Chevrolet Captiva (2011) first official pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

13 September 2010 12:09

Chevrolet has facelifted the Captiva SUV and will show the car in public for the first time at the 2010 Paris motor show as one of four world debuts. It's a modest refresh, with a new front end design, cabin upgrades and new engines and transmissions.

The seven-seater SUV has been around since 2006 and is due a mid-life pick-me-up. Noteworthy details include a larger grille, newly recontoured bonnet, prism-style headlamps, fresh side air vents and indicator repeaters built into the door mirrors. Keep things in perspective; from the A-pillars back, it's business as usual – this is very much a new face grafted on the familiar Captiva shape.

Another boring facelift... what else is new?

Well, this is the way the industry works. Four years in, and a cosmetic enhancement is de rigueur. To stay competitive, such facelifts are crucial, if only so the adverts can scream 'new' when we all know otherwise. And besides, we've always rather liked the attractively styled and priced Captiva.

There is plenty new under the bonnet. Three new GM engines are available with manual or six-speed auto transmissions. Choose from a 2.4-litre petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel in two states of tune, mustering 161bhp or 182bhp; the petrol output falls squarely between the two diesels, at 169bhp. The Captiva comes with front- or four-wheel drive.

It's a Chevy. Loads of kit, presumably?

You bet. The Captiva is bursting with TLAs (that's three-letter acronyms to you and me). ESC, TCS, BAS – you name it, the electronic handling aids are all present and correct. Hills start assist, electric handbrakes, USB ports, Bluetooth, touch-screen nav, parking cameras... Plenty of boys toys are available.

The interior of the Captiva is also upgraded, with new seat fabrics, ice-blue back lighting and a more wraparound fascia to delineate between passenger and driver zones. Apparently. We'll know for sure once we see the car at the Paris motor show on 30 September 2010.

UK sales of the new 2011 facelifted Chevrolet Captiva start in spring 2011.

By Tim Pollard