2007 Chevrolet Matiz 0.8 SE

Cute, bug-like. Impractical for egoists.

Engine/transmission:
The 2007 Chevrolet Matiz 0.8 SE comes with an 800 cubic centimeter, three-cylinder engine that develops 51 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 53 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine is linked to a four-speed automatic transmission. A five-speed manual gearbox is available.

Body style/layout:
The Matiz, the second generation of a GM Daewoo platform, is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive economy car with four side doors and a rear hatch. It weighs 1,885 pounds.

Ride, acceleration, handling:
City ride, handling and acceleration are good, meaning that the little car holds its own in that driving environment. Lowland highway acceleration is competent, meaning that it can change lanes safely. (The car has a top speed of 83 mph, an illegal speed on most highways worldwide.) Highland driving is both a chore and bore in this one.


Capacities:
There is seating for four. There is enough cargo space for a week's worth of groceries for an American family of four. The fuel tank holds 7.7 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline.

Mileage:
averaged a bit more than 48 miles per gallon in city-highway driving, including a few runs along mountain roads.

Safety:
It has the basics--antilock brakes and dual-front air bags. But no side or head air bags are available at this writing.

Price:
The tested 2007 Chevrolet Matiz 0.8 SE with automatic transmission has a U.S. equivalent price of $13,759. Matiz prices range from $11,861 to $15,925, depending on the model chosen. Chevrolet, at the moment, has no plans to bring this micro car to the United States.

Purse-strings note:
This is a high-value city runner that compares with the Smart Fortwo, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, which is scheduled to enter the U.S. market in early 2008.

Complaints:
The Matiz is not a mountain car. It crawls about in that milieu. It is competent on lowland highways. But the bottom line is that it is a city automobile that should be kept in the city.