Making comparisons really helps understanding – what is it and is it not?



The Chevrolet Captiva’s Size

The Chevrolet Captiva is a medium size crossover SUV (sports utility vehicle). At 4639 mm long it’s bigger than more compact SUVs under 4600 mm. Compacts include the BMW X3, Honda CRV, Jeep Cherokee, Freelander, X-Trail, and Rav4.

The Captiva is not as big as huge SUVs over 4900 mm long, which include the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Shogun, Range Rover, and Mercedes GL. Some SUVs are way wider than the Chevrolet Captiva’s 1849 mm width, including the Q7, X5, and all the new Land Rover range, the Mercedes GL and ML, and Patrol. All are over 1900 mm wide.

The Chevrolet Captiva is more the size of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, Grand Cherokee, Discovery, Lexus 400, Mercedes ML, Outlander, Mirano, Pathfinder, and Volvo XC90.

Where the Chevrolet Captiva scores is whilst scraping into the medium size class, its interior space and the versatility of 7 adult size seats challenge larger vehicles. This is because its total space is not compromised by unnecessary gearbox, and suspension mechanisms. The space is used to accommodate people and luggage.

The Chevrolet Captiva’s Style

Style is matter of taste so this is my personal opinion. It seems to me SUVs can have a utility, rational – wanna be a Hummer tough look, a classy slab-sided style, a sporty, dynamic appearance or look like elevated estate cars.

Attempts at the Tonka-Toy look include the Honda CRV, all Jeeps, Mitsubishis, and nearly all Nissans.

The new Land Rover Range and Vauxhall Antara very successfully achieve the classy slab-sided look.

Various attempts at the more sporty style include the Q7, BMW range, Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, Lexus, Mercedes range, Murano, Cayenne, Rav4 and VW.

The Subaru and Volvo appear to be elevated estate cars.

Driving the Chevrolet Captiva.

You must always test drive a car for yourself. Don’t listen to pundits who compare every car with the pleasures of driving a Ferrari. I always judge a car by what it holds itself out to be – what it promises. I must say I find expensive cars boasting their badge – disappointing. The performance figures may look impressive but they’re not even achievable on a German autobahn. Cheap cars I generally find just that – cheap but not disappointing. Later drivability might be the deciding factor.

Economy

You can dismiss most SUVs on the basis of running costs. Out go the Audi, BMWs, Land Rovers, Mercedes, Porsche, VW and Volvo on the basis of cost. Generally these SUVs are also uneconomical, have poor CO2 emissions and high insurance groups.

In summary, the new Chevrolet Captiva is not a huge SUV. Big SUVs are TOO big. The Captiva is just that bit bigger than compact SUVs with interior space and 7-seat versatility to challenge larger SUVs. It gets 100% for style. And the whole package represents value.

So the Captiva is not a big Audi Q7, BMW X5, Shogun, Range Rover, or Mercedes GL. It’s not a compact BMW X3, Honda CRV, Jeep Cherokee, Freelander, X-Trail, or Rav4. The new Chevrolet Captiva is more a Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, Grand Cherokee, Discovery, Lexus 400, Mercedes ML, Outlander, Murano, Pathfinder, or Volvo XC90.

In styling approach it only resembles the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, Lexus 400, Mercedes ML and maybe the Murano.

The Lexus, Merc and Murano we can discount on the basis of cost.

So we have three contenders to test drive – the Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia Sorrento.