GONE are the days when Chevrolet was a budget brand churning out cheap and cheerful cars for cost-conscious customers.

The firm is currently one of the most upwardly mobile automotive marques around and marching up steadily on the European rivals it seeks to emulate.

Chevrolet might by a brand with something of an identity crisis though.

Founded by a Swiss man it went on to become a US automotive icon, while these days - with the exception of the Corvette and Camaro - it's the car firm formerly known as Daewoo.

When General Motors took over the ailing Korean car maker it assigned a classy name it just happened to have sitting around in the closet.

In fairness GM have transformed the brand but that transformation has more to do with design and engineering excellence rather than just sticking a snazzy and sought-after badge on.

It's also an improvement exercise that should see Chevrolet take a similar journey to the one undertaken by fellow Korean car makers Kia and Hyundai.

Rather than just being pale imitations of established European favourites the Koreans are now matching them and continuing to offer great value for money.

The Cruze is a decent car it has to be said and the success of the saloon saw the addition of an estate to the line-up.

It's also come on leaps and bounds, both in terms of its imaginative design and a top quality interior.

Classy looks help it stand out and its a nicely proportioned car that scores highly in the practicality stakes.

A roomy cabin and spacious boot make it a perfect family car for all occasions.

The range comes well-equipped in terms of standard equipment. All get air-conditioning, electric front windows, remote central locking and follow-me-home headlights.

The LTZ also has 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control and a rear parking camera.

Its greatest strength is that it's actually a half decent car to drive.

It handles nicely, has a stiff and sure-footed feel on the road and with the 1.7-litre diesel engine fitted to this car performed rather well.

It boasts a top speed of 124mph and will take you from 0-62mph in ten seconds.

With a combined economy figure of more than 62mpg it will certainly prove economical to run too and it comes with a start/stop system fitted as standard.

This LTZ model sits at the top of the range but with prices starting at around £15,000 it offers good value for money as well.

My only gripe was that it occasionally felt somewhat stuttery in first gear but I'd imagine this might be a tuning problem that could be easily rectified.

Overall though it's a car that's easy to like - good to drive and excellent in pretty much every respect.