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2004 Chevrolet Epica Road Test

8 octobre 2003

par Rob Rothwell


Luxury without a Luxurious Price Tag

Now I'm not big in the kitchen. Let's face it, few men are, or are at least are willing to admit to it unless there is an ulterior motive. That

The Canadian only Epica is now available so I took it for a spin. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
being said, I have rattled the odd pot and pan and followed the occasional recipe, albeit with little accuracy and much improvisation. So what do kitchens, pots, pans and recipes have to do with a road test of the newly introduced Chevy Epica? Nothing really, except that when I wrote an article previewing the Epica a few months back, I was essentially reading a recipe and predicting how the ingredients would taste when cooked. Well the Epica just came out of the oven and I've tasted, or should I say, test driven the first sample, which I hope to describe to you in less culinary terms.

So the new Chevy will only be sold in Canada, eh? That's right Johnny Canuck, only in Canada. It arises from a recently formed automotive

Don't let its Daewoo and Suzuki roots put you off, the Epica has achieved a very high level of quality and workmanship. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
partnership between General Motors, Daewoo and Suzuki, as the major partners. This automotive "Brady Bunch" operates under the title of General Motors Daewoo Automotive Technology, or GMDAT for short. The Epica is twin to the U.S. only Suzuki Verona and is manufactured in a GM affiliate facility in Bupyong, South Korea. Don't let the foreign roots of Epica give you cause for concern though. The quality of Korean manufactured automobiles has grown by leaps and bounds during the preceding decade. Combined with GM and Suzuki's long experience, the Epica seems to have achieved a very high level of quality and workmanship.

I examined every seam and gap of GM's Korean kin and was impressed. Even a jaded lifetime auto journalist would have a hard time separating an Epica from its Japanese midsize rivals when it comes to fit and finish. But while it's nicely put together, the Epica lacks exterior pizzazz. It's not that I don't like it, but just that I don't find anything about it that "wows" me. That being said, the Epica comes standard with fog

When it comes to fit and finish, the Epica is able to stand up well against its Japanese midsize rivals. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
lights and projector beam headlights, while offering either 15 or 16-inch alloy wheels. The interior ups the ante somewhat with the use of materials that impart a feel of quality. The cabin is modern enough, comfortable and well thought out. Chevy intended to convey an upscale theme inside the Epica, and I believe they have. Attention to detail and the use of wood-like trim and a chrome bezel surrounding the gated shifter give the illusion that the Chevy might originate from a romantic part of Europe, rather than from somewhere unpronounceable in Korea!

Epica's cabin is modern, comfortable, well thought out and equipped with a healthy dose of standard features. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
Adding to the Epica's upscale mystique, Chevy has included a healthy dose of standard features. Even in the base LS model, niceties such as air-conditioning, rear seat heat ducts, power door locks and windows, cruise control and keyless entry make the drive a wee bit more pleasant for all involved. Move up to the LT label and your derriere rides in heated power leather seats as the climate control system maintains your cool. All Epicas are fitted with a premium 6-speaker audio system that includes a CD player - it sounds great.

During my tour through the farming communities of B.C.'s Fraser Valley, I found the LT seats to be remarkably comfortable and fatigue free. They don't quite meet the threshold set by higher-end European nameplates, but hey, they aren't priced like them either.

As I admired the local scenery that we often take for granted, I marveled at the hushed, well-muted ride of the Epica. This is a vehicle that can easily meet the competition head-on when it comes to smooth, quiet motoring. The unique inline, transversely mounted 2.5-liter, 24-valve DOHC six-cylinder engine does a fine job of eliminating the harshness sometimes associated with the V6 configuration.

The transversely mounted 2.5-liter, 24-valve DOHC six-cylinder engine provides smooth quiet motoring, but not much get up and go. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
Unfortunately what the Epica's 155 horsepower inline-6 does not do that many V6's do well, is move the Epica with commanding acceleration. I was quite disappointed when I first tromped on the gas pedal. The acceleration factor was a non-factor. Yes, takeoff was smooth with little to no raspy vibrations accompanying the movement, but the movement came on gradually and without the threat of 'neck-snapping' to my otherwise unsuspecting passenger. This is not to say that the Epica is unbearable. For the great majority of Epica owners, its lackluster acceleration may never be an issue.

The engine, and the Epica in general, is geared more toward comfort than performance. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
During stop and go motoring, and within normal driving parameters, the Epica's engine shines, along with its smooth functioning drivetrain. Upshifts are subtle and downshifts are snappy and well executed. The transmission makes nice work of what power the Epica does generate.

Once rolling, the midsize Chevy treats its occupants with dignity. The ride is geared more toward comfort than performance, which is a fair description of the Epica in general. The Epica is one of those cars that allows all day cruising without complaint, as long as you are content not passing - unless there is a long stretch to accomplish the task.

Should the need arise to perform an emergency maneuver on the highway, take comfort in the Epica's ability to competently cling to the road. During GM's press launch, journalists were encouraged to test their mettle on a track that had been laid out with the use of innocuous traffic cones. You know, the ones that don't damage the merchandise when a group of power hungry journalists are trying to impress each other with their driving prowess, or lack there of.

Thanks to its sophisticated suspension and steering, the Epica is easy to keep under control during extreme cornering and panic braking. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
It was very "tossable" on the track and easy to keep under control during extreme cornering and panic braking thanks to its sophisticated, four-wheel independent suspension and speed-sensitive rack and pinion steering.

The four-wheel disc brakes, standard on all Epicas, did a commendable job of freezing the motion. Unfortunately anti-lock is an option on the base LS model, although an option well worth the few extra beans - ABS comes standard on the LT derivative. All Epica anti-lock systems are paired with traction control, which takes vehicle stability up a notch.

The Epica is targeted at those who like the finer things in life, but also know that you don't always have to pay top dollar to get them. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
In addition to anti-lock brakes, passenger safety is enhanced by the use of dual-stage driver and front-seat passenger airbags as standard equipment on all Epicas.

So in whose driveway is Chevy hoping to place an Epica? Well according to marketing manager Ms. Debbie Hawe, the target group is comprised of hard working, practical individuals (age 44 to 55) who like the finer things in life but are savvy enough to know you don't have to pay luxury prices to get them.

With that in mind has Chevy succeeded in providing a "finer thing" at a non-luxury price? Well, I think so. It's the price thing that nails it for me. The very well equipped Epica LS retails for $24,595, while the substantially more upscale LT heads out the door for only $26,760 - now that's competitive!

Considering the well equipped Epica LS rings it at less than $25,000, it should do well in its market segment. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
Chevy is definitely on a roll with a new assortment of cars conceived from its GMDAT arrangement, ready to fight Japanese and Korean rivals head to head. The Epica is the showpiece of this group, which also includes the highly efficient and frugal Aveo and the Corolla fighting Optra, and should fair well in its competitive market segment.

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