Chevrolet Lacetti

History and characteristics of the model

Lacetti was produced in twelve countries, in particular, in Ukraine at the Black Sea Automobile Plant, a subsidiary of ZAZ, from machine kits. Sales of the first generation Chevrolet Lacetti began in 2002 for the sedan and station wagon, and in 2004 for the hatchback. In fact, they were two different models under the same name, even the design of their bodies was developed by two ateliers. In the first case it was Pininfarina, and in the second it was Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign.

Although the hatchback differs in the shape of some body elements (for example, the doors and their handles), the range of engines and gearboxes is the same in all versions. These are mainly gasoline engines with a volume of 1.4 to 2.0 liters without a turbine, with a capacity of 94–132 hp. In Ukraine, you could officially buy a Chevrolet Lacetti car only with 1.6 and 1.8 liter engines. Cars with a two-liter diesel engine with 121 hp were sold in Europe.

Gearboxes are either five-speed mechanical or "automatic" with 4 gears. The gearbox is very reliable, as it is manufactured by Aisin, a subsidiary of Toyota in Japan. For the 1.8-liter variant, a similar unit from another well-known manufacturer of transmissions, ZF, was used. All variants of the gearbox are perfectly balanced with the engines and allow you to move confidently both in the city traffic and on the highway, with an empty or loaded car, ensuring acceptable gasoline consumption.

Chevrolet Lacetti in many ways justifies its name, which comes from the Latin "lacertus", meaning "shoulder muscles", and figuratively - "courageous, strong". The car easily carries a load of several hundred kilograms, which makes it very practical in Ukrainian conditions. This is facilitated by the trunk of considerable volume, which increases in all versions by folding the rear seats.

Thanks to one of the largest wheelbases in the class at 2,600 mm, which means the distance between the rows of seats, as well as a good amount of height in the interior of the Lacetta, all passengers can be comfortably accommodated, in particular the rear ones. For the convenience of the driver, in addition to lateral support and seat adjustments, there is a steering wheel adjustment in two directions.

Already in SE, the basic configuration, there is air conditioning, power steering, ABS from Bosch, front airbags and a radio. In the next, SX, you can buy a Chevrolet Lacetti with climate control and passenger side pillows, which are not superfluous at all, because the model has repeatedly received positive safety evaluations. For children, the rear seats are equipped with the Isofix seat attachment system.

The most complete configuration is CDX. Its main difference was multi-spoke wheels with a diameter of 15 and a leather interior, and in addition, a central armrest with cup holders. In all configurations, the handle or gearbox selector and the steering wheel, which can be multifunctional, are covered with leather. High-quality materials and minimal gaps, provided that the panels are carefully fitted, also distinguish all versions of the machine.

The second-hand Chevrolet Lacetti repeatedly appeared in the cult TV program Top Gear in the "Star in a budget car" section, where the presenters tried to compare the model with "classmates" and noted its good driving and dynamic qualities. The car even had a short racing career. In zero, the European sedan Lacetti served as the base for sports racing cars participating in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). To participate in the race, the serial 1.8L E-TEC II engine was boosted from 122 to 172 hp. This allowed Lacetta to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 215 km/h.

All this explains why, even for used Chevrolet Lacetti, the price on the Ukrainian market is still at a decent level. It is not just a workhorse or a vehicle for moving from point A to point B, but a smart choice for those who want a versatile car that is reliable and inexpensive to maintain. And to save money, you can order a car at an American auction.