Chevrolet CaptivaChevrolet's compact SUV has been given a major makeover for 2011, including a fresh exterior design, an all-new range of engines, chassis modifications to improve ride and handling, and an upgraded interior. The company claims to have created the first sports utility vehicle back in the 1930s with the Suburban, a nameplate that has spanned an incredible seven decades and is still going strong in the U.S. today.In common with an increasing number of SUVs, the Captiva sensibly offers the choice not only of two- or four-wheel drive, but five or seven seats also. However, things are a wee bit more restrictive than that sounds, for the 5-seaters are 2WD, and the sevens are 4WD. The 4WD system is a fully automatic one which distributes power to front wheels alone until it detects slippage, when it will redistribute the power fore and aft as conditions dictate. The advantage of a set-up like this is that fuel consumption isn’t affected too strongly as most of the time the 4WD machinery isn’t being used. Power is diesel only, as indeed is the case with its close relative the Vauxhall Antara, and just like that other GM motor the 5-seat models have the 163PS version of the 2.2-litre engine, while the 7-seaters are blessed with 184.If you’re in line for an SUV, the Captiva looks good (if you can live with door mirrors the size of a small car) and that initial impression is reinforced when you get inside. The whole car has a real quality feel to it, dare I say an almost Germanic air of solidity. That’s especially noticeable when you fiddle with the rear seats, which all (whether you have three or five of them) fold flat to enable van-like luggage capacity. Folding is remarkably easy, being a one-push exercise which folds down the seat back whilst lowering and moving the cushion forwards to act as the base. The middle row seats can then be tumbled forward, which enables relatively easy access into the two third row seats, for those that have them. I tried the whole process more than a few times, as it all works so well, and genuinely feels like it’s built to last. Those third row seats, incidentally, offer adult-sized leg and head room.The Chevrolet folk are gung-ho about the interior: "In taking a fresh look at the interior the aim was to offer a blend of high end sedan comfort combined with the spacious ambience and practicality associated with an MPV. We have achieved this by use of superior textures and finishes combined with the distinctive Chevrolet wrap-around interior of the instrument panel; at the same time the abundance of storage and the versatile packaging offered by the five or seven seats emphasizes Captiva's space and practicality." So said GM’s Vice President of Design, Taewan Kim, a name that might give you a clue as to where the car is made……..well almost, it’s actually South Korea.The interior is indeed more interesting than the SUV or even the automotive norm. For a start it dares to display more than a single colour, and it’s also rather cheery, a look normally reserved for sadly slow vehicles, and the Captiva isn’t that. Indeed both versions manage the 0-62 dash in under ten seconds; even the auto version manages 10.1. Talking of the driving experience, again the Captiva departs from the SUV norm in providing a surprisingly soft and comfortable ride. I was less happy with the driving position, which would have been excellent if the steering reach adjustment had been more generous. Overall it’s a pretty easy car to pilot, and the high driving position – which of course is one of the main attractions of the SUV genre – compensates for the somewhat cluttered view to the rear quarters.I tried both manual and auto boxes, both of which are 6-speeders. Though I’ll never want an auto box for myself, I have to say this one is good. Changes are smooth, and at no time did it start shifting for no good reason, as many autos do. Less happily, as always the fuel economy takes a big hit with the auto – in this case 14%, which is over 6mpg.The Captiva has a happy and spacious interior, refined engines and compliant ride. It is more expensive than the Antara, but it’s better equipped. If you’re thinking of an SUV, and are prepared to pay for quality, it’s certainly worth a try.Size: 4.67m x 2.27m (inc mirrors)Engines: 2.2 diesel 163 & 184PSGearbox: 6-speed FWD or 4WDBest Consumption: 163PS diesel 44.1mpgPrice at June ’11: from £21,995Full details of the Captiva are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.chevrolet.co.ukPeter Cracknell – June 2011
Chevrolet Captiva
Chevrolet's compact SUV has been given a major
makeover for 2011, including a fresh exterior design,
an all-new range of engines, chassis modifications to
improve ride and handling, and an upgraded interior.
The company claims to have created the first sports
utility vehicle back in the 1930s with the Suburban, a
nameplate that has spanned an incredible seven
decades and is still going strong in the U.S. today.
In common with an increasing number of SUVs, the
Captiva sensibly offers
the choice not only of
two- or four-wheel drive,
but five or seven seats
also. However, things
are a wee bit more
restrictive than that
sounds, for the 5-
seaters are 2WD, and
the sevens are 4WD.
The 4WD system is a
fully automatic one
which distributes power
to front wheels alone
until it detects slippage,
when it will redistribute
the power fore and aft
as conditions dictate.
The advantage of a set-
up like this is that fuel
consumption isn’t
affected too strongly as most of the time the 4WD
machinery isn’t being used. Power is diesel only, as
indeed is the case with its close relative the Vauxhall
Antara, and just like that other GM motor the 5-seat
models have the 163PS version of the 2.2-litre
engine, while the 7-seaters are blessed with 184.
If you’re in line for an SUV, the Captiva looks good (if
you can live with door mirrors the size of a small car)
and that initial impression is reinforced when you get
inside. The whole car has a real quality feel to it, dare
I say an almost Germanic air of solidity. That’s
especially noticeable when you fiddle with the rear
seats, which all (whether you have three or five of
them) fold flat to enable van-like luggage capacity.
Folding is remarkably easy, being a one-push
exercise which folds down the seat back whilst
lowering and moving the cushion forwards to act as
the base. The middle row seats can then be tumbled
forward, which enables relatively easy access into the
two third row seats, for those that have them. I tried
the whole process more than a few times, as it all
works so well, and genuinely feels like it’s built to last.
Those third row seats, incidentally, offer adult-sized
leg and head room.
The Chevrolet folk are gung-ho about the interior: "In
taking a fresh look at the interior the aim was to offer
a blend of high end sedan comfort combined with the
spacious ambience and practicality associated with
an MPV. We have achieved this by use of superior
textures and finishes combined with the distinctive
Chevrolet wrap-around interior of the instrument
panel; at the same time the abundance of storage
and the versatile packaging offered by the five or
seven seats emphasizes Captiva's space and
practicality." So said GM’s Vice President of Design,
Taewan Kim, a name that might give you a clue as to
where the car is made……..well almost, it’s actually
South Korea.
The interior is indeed more interesting than the SUV or
even the automotive norm. For a start it dares to display
more than a single colour, and it’s also rather cheery, a
look normally reserved for sadly slow vehicles, and the
Captiva isn’t that. Indeed both versions manage the 0-62
dash in under ten seconds; even the auto version
manages 10.1. Talking of
the driving experience,
again the Captiva departs
from the SUV norm in
providing a surprisingly
soft and comfortable ride.
I was less happy with the
driving position, which
would have been
excellent if the steering
reach adjustment had
been more generous.
Overall it’s a pretty easy
car to pilot, and the high
driving position – which of
course is one of the main
attractions of the SUV
genre – compensates for
the somewhat cluttered
view to the rear quarters.
I tried both manual and
auto boxes, both of which are 6-speeders. Though I’ll
never want an auto box for myself, I have to say this one
is good. Changes are smooth, and at no time did it start
shifting for no good reason, as many autos do. Less
happily, as always the fuel economy takes a big hit with
the auto – in this case 14%, which is over 6mpg.
The Captiva has a happy and spacious interior, refined
engines and compliant ride. It is more expensive than
the Antara, but it’s better equipped. If you’re thinking of
an SUV, and are prepared to pay for quality, it’s certainly
worth a try.
Size:
4.67m x 2.27m (inc mirrors)
Engines:
2.2 diesel 163 & 184PS
Gearbox:
6-speed FWD or 4WD
Best Consumption:
163PS diesel 44.1mpg
Price at June ’11:
from £21,995
Full details of the Captiva are available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.chevrolet.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – June 2011
l
l
l
l
Home
New Models
Industry
Green News
Odds n’Ends
