engine. A two-liter version with an automatic version is estimated at $ 28,540, and the top 2.5-liter EPICA, which is supplied only with automatic transmission with the ability to manually switch, costs $ 30,040.
 

The values \u200b\u200bthat Epica professes are obvious on the road: a solid sedan is designed primarily on a solid ride. However, a 156-strong 2.5-liter engine perfectly admits dynamic overclocking, and if you wish, you can play the gas pedal with a noticeable effect. The unbearable, but quite modern five-speed automaton in the tested machine with the possibility of manual switching does not interfere, and the pauses are practically not felt in the change of gear. (By the way, with a two liter 140-strong engine, a mechanical gearbox can also be installed with a new manufacturer's development of the manufacturer, but without a handle).
 

Despite the quite sufficient characteristics of the engine, even the top EPICA can hardly boast the driver's spirit. The steering is not too sharp, and in turnings you have to restrain yourself. In addition, the Epica chassis settings are designed to provide a comfortable and ventive ride: the machine suspension is soft, but the energy-intensive absorbs most of the irregularities. For example, the intersection of not the most modern tram paths I fixed only ears. In general, Chevrolet This has not only cruising appearance, but also the habits of a solid ship: does not go, but floating, reacting on unevenness not shocked, and swinging. True, as it was noted above, they deliver well-known discomfort in steep turns.


In general, Chevrolet has a worthy car, which may well support the obvious success of other Korean crusaders Aveo and Lacetti. As with them, in Epica, it seems there is nothing outstanding or revolutionary, but there is good equipment for a reasonable price (see the corresponding section). Now GM dealers offer a car, kind of competing with the most affordable class D representatives, but having even premium elements in their arsenal.
 

As for individual roughness, I think they can be considered costs that excrete debutant. Perhaps insufficient fame and unformed image do not allow a representative machine to immediately see in Epica, but as a spacious family car should become a noticeable player.
 

The car is provided to the test of the official GM dealer, Atlantm Baltika


Text: Philip Berezin
Photo: Roman Stunnin
 
 
 
 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [№112 / 2007]