Chevrolet Captiva
Ratings
3 stars
Summary
Average. A better-developed car than any recent Chevrolet offering - but it still falls wide of the mark.
Review
This Captiva SUV is the first in a new generation of Korean-built Chevrolets. Unlike the brand's previous offerings this isn't a rebadged Daewoo - instead it's meant to be a higher-quality, more upmarket global product. More than that, it's also a very good indication of what the forthcoming Vauxhall Antara will be like, as the two cars are almost identical mechanically.
Good looks create a positive first impression - this is a well-formed, inoffensively styled car with balanced proportions, however you could also read that as 'slightly dull'. Inside, the cabin's of a higher standard than we've seen from Chevrolet before and (on all but the entry-level model) there's plenty of equipment like heated seats and an MP3 plug-in alongside relevant driver aids like ESP and hill decent control. On higher-end models the Captiva comes with seven seats and a part time four-wheel-drive system which diverts power to the rear wheels when the front pair start to slip. This works well when you're pulling smartly away from slippery junctions, but we wouldn't trust the Captiva to traverse any seriously tricky terrain. Still, both engines generate enough grunt to make the Captiva an adept tow car, particularly the 2.0 litre diesel with its 148bhp and its 236lb ft of torque. Problem with the diesel is that it becomes noisily intrusive on the motorway or under heavy acceleration - the petrol 2.4 litre is much smoother, but still feels outmoded.
Unfortunately, when it comes to business of on road driving, the Captiva's ride and handling are seriously flawed. It has one of the most unsettled, fidgety rides that we've recently encountered. It bucks and bounces over bumps and although body roll - the blight of many a large SUV - is reined in, the vague steering can be unnerving through corners. A poor ride is the Captiva's biggest downfall and it spoils other elements of the car, sidelining its smart interior packaging and clever fold-flat seat arrangement. Further problems arise from a reluctant manual gearbox and the fact that the preferable automatic is only available at the top end of the range.
Although the Captiva is much better than anything we've seen from Chevrolet before, it still falls below the class average. And the near-£25k top spec models (with seven seats, the diesel engine and the auto gearbox) are too expensive a proposition from what is still a budget brand.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
4 star
Good looking in a clean cut, middle-of-the road sort of way - but it doesn't really excite the eyes or offer innovation.
Handling
2 star
Body roll's well controlled but athletic it ain't. Similar-sized SUV rivals are much more composed through corners.
Comfort
2 star
Seats lack under-thigh support but real discomfort is caused by the jolty, bouncy, fidgety ride.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
Compared to Chevrolet's of old, cabin construction and quality has taken a significant step forward here. The shiny leather seats still feel sticky and cheap, though.
Performance
3 star
Diesel and petrol models offer similar verve with 0-60mph achieved in around 11.5 seconds, top speed's about 115mph. That diesel motor gets very vocal if you work it hard, though.
Roominess
4 star
This is the Captiva's strongest asset - provided you go for the more expensive seven-seat model. A clever fold-flat seating system makes optimum use of the significant space, and adults would be comfortable on the rearmost bench for a short journey.
Running Costs
3 star
You'd encounter acceptable day-to-day expenses for a large SUV, provided you choose the manual diesel which returns 37.1mpg. GM parts and servicing shouldn't be too costly either, but long-term residuals are likely to be poor.
Value for money
3 star
At £16,995, the petrol five-seat Captiva still represents a lot of car for your money. However there's a £3000 chasm between entry-level and the next-up diesel seven-seater with 4WD, which is the model that most people will want. Climb far above £20k and the Captiva just doesn't seem like a good dea
