Chevrolet Captiva   Women's view

Why would you buy a boring seven-seater MPV when for the same money, you could have a lifestyle 4x4 that does the same job? At the wheel of Chevrolets latest Captiva, June Neary is still wondering.

Theres something deeply dispiriting about buying into most MPV people carriers. A kind of admission that for you, transport isnt something that offers much enjoyment. Instead, its simply a functional way of getting from A to B. Of course, though you might pretend as much, deep down, you probably dont really feel like that at all.

Deep down, like me, you and your family would probably much prefer something like one of those lifestyle 4x4s. The problem of course is that the compact Freelander-sized ones youd have to choose are still way above your budget. And theyre far too small for a family really needing seven seats. But what if that wasnt true? What if you could have such a vehicle, and it was within your budget and it had space for seven? Youd be interested wouldnt you? I was when Chevrolets latest Captiva rolled onto my driveway.

Looking good at prices starting from £16,995, this car was, I felt, going to have to work hard to upset me.

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 its a much heftier piece of metalwork. For a start, its fully 4,639mm long, compared with the 4,415 of the Toyota and the 4,470mm of the Suzuki. Even if you compare it to the leading seven-seat mini-MPV, the Vauxhall Zafira, we find Lutons finest breaking the tape at just 4,467mm.

Thats why the Chevy has room for three rows of seats - and thus, seven passengers - thanks to its long wheelbase of around 2.70 metres. A five seat version is being offered for those who prioritise luggage over the extended family.

Lets be honest. The Chevrolet Captiva isnt aimed at those who want to drive like Lewis Hamilton. But few family-orientated buyers care too much about that. I certainly dont.

So lets get down to details. Two engines are available with this car. Most buyers will go for the state-of-the-art common rail diesel engine that I tried, this 16-valve unit offering 150bhp at 4,000 rpm and bags of pulling power. In day to day use, you should achieve around 37mpg at the pumps and a little less if you opt (as I would) for the automatic transmission option.

There is also a petrol engine, a 2.4 litre in-line 16-valve four-cylinder, delivering 142bhp. Personally, Id shake the piggy bank a little harder and go for the diesel every time. Chevrolet are purposely not positioning this car as a 4x4, so it comes as no surprise to hear that the aforementioned 2.

4-litre entry-level petrol version comes only in front wheel drive form. 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. Perhaps its surprising that there are all-wheel drive variants at all. Yet there are.

Chevrolet claim the all-wheel drive model offers a safer and more secure drive in poor road conditions and its 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. Itll also help when negotiating muddy tracks of course. The Captivas 4x4 set-up is an on-demand system, meaning that as driving conditions require, the rear axle is instantly selected 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).

The headline £16,995 entry-level price applies only to the 2.4-litre petrol model which, as weve said, comes only in front wheel drive form. It also only comes only with five seats. I tried the variant that in the real world, most customers are likely to actually buy, the 2.

0VCDi 7-seat diesel, costing £21,140 in LT spec (though theres also a five-seat version of this car available for £19,995). This car can be ordered as an automatic and in plush LT-X guise for £23,740. These prices pitch the Captiva just below the cost of its closest rival, Hyundais Santa Fe. Both cars, it has to be said, are far less expensive than any other seven-seat family-sized 4x4 on the market.

Expect the mass makers to expand into this gap in the near future.

The Captiva does everything I need it to do. It looks good, is priced right and has enough space for my needs. Running costs on the diesel are affordable too. Would I buy one? Well, it would certainly make me very heavily question the need for replacing my MPV with something boringly similar.

My motoring outlook just got a whole lot more interesting.