CHEVROLET

CAPTIVATE ME When it comes to ‘sports utes’ there aren’t too many operators in the business that can teach Chevrolet any new tricks. Andy Enright takes a look at the Captiva 2.4-litre LS

When it comes to so-called ‘crossover’ vehicles, Chevrolet has quite some history. In fact, it can be traced back to 1935 when the company launched the Suburban Carryall, bringing with it a model name that has lasted to the present day. Before the Carryall, a station wagon was built on a van chassis with rear bodywork fashioned from wood but the Carryall was capable of carrying eight passengers and their gear in comfort.

Fast forward over sixty years and the Captiva can carry up to seven in comfort, albeit not all adults. So where’s the progress? Chew on this. The old Carryall developed 79bhp from its 3.3-litre straight six, power going to the rear wheels via a three-speed gearbox. Emissions? Off the charts. Fuel consumption? Broadly irrelevant to the target customer. To succeed in today’s automotive environment, manufacturers have to bring their A-game or give up. Chevrolet has come out fighting. Of all the models in the Captiva line-up, the entry-level 2.4-litre LS is perhaps the closest, in philosophy at least, to Chevrolet’s crossover marketing blurb. The reason why is that despite the aggressive looks and raised seating position, this isn’t a 4x4 at all. Power is directed to the front wheels only, making this a vehicle suitable only for road use. Before we condemn it as a fraudster, a modern day Matra-Simca Rancho, perhaps we should examine this market a bit closer. Honda has been here before and so has Toyota, offering 4x4 looks to a pragmatic clientele. The Captiva LS sports a 141bhp 2.4-litre petrol engine that will be overlooked by most buyers who will instead tick the box marked 149bhp diesel engine and pay a good deal more. Maximum power chimes in at a fairly heady 5,200rpm with the maximum torque of 220Nm arriving at 4,000rpm so you’ll need to rev this engine to get it stoked up. The suspension has been tuned for European conditions at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire and features a MacPherson strut setup at the front and an independent four-link arrangement at the back. Sixteen-inch wheels with 70-profile tyres don’t say a lot for the Captiva LS’s cornering prowess but do help with the ride quality.

"As a school run special, it’s brilliant"

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 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. 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, the Captiva is 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 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 in diesel engined LT guise. That and its long wheelbase of around 2,700mm. This LS five seat version instead offers serious carrying capacity for the slightly smaller family, the rear bench folding flat to the floor when you need to maximise luggage space. The LS trim level may be the base model in the Captiva hierarchy but in comparison to many erstwhile rivals, it’s relatively stacked. Careful thought has been applied to what people really need in a sports utility vehicle as opposed to equipment for equipment’s sake. As examples, the power steering system is further aided by a rake adjustable steering column. There’s air-conditioning for comfort, powered and heated door mirrors, speed sensitive windscreen wipers, electric windows all-round, vanity mirrors for both driver and passenger, a fully retracting loadspace cover and a tailgate glass section that can be opened separately from the tailgate itself by the key fob remote control; they’re all there for convenience. Even the fully integrated in-car entertainment system has an MP3 function so that you can listen to your own choice in music. Front and side window tinting also helps to keep the large glass area from turning the car into a mobile propagator in summer. Safety and security are well attended to.On this LS model, twin front and curtain airbags are standard, head restraints and full three-point belts are fitted on all seats (including the third row), front seat belts feature pretensioners as well as a smart seat belt reminder and there are ISOFIX fittings for child seats in the rear. Also standard is deadlocking and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm system. Calculating the total cost of ownership of the Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LS involves a few imponderables at present. It’s not a notably economical vehicle, with combined fuel economy pegged at 28.5mpg. These tests are conducted under lab conditions. In real life I wouldn’t be surprised to see this vehicle return something in the very low twenties when loaded with family paraphernalia. You don’t get all this size for free. Depreciation is a tougher one to pin down. While the Chevrolet badge will help residuals, the market for relatively thirsty petrol-engined vehicles of this type has been rather stagnant and many used buyers will rightly feel that the diesel makes a better bet. Insurance is reasonable but if you look to the Captiva LS to offer low running costs, it may well disappoint. In all likelihood, this will be a model that does little to dent the public consciousness. The reason is simple. Pair a relatively big, heavy vehicle with a petrol engine while charging comparatively little for it and the very same customers attracted by the eye-catching price will be turned off by the not inconsequential running costs. The Captiva LS actually offers very little in terms of functionality over a decent mini-MPV, many of which are now very competitively priced, even for state-of-the-art diesel versions. This Captiva will appeal to the low mileage user who wants a vehicle with real presence. As a school run special, it’s brilliant. For anything more demanding it’s easy to find the concept wanting. That’s not to say the Captiva is a poor vehicle per se. With a diesel engine and all-wheel-drive, it becomes a far more attractive proposition.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LS PRICES: £16,995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 10 CO2 EMISSIONS: 217g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 11.5s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm

CHEVROLET’S CAPTIVE AUDIENCE 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 £16,995) 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 310Nm at 2000rpm. In the EC combined cycle, fuel consumption is 37.2mpg. 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 142bhp at 5,200rpm and a torque maximum of 220Nm at 4,000rpm. The Captiva 2.4’s combined fuel consumption is 28.5mpg. 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 five seats. For £19,995, you can buy yourself the entry-level LT five-seat 2.0VCDi diesel, though the variant most customers will likely opt for is the £21,140 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 £23,740. 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: £16,995-£23,740 - 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) 41.5mpg / combined) 37.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm

CAPTIVA AUDIENCE When it comes to building an authentic 4x4, there aren’t many that can show Chevrolet the ropes. Andy Enright takes a look at the diesel Captiva

Few manufacturers have as much experience of building all-wheel drive vehicles as Chevrolet. When it comes to off-road vehicles Land Rover, Jeep and Toyota all have illustrious records but in terms of units shifted, all three have to give best to Chevrolet. All too often, however, Chevrolet products have lost something in the translation from the US market to Europe, where the requirements are often a lot more demanding. These days, Chevrolet is a far more global concern and concentrating on the domestic market just isn’t going to keep the wolf from the door, hence the development of models such as this Captiva diesel.

Playing on away turf is always a more demanding gig and coming face to face with cars like the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Land Rover Freelander is a big ask of a relative newcomer to this sales arena but the Captiva has some serious firepower to bring to bear. Chevrolet offers six models in the Captiva range and it’s a measure of the importance they put on diesel motive power that all but one of them features a 149bhp diesel engine under the bonnet. The other model is something of a curio, the front-wheel drive 2.4-litre petrol model appearing the odd man out. This diesel will punt the big-boned Chevy to a top speed of 111mph. High speed refinement would be helped by the fitment of a six-speed gearbox although there is a more relaxed diesel option available at a price. The peak torque of 320NM arrives at a lowly 2,000rpm which gives the powerplant a nicely sinewy feel. The all-wheel drive system incorporates hill descent control as well as the more commonplace stability and traction control systems and lends the Captiva a modicum of off-road ability although ride height isn’t exactly nosebleed-inducing. The suspension has been tuned for European conditions at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire and features a MacPherson strut setup at the front and an independent four-link arrangement at the back. Seventeen inch wheels are fitted to entry-level LT versions with the ritzier LTX model sporting eighteen-inch rims. 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 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.

"If you need your family car to offer a 4x4 feel together with space and plenty of equipment, start your search here first…."

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, the Captiva is 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 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 in diesel engined LT guise - that and its long wheelbase of around 2,700mm. The LT model offers a choice of five and seven seats with the LTX models all being fitted with a third row. The Captiva diesel opens with an eye-catching £19,995 sticker price in LT five seat guise and this model is certain to prove popular. 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’ll need £23,740 for the manual car and a little more for the automatic. Standard equipment over and above LT trim includes 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. The Captiva diesel probably isn’t going to break the bank to buy and running it shouldn’t send you to the wall either. Business user choosers would do well to note that although the manual car emits a fairly respectable 197g/km of carbon dioxide, the automatic is notably less efficient and its 233g/km showing will have the Chancellor rubbing his hands in glee. Likewise the petrol car’s decent 37.1mpg combined fuel economy figure is a whole lot more palatable than the diesel’s 32.1mpg result. Depreciation is a tougher figure to pin down. While the Chevrolet badge will help residuals, the market for this sort of vehicle is stuffed with more well-known and established contenders. That said, the excellent warranty arrangement offered by Chevrolet could help prop up values. Insurance is reasonable and repair costs are said to be among the industry’s most competitive. If space is a key criterion when choosing a budget 4x4, choose one that’s significantly less compact than its rivals. This is the Captiva’s key selling point. In certain respects it feels like a vehicle from a class above and the seven seat option is certain to prove popular with growing familes who don’t want to surrender to the crushing mediocrity of an MPV. The diesel engine, while willing, isn’t as responsive as the best units in the class such as those offered by Toyota or Honda. It’s also not particularly rewarding to drive, the ride being fairly good but the handling vague and the steering a little woolly. Despite the stars and bars badge, the Captiva is at heart a South-East Asian product with lots of kit for those who don’t care too much about dynamics but do value a small asking price. In comparison with a range topping Honda CR-V this represents a better equipped, bigger car for around £1,000 less and there are lower running costs too. If you need your family car to offer a 4x4 feel together with space and plenty of equipment, start your search here first.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Chevrolet Captiva 2.0VCDi diesel range PRICES: £19,995 - £23,740 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-12 CO2 EMISSIONS: 197g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 111mph / 0-60mph 11.5s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32.1mpg / (extra urban) 41.5mpg / combined) 37.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS, ESP, hill descent control WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm

FAMILY FAVOURITE 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 you’d picture from the bow tie brand. For that kind of car, you’d need something like Chevrolet’s new Captiva, a model that represents the start of a new era for the company in the UK.

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 we’d 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.

"Chevrolet’s 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 vehicle’s 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 it’s rough ‘n’ ready potential but not so much so that it would appear a fish out of water on the high street. "Chevrolet’s real European future starts here…." Chevrolet are offering a choice of five or seven-seater interior configurations, adding to the vehicle’s versatility. Interior space has been a key consideration in the design process and the Captiva achieves the kind of roomy passenger accommodation you’d expect in a vehicle measuring 4.6m in length with a 2.7m wheelbase. There’s 1.8m in width to play with as well and headroom shouldn’t 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 have introduced 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. It’s a common-rail direct injection diesel that has been developed jointly by GM Powertrain and VM Motori. Using a 16-valve layout, it’s 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 isn’t half bad for a vehicle of this kind. An automatic transmission is being 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 with slightly less pulling power through the mid-range. Fuel economy should average just under 30mpg, helped by the fact that unlike the 4x4-only diesel models, this variant comes with front wheel drive only. The headline £16,995 entry-level price applies only to this 2.4-litre five-seater petrol model. The variant that in the real world, most customers are likely to actually buy is the 2.0VCDi 7-seat diesel, costing £21,140 in LT spec (though there’s 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. 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, they’ve 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, there’s Chevrolet’s ARP active rollover protection to keep passengers safe. So, Chevrolet’s real European future starts here. For the first time, they’re plugging into a growing market sector and, for the first time, they’ve 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 it’s 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-£23,740 - 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) 41.5mpg / combined) 37.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm

SEEKING A CAPTIVA AUDIENCE 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 you’d picture from the bow tie brand. For that kind of car, you’d need something like Chevrolet’s new Captiva, a model that represents the start of a new era for the company in the UK.

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 we’d 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.

"Chevrolet’s 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 vehicle’s 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 it’s rough ‘n’ ready potential but not so much so that it would appear a fish out of water on the high street. "Chevrolet’s real European future starts here…." Chevrolet are offering a choice of five or seven-seater interior configurations, adding to the vehicle’s versatility. Interior space has been a key consideration in the design process and the Captiva achieves the kind of roomy passenger accommodation you’d expect in a vehicle measuring 4.6m in length with a 2.7m wheelbase. There’s 1.8m in width to play with as well and headroom shouldn’t 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. It’s a common-rail direct injection diesel that has been developed jointly by GM Powertrain and VM Motori. Using a 16-valve layout, it’s 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 isn’t 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, they’ve 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, there’s Chevrolet’s ARP active rollover protection to keep passengers safe. So, Chevrolet’s real European future starts here. For the first time, they’re plugging into a growing market sector and, for the first time, they’ve 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 it’s 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 & side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4639/1848/1722mm