Chevrolet Captiva The Beginning Of An Era

Now well established in the UK, Chevrolet are about to enter a new era with the launch of their first Chevy-developed product, their first diesel and their first SUV. Everything begins with the smartly styled Captiva as Jonathan Crouch explains

Since they landed on these shores, Chevrolet have been carving out a healthy market niche for themselves with an array of small cars. The Matiz, the Kalos and the Lacetti. All strong value products with much to offer but not necessarily what youd picture from the bow tie brand. For that kind of car, youd need something like Chevrolets new Captiva, a model that represents the start of a new era for the company in the UK.

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This is Chevrolet as many would picture it. Purveyor of a family-sized SUV that looks better but costs less than virtually all its competitors, with prices from just £16,995. More than half the battle in the Freelander/RAV4/X-Trail sector is getting both styling and pricing right. The value side of things wed expected but no one was quite ready for just how right this product looks, the first all-Chevy-developed model since the brand was re-launched across Europe.



"Chevrolets real European future starts here."

Accurately hinted at by the S3X concept car that was warmly received at the 2004 Paris Motorshow, the Captiva is a compact SUV and a sweetly styled one. In the publicity shots and even in the metal, the vehicles dimensions are well disguised. The neat, attractive front end, the BMW-esque concave flanks and the roofline that falls away toward the tail. The Captiva is a balanced piece of work with the chunky bumpers, oversize wheelarches and roof rails suggesting its rough n ready potential but not so much so that it would appear a fish out of water on the high street.

"Chevrolets real European future starts here." Chevrolet are offering a choice of five or seven-seater interior configurations, adding to the vehicles versatility. Interior space has been a key consideration in the design process and the Captiva achieves the kind of roomy passenger accommodation youd expect in a vehicle measuring 4.6m in length with a 2.7m wheelbase.

Theres 1.8m in width to play with as well and headroom shouldnt be a problem as this car measures in at 1.7m from rubber to roof rails. Interior durability is another must in a family vehicle where inquisitive little fingers are going to give the fixtures and fittings hell.

The Captiva aims for toughness but with quality fabrics and materials for an impressive all-round ambience. Under the skin, Chevrolet are introducing two new powerplants to drive the Captiva forward. A strong diesel engine is key to the success of any SUV range in Europe, hence the effort the company has put into their 2.0-litre 150bhp offering.

Its a common-rail direct injection diesel that has been developed jointly by GM Powertrain and VM Motori. Using a 16-valve layout, its capable of producing its 310Nm maximum torque at a usefully low 2,000rpm with peak power unleashed at 4,000rpm. Plumb one into a Captiva and Chevrolet claim a combined economy figure of 37.2mpg, which isnt half bad for a vehicle of this kind.

An automatic transmission will be offered with the diesel unit and, although this brings the economy down to 32.8mpg, it should deliver a noticeably more relaxed driving experience. Petrol customers will take delivery of their Captiva equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder in-line 16-valve unit.

It develops 142bhp at 5,200rpm and 220Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. Expect it to be smoother and more refined than the oil-burner but weaker through the mid-range. Fuel economy of 28.5mpg may also be an issue for some.

The eventual pricing will do much to determine which engine option attracts the most interest. There will be both two and four-wheel drive variants on offer at prices starting from £16,995. The Captiva runs on MacPherson strut suspension at the front with an independent four-link layout at the rear. Chevrolet have obviously been keen to ensure that their vehicle could perform well in poor road conditions and still not embarrass itself offroad because on four wheel drive versions, theyve included an on-demand all-wheel-drive system which instantly diverts drive to the rear axle when the front wheels lose traction.

The vehicle also features an ESP electronic stability programme and HDC hill decent control to help negotiate particularly difficult terrain. Should the worst come to the worst, theres Chevrolets ARP active rollover protection to keep passengers safe. So, Chevrolets real European future starts here. For the first time, theyre plugging into a growing market sector and, for the first time, theyve a state-of-the-art diesel engine to make the most of it.

The Captiva seems to tick the boxes that European buyers will look towards and its a vehicle that can capitalise on the Chevrolet brand image. A new era beckons.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Chevrolet Captiva range
PRICES: £16,995-£23,695 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 198-233g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.4 petrol] Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 12s [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 diesel] (combined) 31.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm