Chevrolet has joined the big car league with the new Epica model launched last year. This tops the range with space, style and value as Michael Moroney found out during his recent test drive. He explores Epica's place and examines its true value as a motoring option.

The new Chevrolet Epica is a big car from the GM brand. The spacious car comes with a six-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine that gives good acceleration. Prices start at €26,995 before delivery charges.

The Chevrolet Epica doesn't get that much attention. The new big car in the Chevrolet range has some special features along with practical space and comfort application. In a range of cars that now includes the new Captiva, it is easy to understate the Epica's place.

For Chevrolet, Epica is fresh to the bigger car league.

With its General Motors links, the Chevrolet brand now seems to have a subtle resemblance to some of the Opel models. For me, the new Epica has touches of the older Opel Omega in its genes.

It has a similar styling, but is a lot more modern and smoother. It has space, comfort and power. The interior styling including the dash is functional in some senses plain, but it does what it says on the tin.

The seating is average in comfort terms, while the suspension makes the car feel lighter than its power ability. Coupled with a light steering feel and the car seems easy to drive.

The test car that I drove was powered by a novel 2.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Novel, because not many car manufacturers supply six-cylinder engines in this size.

The engine design gives smoothness in terms of acceleration, as well as an ample source of power. Despite its extra cylinders, it does not deliver a whole lot more or torque than most of its competitors. But it does deliver that power very smoothly.

The engine power rating is 144bhp with identical the numbers for its torque. And while the car is not exceptionally heavy at 1460kg kerb weight, that level of power delivers a 0 to 100km/hr acceleration pace of 9.9 seconds. Toyota's 2.0 litre Avensis and the Mazda6 will beat it on pace, while it tops out the performance of the likes of the 2.0 litre Volkswagen Passat and Citroen C5.

In performance terms, it is a match for the likes of the Audi A4, while the Epica has more space to give a bigger car-type feeling. And all the time it remains competitive, but for how long more?

The emission levels are the big challenge for the Chevrolet Epica. The engine emission rating is 205g/km, which is a shade higher than most of the competition. But then they are almost all just inside the new F Emission Band category, which will be burdened with a new 32 per cent VRT rate from 1 July. And road tax rates will also jump for cars like the Epica at that time, so like many cars that cannot meet the new stricter emission criteria, now is the time to buy the Epica, not later.