CHEVROLET CAPTIVA 2,4 LT

There have been plenty of technological developments in the automotive industry that push the boundaries of safety, environmental and autonomous issues, but they do tend to push prices beyond that of the average consumer. So, it’s refreshing that every once in a while a vehicle comes along that comes kitted with just the bare essentials for those on a budget, and the recently updated Captiva can count itself among them. Or so I thought.

Sales of crossovers and compact SUVS are burgeoning not only in South Africa, but the rest of the world as well, and to keep up with some of the trend Chevrolet put the Captiva’s nose under the knife. It now boasts a revised grille and LED daytime running lights and 18-inch alloys in the cladding-protected wheelarches. I’m not sure the facelift is enough to win-over the boereworsbelt brigade, but it manages to exude enough machismo to not be mistaken for anything too soft.

The drivetrain is decidedly old-school, a large four- cylinder engine not particularly efficient (though helped by a six-speed transmission) but also not too noisy. It’s smooth enough for urban driving, but you really need to get to about 70 or 80 km/h in top gear to keep your wallet happy because I didn’t get close to the manufacturer’s consumption claim.

The relative thirst at city speeds was compensated for by decent poke on the open road and milder consumption over a weekend trip up the Garden Route and the 65-litre tank was all I needed to get to my destination and back again.

Don’t let the looks and engine fool you however. It’s in the cabin that the Captiva packs the most punch.

The occupants were kept happy by Chevrolet’s Mylink infotainment system, which allowed for NEED TO KNOW PRICE: R396 600 ENGINE: 2,4 four-cylinder petrol CO2: 210 g/km EFFICIENCY: 8,8 litres/100 km POWER/TORQUE: 123 kw/230 N.m TRANSMISSION: six-speed manual 0-100 KM/H: 10,5 seconds AFTER-SALES: 3 year/60 000 km service plan