Chevrolet Captiva 2012-2014 2.0 Xtreme

Captiva 2012-2014 2.0 Xtreme Review

Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 Xtreme is a Sport Utility Vehicle that has a sturdy design and a sporty look. It is a respectable offering from its car maker that is engineered to be able to traverse any kind of terrain – from city streets to weekend excursions to cross-country vacation, as such it is quite versatile. The SUV scores moderately as compared to Audi Q5 2.0 TDI and Honda CR V 2.0L 2WD, but does not leave out any essential components considering its reasonable price.

Exteriors

This SUV from Chevrolet doesn't boast of packing a host of frills and goes with the serene yet sufficiently stylish look. With stainless steel door sill plates and chrome grip-type door handles, the Captiva 2.0 Xtreme also has silver painted skid plates and satin silver roof rails. The twin rear tailpipe has a chrome tip as well, while aluminium inserts are incorporated in the rear bumper loading area. Adjustable headlights are a useful feature , as are the fog lights at the front as well as the rear end of the vehicle. The exterior rear-view mirror is electronically adjustable, as is usually seen in most cars nowadays. While the car comes with pre-fixed alloy wheels, some may be surprised at the lack of wheel covers, given the terrain this vehicle is supposed to be suited for. There is also no pre-fitted rear spoiler. The Captive 2.0 Xtreme comes in four colours – Granada Black, Linen Beige, Kandinsky Red, and Poly Silver.

Interiors

Sumptuous interiors makes Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 Xtreme highly desirable. The car comes packed with leather seats and leather steering wheel. While the common features such as air conditioner, heater and glove compartment are there , the deluxe features such as adjustable steering column and electronic multi-tripmeter make the interiors that much richer. However, one cannot oversee the absence of fabric upholstery, digital clock, digital odometer and suchlike.

Engine and performance

Running on a diesel-based 2.0L 147.9bhp VCDi engine , Captiva 2.0 Xtreme has the capability to produce a maximum of 147.9bhp at 4000rpm and a maximum torque of 320Nm at 2000rpm. Additionally, the engine can efficiently displace 1991cc , while having the capacity to hold 65 litres of fuel. The transmission is manual. The in-line engine has 4 cylinders and 4 valves per cylinder with an SOHC valve configuration. The fuel supply system is CRD I, while also noteworthy is the compression ratio of 17.5:1. While the car is equipped with turbo charger, it lacks super charger. The car is built to provide a mileage of 11kmpl in the city and an increased mileage of 14kmpl on the highways . Significantly, the pick-up of the SUV is bankable and the acceleration is quite competent as well. The automobile has been tested to reach the speed of 60kph in 5.94 sec, and the speed of 100kph in 13.85 sec ; significantly the car can reach an overall top speed of 168.65kph.

Braking and handling

Both the front as well as the rear brakes in the vehicle are of the ventilated disc type . The handling of the SUV is made smooth with the help of features such as power steering, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and a rack and pinion type steering gear. The car boasts of a 5.8m turning radius (wheel base) lending worth to its braking and handling features. The front suspension is a McPherson strut with Twin tube gas pressure strut while the rear suspension is a multi link, level ride with twin tube gas pressure strut, complemented by gas filled shock absorbers. The self levelling suspension technology keeps the suspension stable no matter what the load is.

Safety features

This Chevy model is outfitted with an anti-lock braking system. Equipped with central locking, power door locks and child safety locks , the car has effective safety features. Moreover, there are auxiliary safety characteristics, namely anti-theft alarm, driver airbag, rear seat belts and seat belt warning which promise safety of the passengers. Halogen headlamps along with front and side impact beams facilitate the driver in driving at night. Adjustable seats, keyless entry and centrally mounted fuel tank add extra protection for the travellers. Furnished with ABS with EBD, the SUV has seat belt pretensioner and load limiter too.

Comfort features

One finds that the Captiva is brimming with such features so as to make every ride in it a comfortable and luxurious one.  Not only is there an automatic climate control feature, but there also is an air quality control feature, making sure that in addition to adequate temperature, the quality of the air inside the cabin remains uncompromised. A tilt-adjustable, multi-function steering wheel and an eight-way power adjustable driver seat with lumbar support makes the navigation of the vehicle easy and comfortable for the driver, even for longer journeys on the road. While all windows are powered, the driver's window has the additional one-touch-down feature. The outside rear-view mirrors are heated and are endowed with turn indicators. The remote trunk opener and remote fuel lid opener, including low fuel warning light and accessory power outlet add to the convenience factor of the car.  For those who enjoy music while driving, the integrated 2-DIN audio system with 6 speakers supplies both quality sound and is easily accessible through compact discs, USB drives and two-band radio . The snazzy, stylish driver-side armrest with dual storage and the cup holder, portable ashtray all make up for a utility-driven cabin furnishing. Rear seat headrests, an armrest in the centre of the rear seat and a rear reading lamp make sure that passengers in the back of the vehicle have a leisurely experience too.

Pros

Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 Xtreme is a decently efficient SUV with bold looks, contemporary interiors and a justified performance as regards the price of the vehicle.

Cons

It has a limited off-road capability. An assortment of features which make an SUV complete – such as cruise control, fabric upholstery, digital odometer, rear window wiper, washer and defogger – are missing. Top-notch safety aspects like brake assist, door ajar warning, traction control, tyre pressure monitor, vehicle stability control system, engine immobilizer, crash sensor and engine check warning have been neglected.