Chevrolet Captiva ON THE ROAD

Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

The Captiva was the very first mainstream model launched by Chevrolet that wasn't simply a rebadged Korean Daewoo. It has since been followed by an entire range of General Motors related cars that really bolstered the credibility of Chevrolet in the UK. To keep the Captiva looking its best it has recently benefited from a series of minor revisions so we thought we would see what it has to offer.

With probably one of the biggest grills you will see on a European car the Captiva certainly has plenty of road presence aided by its generous dimensions. New for 2013 are revised front and rear bumpers, squarer twin exhausts and smart full LED rear lights replacing the tacky looking clear lense items that went before. 

In a world where manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries of interior quality the Captiva is pretty old hat. The trim feels cheap and doesn't look particularly appealing with smatterings of cheap-looking silver trim all over the place. The design too is showing its age with a steering wheel that appears to have been lifted straight out of a truck and the pixelated stereo display harks back to the era of Pac-Man.

Thankfully Chevrolet's obsession with handy storage compartments is evident - there are loads including a clever hidden compartment under the centre cupholders. The cabin is very spacious with our car boasting two additional seats in the cavernous boot that offer a little more room than a lot of other Captiva-sized cars. It's also a very comfortable place to be with a commanding view of the road and plenty of seat and wheel adjustment for the driver.

Our mid-level LT comes well equipped boasting alloy wheels, dual zone climate control, cruise control, front and rear electric windows, rear parking sensors, half leather seats, automatic lights and wipers and a USB and Bluetooth compatible DAB stereo. At £28,925 it is hardly cheap but it's certainly a lot of metal for the money and who pays list price for a Chevy anyway?

Propulsion comes from a 2.2 litre 16v 181 bhp diesel unit with 400 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm. Having to lug around nearly 1,900kg means that performance is adequate taking 10.6 seconds to reach 60 mph topping out at 118 mph.

Engine refinement is respectable and the delivery of power is smooth with good mid-range muscle ideal for overtaking and climbing inclines. Our cars 6-speed auto box changes cogs pretty seamlessly but it is slow to kickdown and those changes are far from quick. 

The driving experience is pretty good as long as you aren't in a hurry. The Captiva rides comfortably and quietly only coming unstuck on really decayed surfaces and passengers are well insulated from external noises. The steering is also nice and light.

However keener drivers probably won't be drawn to the Captiva. When pushed it rolls excessively in bends and the steering is devoid of any feel amplified by the huge wheel itself. On sweeping country roads it also wallows around quite a bit and the chassis tends to run out of grip more quickly than you would usually expect of a four-wheel drive. Still when the weather turns ugly having all-wheel drive will be very worthwhile.

Running costs are another area that will make you wince with emissions of 208 g/km which results in an annual VED cost of £270 (Band K). It's worth noting that first year VED will set you back an eye-watering £600. Economy is also lacking, we only managed 27 mpg on a combined cycle which means frequent fill ups despite the large fuel tank.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £28,925
Engine: 2.2 litre 16v 181 bhp - 0-60 mph: 10.6 secs - Maximum Speed: 118 mph -
Economy: 27.1 mpg (urban) –43.4 mpg (extra-urban), 35.7 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 208 g/km (Band K) - VED (12 months): £270
Dimensions: Length: 4,673 mm - Width: 1,849 mm - Height: 1,756 mm - Wheelbase: 2707 mm
*data from Chevrolet UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

The Chevrolet Captiva isn't fast, economical or particularly plush inside. It’s also showing its age in a number of areas. But what is does offer is excellent levels of comfort, refinement, space and good kit levels. When driven in a relaxed manner - which suits its character - the Captiva makes a superb alternative to similarly priced rivals from Hyundai and Kia and is certain to prove dependable. The in-your-face styling also holds plenty of appeal.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Chevrolet Trax ON THE ROAD

Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

Just when you thought you had seen enough small crossovers another one arrives. This time it's Chevrolet's turn to have a go. Cousin to the Vauxhall Mokka the Trax is based on the same platform as the Aveo and is aimed squarely at the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Peugeot's 2008 (reviewed last week). We got the keys to a top spec LT manual 2WD fitted with GM's trusty 1.7-litre VCDi diesel lump to see what it brings to the party.

Chevrolet is keen to emphasise that although there are obvious similarities between the Mokka and Trax - sharing the same chassis, engines and basic architecture - they actually don't share any body panels inside or out. They are however both available with either two or four-wheel-drive.

To these eyes the design team behind the Trax have done a great job. It has a blocky, butch look to it proudly wearing Chevrolet's large, split grill and bow-tie emblem. Chiseled surfaces and squared off, bulging arches make it appear larger than it really is when in reality it's footprint is smaller than a VW Golf. Its plastic body cladding and slightly raised ride height enforce its crossover aspirations.

Inside the Trax is unmistakably a Chevrolet with its flawless ergonomics, clear layout and appealing design. Just like the Aveo there's a motorcycle inspired instrument cluster with large rev counter and digital speedo but this time its more successfully integrated within a traditional binnacle. 

The choice of materials used are pretty workmanlike but at least they don't look it - in fact they appear quite the opposite. Build quality is up to GM's usual high standards with everything feeling really substantial.

Practicality is one of the Trax's biggest assets. Inside it feels much larger than it is with excellent levels of passenger space both front and rear - headroom is particularly generous. The boot is as spacious as any of its rivals but none can match the amount of neat storage areas dotted around the cabin - we counted 12 in the front alone. We were really surprised to find a 230v 3-pin plug socket in the rear - genius!

There are three powerplants to choose from - two petrols including a normally aspirated 1.6-litre and a turbocharged 1.4-litre. Fitted to our car is the only diesel engine offered - a 1.7-litre kicking out 128 bhp and 221 lb ft of torque from 2000 rpm mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox - an auto is also available.

One thing's certain - there's plenty of power on offer despite the units narrow powerband requiring frequent gearchanges to keep it on the boil - 0-62 mph is dispatched in a brisk 9.6 seconds. 

What's really disappointing is how noisy it is. At idle, under acceleration and when cruising it constantly chatters away just like a diesel engine from a decade ago. Adding high levels of tyre roar into the mix makes for tiring journeys. 

Crossovers aren't expected to offer an exhilarating driving experience but they do need to be comfortable as after all they are designed with families in mind. Disappointingly the Trax falls short. 

An overly firm ride means that the Trax struggles to deal with uneven surfaces which occasionally crash through the cabin. Only the smoothest surfaces give the suspension a chance to settle down. The suspension is also quite bouncy which is particularly noticeable over sleeping policeman.

Thankfully the firm suspension does enhance the handling. The Trax has lots of grip and is reasonably neutral with well contained bodyroll. The firmness of the ride does however cause the rear to shimmy out of line when encountering mid-corner bumps. 

The steering is also over assisted and has an unpleasantly elastic feel making it difficult to judge exactly what the front wheels are doing which doesn't inspire confidence. 

At £18,945 the Trax LT is keenly priced against the competition and comes with a good tally of equipment. Automatic lights, air conditioning, rear parking sensors and camera, 18" alloy wheels, cruise control with speed limiter and four electric windows are all standard. As is Chevrolet's MyLink 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system that is a doddle to use and looks thoroughly modern. Linking up all manner of devices via Bluetooth or USB is very straightforward. It can even work in conjunction with your phones sat nav app displaying directions on the screen.

Running costs won't break the bank either as 55 miles-per-gallon is achievable and with emissions of just 120 g/km VED will set you back just £30 per annum (Band C). Furthermore all Chevrolets come with a 5-year warranty and should prove to be reliable.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £19,915 (18,945 excl options)
Engine: 1.7 16v 128 bhp - 0-62mph: 9.6 secs - Maximum Speed: 116 mph -
Economy: 52.3 mpg (urban) - 70.6 mpg (extra-urban), 62.7 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 120 g/km (Band C) - VED (12 months): £30
Dimensions: Length: 4248 mm - Width: 1797 mm - Height: 1674 mm - Wheelbase: 2555 mm
*data from Chevrolet UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

The Trax has a lot to offer buyers in search of a compact crossover. 

It looks great, has a well designed and highly practical interior and is generously equipped. It also handles reasonably well and its diesel engine is punchy and economical. 

Unfortunately it has a few dynamic shortcomings. The ride is a little on the firm side for British roads and the unrefined, boomy nature of the engine and high levels of road noise make the Trax an arduous car to drive on long journeys. 

It's a real shame as the little Chevrolet has all the ingredients of a really great car. If Chevrolet could get the ride sorted and improve engine refinement the Trax could rival the very best - let's hope they do.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).

5 Cars You Probably Didn't Know Existed

Words by Rob McSorley

In the UK we may have a broad and varied number of cars to choose from but there are a lot of cars that are never sold over here. We have a look at 5 models that you may not have ever seen before that have been on sale outside the UK for some time.

1. Mitsubishi Colt Plus

What do you get if scale up a Mitsubishi Colt to 70%? The Colt Plus of course. Launched in Japan in 2004 the Plus sat above the regular five door Colt but offered quite a bit more interior space for passengers along with a larger boot. Its styling shares a lot with the hatch on which it’s based but looks more bulbous. Its interior was quite different going without the circular air vents and vertically stacked heater controls. There was also the option of a powered tailgate with an obstacle sensor. Interestingly Mitsubishi offered a hot version of the Colt Plus called the Turbo which had a 143 bhp petrol engine and racy styling which included a bonnet scoop and more aggressive bumpers. The Plus was never sold in the UK but it would have made an interesting rival to the Vauxhall Meriva.

2. Chinese Citroen C2

You may be thinking that we have made a mistake as the Citroen C2 was sold in the UK but in China the C2 is an entirely different machine. Essentially a thoroughly reworked Peugeot 206 the Chinese C2 had very different styling which echoed the rest of Citroen’s range with familiar twin chrome grill bars that incorporate the two chevrons. The rear was also unique from the 206 with the numberplate moved down to the bumper and larger, clear light clusters fitted which looked like aftermarket items. The interior was little changed with a Citroen steering wheel but nothing more. There was even a VTS version but it was just a styling upgrade without any improvements in performance or handling.

3. Volkswagen Pointer / Logus

Due to the oil crisis both Ford and Volkswagen of Brazil joined forces to form the AutoLatina group which was intended to reduce the cost of new models for both brands by sharing components. Two of the fruits of the alliance were the Pointer hatchback and Logus 3-door saloon which were heavily based on Ford’s fifth generation Escort. Volkswagen did a commendable job of disguising the Ford underneath with all-new sheetmetal and a completely different interior. Only the hardpoints such as the windscreen pillars and wheelbase give the game away. The Pointer and Logus soldiered on until 2000 wher the AutoLatina partnership dissolved.

4. Chevrolet Spin

Launched in 2012 the Spin is Chevrolet’s take on a compact MPV to rival the likes of the Citroen C3 Picasso and is based on the same Gamma II platform as the Aveo. Styled like many of Chevrolet’s other models the Spin is a spacious 5 seater with the option of 2 additional seats in top trim levels. It is designed to replace the ageing Chevrolet Meriva in developing countries and also the larger Orlando. Its interior is similar to that of the Aveo but is much more basic than what we are used to in the UK going without a stereo in the most basic trim levels.

5. Brazilian Ford Ka

Ford’s second generation Ka arrived on the market in 2008 the result of a joint venture with Fiat sharing much with the hugely popular Fiat 500. In Latin America Ford chose a completely different route and launched its own unique Ka replacement. Essentially a heavily revised version of the original Ka the new model grew in size with a higher roofline and more upright rear end designed to give rear seat passengers more space.The interior was also significantly redesigned with more storage and a more modern design although the basic architecture remains the same. It also saw the introduction of a new rear bench that could seat 5 people.

Do you know of any weird and wonderful cars from around the world? Let us know in the comment box below.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.co.uk).

Chevrolet Volt ON THE ROAD

Review by Rob McSorley

Photos by Mat Brooks

Due to skyrocketing fuel prices more than ever buyers are seeking more fuel efficient cars. The market is saturated with hybrid and EVs that all come with big claims. General Motors have been a little slower to react to the sea of change but this is about to change, now they have their very own Eco warrior the aptly named Chevrolet Volt, sister to the Vauxhall Ampera. Different from everything else on the market the Volt is a range-extender and is claimed to offer a staggering 235.4 miles per gallon, but is it any good? Read on to find out.

Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 VCDi Exec ON THE ROAD

Review by Rob McSorley

Photos by Mat Brooks

The Chevrolet Orlando is a bit of an unknown entity in the UK. As the name suggests it was originally intended to be manufactured in the states where it has been a huge hit as it was primarily designed for the American market. Now a few years into its life it's a curious looking MPV with its chunky, almost retro Americanized styling but is actually an indirect replacement for the ugly, unloved Tacuma. We got our hands on a top spec LTZ model to find out if the C-Max and Scenic have reason to be concerned.