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Captiva moves up the spec-cing order

21st February 2011 Print
Chevrolet Captiva

With a bold new face, upgraded cabin, competitive CO2 outputs and a spec list that leaves many of its rivals in the shade, the new Chevrolet Captiva looks set to take the SUV sector by storm when it arrives in UK showrooms in May.

All models will come with premium features such as Electronic Stability Control, Bluetooth, power-folding mirrors and speed sensitive power steering, yet prices start at only £21,995 on-the-road.

Two engine choices will be available for the UK market, both all-new 2.2-litre diesel units developing either 163PS or 184PS. The former will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the latter will have a choice of manual or auto both six-speed. All LT and LTZ models, which will be the mainstay of the range, come with on-demand All-Wheel-Drive and seven seats as standard, where many of their rivals can only offer five seats.

The range kicks off with the entry-level LS. Available with the 163PS engine only, the five-seat LS still has a raft of standard equipment often found only in much more expensive models. As well as the ESC, Bluetooth, speed sensitive power steering and folding mirrors, the front-wheel-drive model gets a six-speaker CD system with MP3 compatibility, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, a two-piece glass flip tailgate, a rain-sensor rear wiper, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser with two-stage remote central locking, roof rails, 17-inch alloys, air conditioning, a trailer provision wiring harness and electric windows all round.

Moving up the range, the LT gets on-demand All-Wheel-Drive, seven seats, climate control, half-leather trim, solar control glass, rear parking distance sensors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic lighting control, a self-dipping electro-chromatic rear view mirror, front fog lights, cruise control, a trip computer, a leather covered steering wheel and gearknob and passenger’s under-seat storage tray. The LT also gets the 184 PS engine, with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The pride of the new Captiva range is the LTZ, which comes with features more commonly seen on SUVs costing almost twice as much. Full leather trim, sat nav, a rear-view reversing camera, power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, stainless steel sill plates, 19-inch alloys, dark taillight lenses, privacy glass and headlamp pressure washers are offered on top of the LT’s already generous package of specification.

What’s more, the new Captiva range offers some of the best CO2 figures in class when it comes to full-size seven-seat SUVs. The 163PS model puts out 170g/km, while the 184PS manual variant emits 174g/km, putting both in the 26 per cent BIK band. Combined fuel economy for the 163PS engine is 44.1 mpg, and for the 184PS engine 42.8mpg – both representing a significant improvement over the outgoing 150PS powerplant.

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Chevrolet Captiva