Chevrolet's HHR tickled my fancy from the moment I laid eyes on it a couple of years back in a Detroit design centre. But the stimulus for the attraction didn't become clear until I actually sat in the back seat of one.

That's when I realized that the five-seat vehicle looked and felt like one of the ubiquitous minicabs that swarm the streets of London, England, carrying people in a cheery, right-you-are-guv'nor manner as it transports them from Kensington High Street to Bloomsbury by way of Covent Garden.

Given that kind of pleasure-connection, is it any wonder that the last vehicle in "Chevy's small-car strategy" appeals to me so much without my having driven one for as much as a metre? The fun of the road test is still to come, and the preliminary numbers on that look good.

First off, however, I must make clear that the HHR (which will come on to the market in the second half of 2005 as a 2006 model) has higher fit and finish standards than any cab, and is primarily intended to please the driver rather than the passenger.

But the same sense of funky functionality is there in spades and that should be the primary appeal for those Canadians looking for a type of vehicle.

It was that kind of utility that Lori Queen, GM's vehicle line executive for small cars, was after when HHR was under development. "The HHR is what you want it to be," she says, "whether you're hauling band equipment around the country or hauling your friends across town."

According to Queen, with an overall length of 4,472 mm and a cargo capacity of 1,787 litres, the HHR has "easy-to-manoeuvre dimensions and room for just about any lifestyle interest."

HHR will arrive with two model levels, Queen says. There will be one version of the entry-level LS, and two packages of the more upscale LT: 1LT and 2LT.

The LS and 1LT will be powered by an Ecotec 2.2-litre four-cylinder rated at 140 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, while the 2LT will run on an Ecotec 2.4-litre four-cylinder delivering 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with both engines and an electronically controlled four-speed automatic is optional in all models.

Both LS and LT HHR models will likely include such standard features as air conditioning, power windows and locks, a six-speaker CD stereo and remote keyless entry. Additional product highlights include a driver information centre, a fuel tank large enough to deliver a cruising range of 650 km, adjustable cargo configurations and remote start on the automatic models.

There will also be various 16- and 17-inch wheel options, OnStar and XM satellite radio availability, a large power sunroof and an upgraded sound system.

It should be noted that these are equipment lineups from Detroit, that the marketing mavens at GM of Canada in Oshawa might tinker with it in some way, maybe even by adding more equipment on a certain model.

The 1LT model also includes a standard MP3 player, six-way power seat with power lumbar and a satin exterior finish. Bright chrome exterior trim and a bright exhaust tip are available, as are anti-lock brakes and traction control, though the latter can only be had with the automatic transmission.

HHR 2LT gets such standard features as ABS, fog lamps, bright exhaust tip, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a Pioneer sound system with subwoofer, 17-inch wheels, FE3 sport suspension, and a bright chrome exterior trim. Heated leather seats also are available on both LT packages.

While I am primarily reminded of the London minicab when I see the HHR, I can also see the family resemblance to the 1949 Suburban and the modern SSR roadster-pickup, which is what Chevrolet was shooting for. (HHR stands for "heritage high roof.")

Whatever the outside shape puts you in mind of, Queen says, the interior of HHR is meant to combine "the reassuring high visibility and cargo flexibility of an SUV with the comfort, appointments, driving ease and ergonomics of an upscale sedan."

The HHR's cargo system "maximizes storage capability with a host of clever and useful configuration options," Queen says, including:

A front passenger seat that folds fully flat, thereby extending the total load length from the liftgate to the instrument panel.

A centre armrest between the front seats that's integrated into the seat back frame so that it's out of the way when pivoted into a stowed position, which Queen notes is a characteristic of trucks and SUVs.

Rear seats with a 60/40 split that fold to provide a flat load surface in conjunction with the folded front passenger seat.

At the same time, the cargo area also got some useful touches that include:

A continuous flat load floor when the seats are folded down.

A 13-cm-deep bin under the load floor and above the spare-tire compartment.

The ability to turn the primary load floor into a shelf when it's raised and mounted approximately 60 cm higher, either level or at a 45-degree angle to provide quick access to the cargo beneath it.

Two large storage bins forward of the load floor behind the rear seats.

Plastic-bag holders on the rear compartment bin.