SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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School run workhorse: 2016 Chevrolet Captiva 2.2D LT automatic

Sensible family bus

Posted: 16 August 2016

The numbers
Price: From R431 300
Engine: 2231 cc, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel
Power: 135 kW at 3800 rpm
Max. torque: 400 Nm at 2000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 9.8 seconds
Top speed: 192 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 10.0 l/100 km
Tank: 65 litres
Luggage: 477 – 942 litres
Max. towing capacity (braked): 1700 kg
Warranty: 5 years / 120 000 km with roadside assistance
Service plan: 3 years/ 60 000 km at annual or 15 000 km intervals

Until about mid-2013 there were more. Chevrolet’s Captiva SUV could be had in a couple of trim levels, front-wheel drive or 4x4, manual or automatic, diesel or petrol.

After that, the range was rationalised to three versions; all with LT trim that includes just about everything an urban family needs and choices restricted to engines and gearboxes. There’s a 2.4-litre petrol motor with six-speed manual or automatic and a 2.2 diesel that offers two-pedal only.

Around mid-2016 a limited-edition, petrol, manual, LS version skipped a few nice-to-haves to save 60 cash-strapped buyers R48 000 each. But we won’t be dealing with that one today. The subject of this report is the fwd, range-topping diesel automatic.

While we might miss having access to 4x4 models, it’s possibly just as well that they were dropped. Captiva is better suited to urban duties because one or two specs aren’t quite up to the hurly-burly of off-road adventuring. Maximum clearance of 171 mm, dropping to 134 when the car is fully loaded, curbs its wanderlust somewhat.

But that doesn’t take away from the way it shines in its chosen field; that of spacious and comfortable five-, and occasional seven-seat, family bussing and school run workhorsing. Second-row seats fold completely flat to make access to the back easier or to load longer cargo; the passenger floor is flat, making entry and exit easy; there are sufficient cup holders and storage spots and everyone has a proper seat belt. And blurry-thumbed teens will appreciate the connective wonderland offered by MyLink2.

Seats in the third row are fully usable by all but the tallest adults or lankiest teenagers yet, unlike most competitors in the three-row segment, it offers a decent 477 litres of kit bag- and hockey stick space. Then, when using Captiva’s imposing height and big windows to go sightseeing en-famille through game parks, it drives smoothly and comfortably over gravel roads thanks to sophisticated McPherson strut (front) / four link (rear) suspension. Just stay away from the badly eroded stuff.

Getting back to “everything an urban family needs”, this includes the expected safety kit – six bags, ABS brakes with EBD and BAS, ISOFix child seat anchorages, three-point belts on all seats, electronic stability control, traction control, continuously variable real time damping with trailer stability assistance (these work to distribute mass forces evenly across the vehicle  and are activated automatically when a heavy load is detected in the rear, resulting in improved handling), and hill start assist to prevent rollback on inclines. Chevrolet kindly left in the hill descent facility fitted to earlier 4x4s.

Most of the usual luxury kit is present too: on-board computer, eight-way electronically adjustable driver’s seat with manual lumbar control, dual zone air conditioning, MyLink 2.0 with large touchscreen,  rear park assist, cruise control, keyless entry and start, 18” alloy wheels, auto-on headlamps, front and rear fog lights, electric windows all ‘round and powered folding mirrors. As expected, there is a proper spare; an equivalently sized (215/70 R16) steel wheel slung under the body.

Bearing in mind that this is a sane and sensible family bus, performance is competent rather than exciting. Try 9.8 seconds up to 100 km/h and a top limit of 192. Manual override is by means of a Tiptronic-style lever but there are no paddles. If you’re in a mood to hustle, the handling feels safe and capable while progress is decently energetic. The diesel engine can be heard working but isn’t intrusive.

Briefly, there are other seven-seat family wagons out there and most are pretty good. This one, for its price, is one of the better offerings.

Test car from GMSA press fleet


Read our  launch report on the 2016 Captiva range here

Please Note: Leather upholstery is an option

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What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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