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Picture a Chevrolet and chances are something huge and all-American springs to mind. However, in reality, the cars sold on these shores were all a sensible size, aimed at budget-conscious buyers.

The early cars, for example, started life as Daewoos but were rebranded after Chevrolet’s owner, General Motors, bought the ailing South Korean firm’s car division. Meanwhile, later models were based on Vauxhalls.

Chevrolet withdrew from Europe in 2015 after struggling to make an impact, but used examples do at least have the virtue of being incredibly cheap.

CHEVROLET

TACUMA

The Tacuma does a fair job for a fair price, but there's nothing special about it

Used Chevrolet Tacuma MPV 2005 - 2009

A Tacuma shouldn't be too costly to run. Average fuel economy of 35.3mpg for the 1.6 and 32.8mpg for the 2.0 isn't stunning - but falls only slightly short of a comparable Renault Scenic or Citroen Picasso, two key rivals. The Tacuma is much cheaper to buy, although there's no diesel option.

Servicing costs might sting, and of its nearest rivals, only the Kia Carens is more expensive. The 1.6-litre Tacuma sits in group 8 for insurance, the 2.0 in group 10, which is standard for the class. Only the Renault, with its five-star crash test rating, outsmarts all its rivals with much lower insurance ratings. Reliability data from Warranty Direct suggests that, as a manufacturer, Daewoo (as this Chevrolet was originally branded before 2005) is slightly more reliable than average, and repair costs reasonable. If you're buying a car under three years old, you can enjoy the remainder of the three years' free servicing offer, and a solid warranty.

The Tacuma does a fair job for a fair price, but there's nothing special about it


The best Tacuma has the larger 2.0-litre petrol engine. With 119bhp, it's no racer, but it has plenty of pull from low revs. It's also available with a rather lumpy optional automatic gearbox.

The range also includes a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol. It's eager to rev and flexible enough, but with five people on board and their luggage, it's a different story. 
The 1.6 comes in SX trim, which includes electric windows, air-conditioning, metallic paint and remote central locking, as well as wheel-mounted audio controls. CDX, the only trim available with our favourite 2.0-litre engine, adds climate control and alloys, as well as seat-back tables.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

As a rule, the Tacuma shouldn't cause you too many problems - it's as unexceptional in this area as it is to drive. Plus, the free servicing offer should mean that there's a good chance of getting one with a full service history.

Potential buyers should be aware that nearly 6000 cars were recalled in 2002 to tackle possible cracks developing in the brake pipes and leaking hydraulic fluid - ensure that this was carried out. In 2003, some cars had new fuel feed pipes fitted. The quality of the interior plastics isn't great, either, so look out for rattles in the dash. If you'll need to remove the parcel shelf frequently, be aware that you'll have to fold the seats forward every time, which is irritating. Overall, Tacuma owners are not the happiest bunch, In previous JD Power customer satisfaction surveys, the Tacuma hasn't shone, finishing well down the results table. Some owners felt the car didn't offer enough performance; however the dealer service and cheap servicing redeemed it.

If it's just a five-seater you're after, the Tacuma offers decent room for all on board. While the boot's not huge, the three rear seats can be removed in all except the entry-level version, leaving more than enough room for your Louis Vuitton trunks. There's lots of storage around the cabin, too, and drawers under the front seats.

Overall, in fact, the cabin's a model of good design. The dash is neat and well laid out, with the controls in easy reach. Only the stereo's small buttons disappoint, while the thick rear pillars leave tiny side windows in the boot and limit visibility. This can make reversing around corners more nerve-wracking than it needs to be. Mind you, if a sporty drive and sophisticated handling are high on your list of priorities, this is probably not the car for you; the stiff suspension prevents body roll in corners, but the resulting firm ride can make town journeys less comfortable. Refinement is acceptable with either engine, but you'll hear some wind noise when on the move.

Used Chevrolet Tacuma MPV 2005 - 2009 reliability

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Used Chevrolet Tacuma MPV 2005 - 2009 review

As a rule, the Tacuma shouldn't cause you too many problems - it's as unexceptional in this area as it is to drive. Plus, the free servicing offer should mean that there's a good chance of getting one with a full service history.,Potential buyers should be aware that nearly 6000 cars were recalled in 2002 to tackle possible cracks developing in the brake pipes and leaking hydraulic fluid - ensure that this was carried out. In 2003, some cars had new fuel feed pipes fitted. The quality of the interior plastics isn't great, either, so look out for rattles in the dash. If you'll need to remove the parcel shelf frequently, be aware that you'll have to fold the seats forward every time, which is irritating. Overall, Tacuma owners are not the happiest bunch, In previous JD Power customer satisfaction surveys, the Tacuma hasn't shone, finishing well down the results table. Some owners felt the car didn't offer enough performance; however the dealer service and cheap servicing redeemed it.,

What to look for when buying a Chevrolet Tacuma 2005 - 2009, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Chevrolet Tacuma MPV 2005 - 2009 reliability

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