How to Fit the Whole Family into a Small Car

Housing prices have long been considered sky-high. And if you calculate the cost per square meter of the "usable space" in a car, you'll find it's not exactly cheap there either. What if the family budget is tight, but a car is still necessary? For that case Chevrolet offers the Rezzo. Compared with other so-called compact MPVs, this car has a pretty good balance of price and quality. For relatively little money the manufacturer offers a rather decent set of features.

The model was originally developed by the Koreans (Daewoo Motor) in 2001 and was called the Tacuma. The subsequent takeover of the Korean auto industry by the American giant General Motors gave the former Koreans a new "surname," and in the case of the Tacuma, a new name as well. Russians got to know the Chevrolet Rezzo in the autumn of 2005.

The Rezzo's interior can be described as neither luxurious nor boring. For the former, the plastic lacks softness. For the latter, the combinations of gray door and dashboard plastics with matte steel-gray inserts are simply too good. The understated but not hard-to-clean trim colors suit the needs of a family with children very well. If a toddler spills a drink or drops an ice cream, you don't have to rush for the bottle of Corvalol. Who knows — if you had bought, say, a Chevrolet Cruze, which emotions would dominate? Joy at owning a new car, or constant anxiety about keeping it pristine?

The Rezzo doesn't have an automatic transmission either: you'll have to shift gears manually. No big deal: just change gears with calm, confident movements after memorizing their positions. It's better to practice finding the right gear in advance so you don't get flustered on the road. The engine pulls well, and even if you hurry and select the wrong gear, it won't stall. The car leans in corners, which will most likely delight the kids and do little to please you. However, the suspension is soft, and potholes or seams in the asphalt won't bother passengers. The car also rides smoothly on dirt roads.

Yes, this car has an unconventional appearance and a character lacking in sprightliness. But remember the price: it's clearly not a Chevrolet Cruze, for which the mentioned flaws would be unacceptable. And Rezzo's price makes them easy to forgive. After all, this compact MPV with a roomy cabin is much more affordable than golf-class cars with comparable engine power.