Checking out the new Chevies
Packing the car and heading off is what we all dream of doing, but what should you be driving? Chevrolet's new range of budget cars, launching in the UK at the end of 2005, offers a choice of vehicles, from station wagons to mini-hatchbacks that give you food for thought. Belinda Weber set off to explore the Jura region of France and find out what the new range feels like to drive
Depending on the shape and size of your family, you have to choose a car that suits your needs. Small boots are hopeless if you have a buggy and shopping to carry, while a station wagon may well be your car of choice if you have young adults to ferry around.
The Matiz and Kalos are both small cars, although the Kalos has a slightly larger engine and a top speed of almost 110mph. Both are great cars around town as they are simple to park and easy to drive, although I found the frame of the windscreen slightly disconcerting at first, as it seemed to give a huge blindspot. But I did get used to it quickly and it didn't detract from the driving experience. The Kalos also had a slightly roomier interior and larger boot space, with a slightly larger price tag to match.
Both cars were fun to drive along the winding country roads and the towns' narrow streets in the Jura. This is a particularly beautiful part of France, with vineyards, fields of sunflowers, Medieval towns and picturesque villages all set against a backdrop of steep-sided limestone cliffs, which make for some fantastic views. Although it has a mountainous feel, the Jura is not as high or as steep as the Alps, but it is certainly one of the prettiest areas I've been to in France. Picture-postcard villages are decked with flowers, and church roofs sport brightly coloured tiles that are traditional in this region. Driving from town to town gives you ample opportunity to enjoy the views, and in the evenings you can sample some of the delicious foods and fine wines that are on offer.
If you need a bigger car, you could try the Lacetti 5-door, with its 1.6 engine and top speed of 116mph. This car has more oomph but doesn't feel like a tank to drive. The larger engine meant it coped better with the hills and felt more responsive than the smaller cars when you put your foot down. Its roomy interior makes it more comfortable for longer journeys and you could easily seat three young adults in the back. Also in the Lacetti range is the station wagon, which offers even more room if you're ferrying a football team around, not to mention the odd dog.
All the cars are fitted with air bags and ABS braking and have a variety of other safety features are fitted as standard. They also have plenty of cubby holes and storage spaces inside for all the paraphernalia associated with driving holidays, such as pockets for sunglasses, drinks holders and map pockets.
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