Chevrolet Captiva (07 on) - Review

Chevrolet has traditionally been associated with iconic muscle cars like the Corvette and Camaro, and the small band of ex-Daewoo products it inherited in 2005 have struggled to establish themselves in the budget car sector. The Captiva is the first Chevrolet product that doesn't have its origins in an earlier Daewoo-badged model. It is also the first Chevrolet to reach the UK with a diesel engine - and diesel versions come with four-wheel drive and modest off-road ability. The single petrol model is front-wheel drive and only available as a cut-price entry point to the range. The Captiva diesel is available with seven seats and makes a decent car for a large family, but a few too many signs of cost cutting associated with budget brands are evident. The Captiva was given an overhaul in early 2011 with new diesel engines, new automatic and manual gearbox as well as some exterior and interior design tweaks. The latest engines offer more power than before, but are also cleaner meaning running costs are lowered. While an engaging drive is still not its forte, the new engines offer strong performance and practicality continues to be its trump card.