Chevrolet Captiva : CHEVROLET'S CAPTIVE AUDIENCE

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Usable traction, people-carrying versatility and great lifestyle looks. Chevrolet's new Captiva looks an appealing prospect. Andy Enright looks at the brand's most important new model yet

Just what the world needs, another Compact 4x4 - except that Chevrolet's Captiva is something more. A car that's as practical for an extended family as it is for an extended landholding.

Though it looks at first glance like a natural Land Rover Freelander/Toyota RAV4/Nissan X-Trail competitor, Chevrolet are keen to stress that this vehicle shouldn't be thought of as a `4x4' or an `off-roader'. Instead, they're positioning the Captiva (priced from around £17,000) as a compact SUV (sports utility vehicle) aimed at capturing sales from MPV-style people carriers. Instead of opting for a seven-seat MPV, they say, why not go for something a little more stylish? That's the reasoning at least. Pragmatists will know that there are already several rivals on the market that quietly target these same buyers, although no manufacturer has yet been quite so upfront in their intentions. No competitor's product however, looks quite as good as the Captiva and while it may have taken the public a while to get used to a Chevrolet badge on the bonnet of a Matiz, that chunky cross on the grille of an SUV looks a whole lot more natural. The design is clever in reducing the perceived bulk of what is a surprisingly spacious vehicle. Viewed in isolation, the Captiva looks to be about the size of a Toyota RAV4 or a Suzuki Grand Vitara but the tale of the tape shows that it's a much heftier piece of metalwork. For a start, it's fully 4,639mm long, compared with the 4,415 of the Toyota and the 4,470mm of the Suzuki. Even if we play Chevrolet's game and compare it to the leading seven-seat mini-MPV, the Vauxhall Zafira, we find Luton's finest breaking the tape at just 4,467mm. That's why the Chevy has room for three rows of seats - and thus, seven passengers - thanks to its long wheelbase of around 2.70 metres. Five seat entry-level versions are being offered for those who prioritise luggage over the extended family.

"Instead of opting for a seven-seat MPV, Chevrolet say, why not go for something a little more stylish?"

Given the media spin, you could quite reasonably expect the Captiva to ride on a front-wheel drive chassis, and you'd be half right. In fact, if, as Chevrolet claim, they are positioning the Captiva as a tarmac-biased MPV rival, it's perhaps surprising that there is an all-wheel drive variant at all. Front wheel drive versions of compact 4x4s have proven to be a big money spinner for companies such as Honda, who quickly realised that many customers were buying cars like the HR-V not for their perceived `go-anywhere' characteristics but merely for their styling and raised ride height. This isn't a novel realisation, as Matra Simca twigged in the early Eighties with their Rancho `faux by four': styling and attitude are often more appealing than pure off-road capability. The Captiva is offered in a front-wheel drive entry-level guise, an option which would probably be very popular if you could have it with diesel power. Unfortunately, buyers can only opt for the 2.4-litre petrol unit that will probably have a minority appeal. All the diesel models get all-wheel drive, offering what Chevrolet describes as `a safer and more secure drive' in poor road conditions. It's hard to argue with that contention, especially on our wet roads. The ability to squirt swiftly and safely out of a T-junction in the rain or onto a roundabout is often denied drivers of front wheel drive models. It'll also help when negotiating muddy tracks but the company is keen to stress that it's not tilting at Jeep or Land Rover with this one. The Captiva's 4x4 set-up is an on-demand system, meaning that as driving conditions require, the rear axle is instantly selected via an electromagnetic coupling to give maximum traction through all four wheels. The set-up also seamlessly interacts with the ESP and ABS systems, enhancing driver control of the vehicle and safety margins. The ESP itself has additional functions like HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), HDC (Hill Descent Control) and ARP (Active Rollover Protection). So let's get down to details. Two transversely mounted engines are available in the Captiva. They include a brand new, state-of-the-art common rail diesel engine jointly developed by GM Powertrain and VM Motori. As a result, we have Chevrolet's first ever compact SUV with a diesel engine. This 16-valve unit offers 150bhp at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 320Nm at 2200rpm. In the EC combined cycle, fuel consumption is 38.7mpg. Automatic transmission is available with this diesel and if you decide upon it, then you can expect to return 32.8mpg on the combined cycle. This is the first application of a family of diesel powertrains also destined for other Chevrolet products. The petrol engine is a 2.4 litre in-line 16-valve four-cylinder, delivering 133bhp at 5,000rpm and a torque maximum of 220Nm at 2,200rpm. The Captiva 2.4's combined fuel consumption is 31.7mpg. The suspension layout consists of a MacPherson strut configuration in front and an independent four-link design in the rear. Ventilated disc brakes are standard on all four wheels. The standard wheel/tyre combination is 215/70 R 16 tyres on 6.5J x 16 inch wheels but larger variants will be available. Prices, as we've said, start just shy of £17,000, but that gets you only the petrol 2.4 LS model with 2WD and five seats. For just over £18,000, you can get this car with diesel power. For around £20,000, you can buy yourself the entry-level 4WD LT five-seat 2.0VCDi diesel, though the variant most customers will likely opt for is the £21,500 seven-seat LT version. If you're looking for something a little plusher, there's also an LT-X variant with seven seats and diesel power costing just under £24,000. Equipment? As well as the four-wheel drive system, LT trim features 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob, an eight-speaker CD stereo with MP3 capability, a glove box cooling system and a passenger side under-seat storage drawer, while seven-seat models also get reverse parking sensors as standard. The automatic model tacks about £1,100 onto the asking price of the LT seven seater. Step up to the LT-X model and you can expect full leather upholstery with heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic lighting control and rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, a multi-function display panel, a six-CD changer stereo with MP3 capability, climate control with air quality system, silver-coloured front and rear skid plates, stainless steel sill plates, power-folding heated door mirrors with integrated turn signals and a visible twin-pipe exhaust system with chrome detailing. In comparison with a range topping Honda CR-V, this represents a better equipped, bigger car for around £1,000 less. Although Chevrolet have gambled with the positioning of the Captiva, the product itself looks a very strong proposition and the initial portents look worrying for Chevrolet's rivals.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chevrolet Captiva range
PRICES: £16,639-£23,784 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10-12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 197-217g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.4 petrol] Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 11.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 diesel] (urban) 32.1mpg / (extra urban) 43.5mpg / combined) 38.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm