The new Chev Captiva is a capable vehicle that does everything one would expect it to. Except maybe to set the pulses racing, says Jaco Kirsten.

So where does the Captiva come from? The Captiva is one of those Chevs that isn’t really a Chev. Remember Daewoo? Well, in 2001 General Motors had the clever idea of buying the bankrupt Daewoo. The reason was that they wanted to gain a foothold in the East. This turned out to be a very clever bit of foresight as most GM products sold globally are now sold in overseas markets – especially in countries such as China – as opposed to in the United States in days gone by.

So the Captiva is a Korean product that is owned by an American company. Confused? Well, the C-Class Mercs are built in East London for a German company. And just for some light entertainment: until recently, the Captiva was sold in Korea as the Daewoo Winstorm.

But isn’t the Captiva getting a bit long in the teeth?
It made its international debut in 2006. With most model ranges, vehicles receive a mid-cycle facelift, and as the average model life is seven to ten years, it seems as if it happened at just about the right time.

So, what’s new?

When a vehicle is face-lifted there is only so much one can really do. As far as the Captiva is concerned, the most visible change is the bigger new grille with a decidedly more aggressive look. It doesn’t seem that different – until you park the new Captiva next to the old one.

Under the bonnet, the former 2.4 petrol engine (100 kW and 220 Nm) has been replaced by a new version (123 kW and 230 Nm), while the 3.2 litre V6-petrol (169 kW and 297 Nm) has been replaced by a more powerful 3 litre V6 (190 kW and 288 Nm). GM says that a 2.2 litre turbodiesel will only arrive here later this year.

All gearboxes, from the 2.4’s manual or the range-topping 3-litre’s auto, are now six-speed units.

And inside?

Apart from the interior, especially the instrument panel that looks a lot more modern, the Captiva’s hand brake has been replaced by an electronic park brake –essentially a switch, so no more hand-brake turns on Saturday nights.

All new Captivas now have a six-CD shuttle, eight speakers and a radio/CD with RDS (it searches for stations at the press of a button), MP3 ability, Bluetooth pairing with cellphones and iPod plugs.

Chevrolet also claims that the cabin is quieter than before, thanks to improved sound damping.

What we do know, is that the seven-seat layout is still one of the best on the market, with the rearmost two being able to either be stowed away completely in the floor, or folded out in a few seconds.

And how does it drive?

It offers a comfortable drive (how many modern cars don’t?) and at the launch two things became obvious: it handles very well on tar and it is therefore more suited to good dirt roads than rougher stuff. The range-topping LTZ models are fitted with 19-inch wheels, but according to GM you can easily fit the LT’s 17-inch wheels if you intend fitting it with all-terrain tyres.

The 2.4 is available as either a front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle, but the latter is only available with a manual gearbox. In the four-wheel-drive version, power is normally sent to the front wheels and if spin is detected, power is sent to the rear wheels as well. Another handy trick is its hill assist function – this enables one to smoothly pull away against inclines as it applies brake pressure until you accelerate.

The six-speed manual of the LT model isn’t the sharpest in the business, but few owners of the 2.4 will be trying to smash lap records around Kyalami with their Captivas, so it’s just as well.

Conclusion

The Captiva is a capable and enjoyable vehicle that – if you take its target market into account – will have many contented owners. At R299 900 the entry-level 2.4 (front-wheel drive) is a good buy. But there’s not much excitement and it doesn’t stir the senses like the Kia Sorento, for example. But hey, in a market where every second vehicle is a white Toyota, this surely cannot be held against it.

Key stats

2.4 AWD manual                    3.0 AWD V6 auto

Engine: 2384 cc inline four-cylinder; 2997 cc, V6
Power: 123 kW @ 5 600 rpm; 190 kW @ 6 900 rpm
Torque: 230 Nm @ 4600 rpm; 288 Nm @ 5 800 rpm
Top speed: 186 km/h; 198 km/h
0-100 km/h: 10.3 sec.; 8.6 sec
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive; 6-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Suspension: McPherson struts front, independent multi-link rear
Brakes: Discs front and rear
Tyres: 235/55 R18; 235/50 R19
Ground clearance: 175 mm; 178 mm
Approach angle: 24º
Departure angle: 23º
Wading depth: not available
Weight: 1830 kg; 900 kg
Fuel tank: 65 litre
Fuel consumption: 9.2 litre/100 km (combined); 10.6 litre/100 km (combined)
Warranty/service plan: 5 years or 120 000km/ 3 years or 60 000km
Service interval: 1 year/15 000 km
Price: R341 200; R434 900

Drive Out says:

The Captiva is a subtle improvement on a good recipe. This baby won’t sort out your midlife crisis, but that’s what sexy secretaries and fast motorcycles are for, hey?