Chevrolet Captiva

Our verdict

The Chevrolet Captiva is the best Chevy to grace UK shores so far. Sounds like damning with faint praise, but this is a relatively cheap little SUV with seven seats. Worth a look, surely?

Comfort

Soft suspension makes the Captiva plenty comfortable enough to tool around in. Fit and finish is good, so motorway cruising is perfectly acceptable, but the diesel can be noisy.

Performance

Not hugely fast and the choice comes down to 2.4-litre petrol power (134bhp, 0-62mph in 11.5 seconds and 115mph top speed) or diesel in the form of a 2.0-litre Cdi with 148bhp, the same 0-62mph time and a lower 111mph top end. The diesel is torquier and the better option.

Cool

No. Except maybe to Chevrolet Lacetti owners.

Quality

Can feel budget in the plastics, but this feels like a car to take on real life rather than ponce around in. Nothing to worry unduly about.

Handling

No permanent 4x4 (‘Haldex' clutch is front-drive until the wheels lose grip and then the rears push) and the base model is front-drive only, but the Captiva is tidy enough. There's plenty of safe understeer if you push too hard and the suspension copes well with the UK, even if it is a bit soft.

Practicality

Superbly practical.Seven seats, masses of headroom. Worth noting that as with all seven-seat SUVs once that third row is in use, the bootspace drops from 465litres to a teacup-sized 85litres. So seven people or luggage, not both.

Running costs

Used values are pretty rickety, but go for the diesel if you need mpg (37.2mpg versus the petrol's 31.7mpg). Worth noting also that the diesel auto jumps into the highest tax band.