Chevrolet Epica 2.5 Review
EPIcLATOR

Elsewhere in the world, the Chevrolet Epica is rebadged as a Daewoo Tosca under the mid-sized GM-Daewoo platform in South Korea. It is marketed everywhere else in the world by General Motors (GM) as the Chevrolet and the Holden Epica.

Its predecessor is none other than the Daewoo Leganza that was sold here, the Magnus, and it’s many other improvisations. The V250 (the model code) has something special - a transversely-mounted, 2.5 litre straight six (review of the 2 litre coming soon enough!).

Unlike previous models that were sent to the finishing school of Mr. Giugiaro, this latest variant has been designed entirely in-house – a risk that has paid off, and not to mention a very big surprise because I love the way it looks, and I don’t say that often about a mid-sized, comfort biased sedan!

The exterior looks miles ahead of the dreary Leganza, which had too many bumps, humps and not to mention mumps in the driveline. This time, the entire exterior manages to come off as clean and handsome.

So it has grown-up then, and with that, there are side mirrors with built-in signal lamps, a neater bumper and grille layout, and that proven “high boot-low nose” formula we’ve all seen in your typical European family car. While many spoilt European journalists do not agree with this car, I’ll have to say that it’ll do magnificently, for the Singaporean market that is.

Some passerbys even gave the elusive comment as to how the Epica “looks a little like a BMW without the grille” at the front end.

Inside

The interior brings me back to the eighties. No doubt it looks good on the outside, but the inside of this car leaves much to be desired. Take for example, the switches. They’re all finished in a way that makes touching them less than desirable.