CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

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

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

A huge interior and the option of seven seats helps the Chevrolet Captiva stand out from the growing crowd of entrants in the compact 4x4 sector. Sturdy build quality and attractive pricing also give this utilitarian vehicle an edge in attracting family buyers.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

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 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.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

The Captiva is offered in a front-wheel drive entry-level guise with petrol or diesel power or as a proper 4x4 with the diesel engine. The all-wheel drive models offer 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.

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. Automatic transmission is available with this diesel and if you decide upon it. 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.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

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.

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 are available.

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).

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

The range opens with the petrol 2.4 LS model with five seats. Next up is the entry-level LS 2WD five-seat 2.0VCDi diesel, though the variant most customers will likely opt for is the seven-seat 4WD LT version. If you're looking for something a little plusher, there are also LTX and LTZ variants with seven seats and diesel power.

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.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

In terms of fuel economy, Captiva buyers will get 31mpg from the petrol model of 37mpg from the diesel while emissions for the two engines are 217g/km and 197g/km respectively. Most buyers will pick the oil-burner even if it is considerably more expensive as a result of its 4x4 running gear and it has the added benefit of being a more desirable proposition on the used market so residuals will be strong.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 VCDI LTX 5DR [7 SEATS]

Although Chevrolet has 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. The space inside the Captiva is its big selling point and the seven-seat option gives it a further advantage over the majority of its rivals as far as buyers with large families are concerned.

The Captiva is the best Chevrolet product to make it to the UK thus far and it deserves to succeed for this reason if nothing else. The vehicle isn't flashy in any way or particularly innovative in its design but it's got the compact 4x4 basics very nicely taken care of indeed.