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Chevrolet is very confident of their Epica. It is, as quoted from the press release, "developed primarily to compete with the world's best, as it showcases the advanced engineering capabilities of GM, and its design innovations".
In other words, Chevrolet wants the Epica to be THE BMW 5-series - at this side of the competition.
At first glimpse, the Epica honestly has what it takes. To begin with, an exterior that stands out. There's the headlamp that mimics the BMW 5-series, and a rear that seems uncannily Japanese. At least it doesn't look too Camry-ish, or too conservatively styled like the Nissan Cefiro's.
So, which sort of buyer will the 2.0-litre Epica appeal to? Definitely the sort who wants something not too flashy, has a cavernous boot, comes with a spacious interior and is feature packed. And most importantly - provides good value for money.
In other words, Chevrolet wants the Epica to be THE BMW 5-series - at this side of the competition.
At first glimpse, the Epica honestly has what it takes. To begin with, an exterior that stands out. There's the headlamp that mimics the BMW 5-series, and a rear that seems uncannily Japanese. At least it doesn't look too Camry-ish, or too conservatively styled like the Nissan Cefiro's.
So, which sort of buyer will the 2.0-litre Epica appeal to? Definitely the sort who wants something not too flashy, has a cavernous boot, comes with a spacious interior and is feature packed. And most importantly - provides good value for money.
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Inside Story
There's no lie that upon first impression, the Epica's interior is impressive. It has an expensive feel to it, and together with the top notch fit and finishing, should scare the Camry somehow. The leathered seat has a premium feel to it - almost on par with a Jaguar X-Type's. Generously spacious "Supersize Me" rear can sit up to three adult passengers without any problem and even in comfort to trumpet class-leading interior space. The centre console, which houses the factory-fitted audio head unit, information counter and climate control doesn't look out of place too - one can opine how many times the designers had to redo their sketches before getting it right. Even the faux dark wood grain that's scattered around the Epica looks right.
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However, it's a pity that the instrument cluster doesn't seem to go well with the impressive interior - some might even speculate that those were taken off the smaller Optra.
The Epica's interior is a hush place to be in while on the move - its Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) level is definitely on par with the Camry's. But what it loses out, also to the Camry, is the wind noise intrusion, particularly anywhere past the three-digit speed. Thankfully, it has an excellent audio system that does a commendable job of shutting off those intrusive wind noises.
The Epica's interior is a hush place to be in while on the move - its Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) level is definitely on par with the Camry's. But what it loses out, also to the Camry, is the wind noise intrusion, particularly anywhere past the three-digit speed. Thankfully, it has an excellent audio system that does a commendable job of shutting off those intrusive wind noises.
Driving it
So what's it like to drive this new large sedan from Chevrolet?
To begin with, this is indeed an agile car. The 5-speed, 2.0-litre Epica is somewhat at its best through fast, smooth sweeping bends, where it feels alert, well-damped, and changes direction confidently and predictably - all thanks partly to the Traction Control System. Both its ride comfort and high-speed stability are exemplary too.
Now, the interesting question is, should you plump for one over the technically equivalent Nissan Cefiro that has a $4k premium over the Epica?
For that money, the inline-four Cefiro still has a little edge, if you're the sort who put brand as a priority. But against it, the Epica has plenty going for it - like the extra pair of cylinders, for a kick off.
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It's smooth, punchy and refined, which is good because you don't have to give that extra prod on the accelerator just to extract the full 144bhp. But with all that smoothness, there is one small hiccup though. The calibration of the gearbox needs some improvement -there's a noticeable lag when you need the car to downshift during rush hour traffic.
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In A Nutshell
The Chevrolet Epica is a nice car to drive. It is Chevrolet's first large sedan introduced into our local market, and won't be the last either. The arrival might be a bit too slow to jump on the bandwagon, but hey, it's sometimes good to be glamorously late. The Camry's a common sight, the Cefiro's dated and the Accord's just waiting for its replacement to arrive here. At least with the addition of the Epica, there's a new car for a buyer who's in this market to look at. And maybe even commit to.
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Technical Specification
Engine: 1,993cc, 6-cylinders in-line, DOHC
Power: 144bhp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 195Nm @ 4,600rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
0-100km/h: 11.8 seconds
Length / Width / Height: 4,805 / 1,810 / 1,450 mm
Wheelbase: 2,700mm
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