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.