CHEVROLET CAPTIVA test drive since 2006 SUV

Family values

Under the Chevrolet brand in General Motors, they bring another promising model to our market. Captiva should take good positions in the segment of family crossovers, having a balanced set of advantages.
Probably, in GM they themselves cannot explain how they were able to lose the European SUV market for many years. After all, Opel Frontera debuted back in 1991, being one of the first SUVs capable of ensuring comfortable movement in the city and highways. Europeans were not very worried about the kinship of Frontera with the little -known Isuzu Rodeo, the main thing is that the model itself was quite successful. It is not surprising that soon in Opel they also prepared their twin Isuzu Trooper Montery, larger, solid and expensive. What happened later is difficult to explain from the point of view of logic. Monterey quickly got off the stage, and Frontera followed after a series of restyling and serious updates. The official version is clear: in the new millennium, Frontera became difficult to compete with fresh classmates who, in their behavior on the asphalt, were much closer to ordinary cars. And then in GM and Opel itself, they were so carried away by the creation of compactwenes like Meriva and Zafira, which seems to have forgotten about the SUV segment.
Help came from an unexpected side. After the GM has joined the bankrupt Daewoo company, the entire program of modern and future Korean models was analyzed. It was then that it became clear that in Daewoo they advanced great in creating a promising crossover with an attractive design and relevant technical filling. Therefore, GM simultaneously solved a lot of diverse problems. Firstly, the most suitable Daewoo models were re-represented in the European market with adjusted appearance under the Chevrolet brand. Secondly, there was an active preparation of the crossover for serial production. Moreover, in their best traditions, GM preferred to build several cars on one successful basis at one successful basis. First, the serial production of Chevrolet Captiva started, and then the turn and Opel Antara came.
 
It seems that Chevrolet cars are ideally responsible for the concepts of doing GM business in Europe. In recent years, Opel models have become more and more daring in design, advanced technically and more expensive. Such an evolution of Opel programs corresponded, for example, the progress of the eternal competitor Volkswagen. Obviously, the current Astra is a much more complex and expensive car in production than a long -standing rustic Kadett. Under these conditions, Chevrolet models help to achieve sympathy of those customers who do not want to pay for the technical development of Opel models. Chealership centers of the Chevrolet and Opel brand are also presented under the same roof among many dealers not only in Russia, but also in the same Germany.
Modern presentation
A couple of years ago, many with skepticism met the GM decision on the transformation of Daewoo models into Chevrolet. Now it is called one of the most effective in European practice. It turned out that Europeans are ready to purchase affordable cars from Opel sellers under an outlandish overseas brand. Of course, both in design and in dimensions, Spark and Lacetti are unlikely to meet European ideas about truly American cars, but Captiva can already be accepted for Chevrolet from Detroit.
 
The creators endowed Captiva with a bright, memorable appearance. Everything from the mesh air intakes in the front bumper and slots in the front wings to the bloated hind wings and complex hind lamps suggests that before us, it was the new one that a couple of years ago such elements could afford only premium manufacturers. Captiva actually has everything you need to impress others. Initially, the car was created as a 7-seater, and therefore received the dimensions, it seems, thoroughly going beyond the scope of the SUVs. He continues the glorious American traditions in the new European Chevrolet line and still offers a lot of car at an affordable price. With a length of 4639 mm and a width of 1849 mm Captiva only a little loses the BMW X5 of the last generation. By the way, the fellow Opel Antara will be produced only in a 5-seater version, and therefore in short a few centimeters.
But in the interior, the Korean origin of Captiva is already becoming more obvious. In terms of the quality of materials and the design of the salon in the Chevrolet with this model, they reached a new level, but if you wish, you can find something to complain about. So, at first, the four -spoke steering wheel of a solid diameter and the upper part of the stylish central console, which were taken to an additional compartment for little things, with its rusted lid, is somewhat surprised.
 
But the rest of the Captiva salon is good. There are enough places for passengers of all three rows. It is in contrast to many other SUVs of comparable sizes that in this car that the comfortable placement of two adults is provided even on the third row of seats. And children are more than enough for children. True, climbing the gallery in Captiva is still not as convenient as in large minivans: the doorway is not the widest, and the thresholds are located at a decent height from the asphalt. Of course, both folding rear rows of seats provide many options for transforming the salon. It is felt that, if desired, the car can take a solid volume of luggage aboard, not inferior to compactly sprouting vans.
Predictable technique
According to its ideology, Captiva can be considered a typical crossover, providing a combination of the qualities of an all -wheel drive station wagon and a real SUV. The car has characteristic off -road proportions and dimensions, large clearance. However, all -wheel drive transmission is close to the world of cars. A hydraulic coupling with electronic control allows you to ride on the front -wheel drive under normal road conditions. If necessary (in the sand, on a wet road, in other difficult road conditions), the coupling throws, albeit with a slight delay, part of the torque on the rear wheels. As a result, it turns out that such a full -wheel drive will fully cope with the tasks that may occur during normal operation. We will not forget about the psychological moment: the elegant Captiva with many plastic parts along the lower perimeter of the body hints to the owner that it is better to refuse to conquer serious off -road. Like other SUVs, Captiva does not have a lowering series in the transmission in it.
 
As we found out, the capabilities of Captiva are quite enough to travel along the wet broken sandy lane. Large clearance, rather long suspension passes and all-wheel drive will allow you to get to a country house even by the remains of the once laid road. But to go to the conquest of a serious off -road is better on a more rude and functional SUV.
 
On the asphalt coating, Captiva behaves adequately. The technical characteristics of the car quite accurately correspond to its character. In Europe, Captiva is offered with two gasoline and one diesel engine. The bestseller in this line, of course, is a 2-liter diesel from VM Motori with a decent dedication of 150 hp. and 310 Nm. Unfortunately, such diesel captiva has not yet been supplied to us. Therefore, the proposal is limited by gasoline 4-cylinder 2.4-liter engine with a capacity of 133 hp. and V6 with a volume of 3.2 liters and a capacity of 225 hp A weaker engine can be ordered with both the manual transmission and with an automaton, and more powerful only with automatic transmission. But it is worth casting a glance at Captiva price list, and it will become clear that there are simply no problems of choosing between engines. The most expensive 4-cylinder version and basic 6-cylinder divides $ 4,000, which is more than 10% of the cost of the machine.
 
For acquaintance, we took Captiva in the basic specification with a 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission. The dynamics of the car is quite adequate. The manufacturer declares acceleration from a place up to 100 km/h for 11.5 s, but I do not want to get closer to this result in practice. The temperament of a gasoline engine can be considered characteristic of the European market. Surely its creators tried to achieve some compromise for all important indicators from elasticity and noise to compliance with environmental norms. At idle, the motor works quietly, gaining a voice after 3000 rpm. Subjectively, the engine shows some revitalization after 3,500 rpm the speed set becomes more energetic. However, the desire to actively work as a lever of gearboxes with long moves in the city disappears quickly: the car does not from this especially frisky. Drivers with aggressive driving style will have to revise their priorities or order Captiva from V6.
 
Moreover, the chassis seems to be moving at a good pace in our conditions. Firstly, on the dimensions of the dimension 235/60 R17, the car is characterized by good smoothness. He copes with pits and bumps without signs of displeasure. Such behavior causes a desire to add gas, since the car does not go off the given trajectory. Secondly, Captiva intuitively understands itself in corners. For this, you should thank the all -wheel drive transmission and the ESP dynamic stabilization system. However, the complete order of the car and with the center of gravity. The machine does not resemble SUVs of similar sizes of a decade ago, including the same Opel Frontera. According to the design of the Captiva suspension, it is similar to passenger cars: in front of McPherson, a well -established multi -link design is well proven from behind. As a result, on the straight line and in corners on no better roads, this car will be even faster and more confident than most ordinary universals. True, with maneuvers at low speeds, you will have to get used to the steering wheel, which makes a large number of revolutions from the stop to the stop. It is curious that at speed this feature of Captiva no longer reminds of itself.
Made in Russia
It is interesting that it is Captiva today that is one of the most important models in the Russian market for General Motors. In 2008, the completion of the construction of the GM plant in the Leningrad Region in Shushars was scheduled, where Captiva will be produced, among other things. And in fact, the copy that we met was released in Russia at the Arsenal factory in St. Petersburg using a large-sized assembly technology. All this indicates the seriousness of the General Motors intentions to promote Captiva in Russia. This is also confirmed by a pricing policy: a car in the basic configuration costs $ 29990. It seems that the modern and roomy Captiva will be able to not only take its place in the SUV segment, but also successfully compete with the usual station wagons and compactives for the sympathies of many Russians.
Technical characteristics of Chevrolet Captiva 2.4
Dimensions, mm 4639x1849x1726
Base, mm 2705
Front/back track, mm 1562/1572
Trunk volume, l 465/930
Equipped mass, kg 1730
Engine type gasoline 4-cylinder
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 2405
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 133/5000
Max. moment, nm/rpm 220/2000
Mechanical transmission 5-speed
The drive is complete
Max. Speed, km/h 184
Tires 235/60 R17
Acceleration time 0-100 km, from 11.5
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km 9.1
Tank volume, l 65
 
Fedor Oldin
Photo by Alexander Vasiliev
 

 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine