Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015) Review
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Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015) At A Glance
Well equipped as standard. Seats seven reasonably comfortably. Quiet when cruising. Decent diesel engine. Improved facelifted model from 2011.
Steering is light. Not great in corners. Feels a little dated compared to other SUVs at this price.
The Captiva is Chevrolet's big seven-seat SUV, offering buyers the kind of practicality that usually comes with cars twice the price. It first went on sale in 2008 and was the first of Chevrolet’s UK models that couldn’t trace its origins back to previously being a Daewoo.
Vauxhall sells its own version of the Captiva called the Antara, but it’s the Chevrolet is cheaper, better equipped and has a great warranty. It’s a more enticing all-round proposition which explains why you'll see plenty on the roads - unlike the Antara.
In theory there’s a choice of a diesel and a petrol engine, but the 2.4-litre petrol was never a big seller and quietly dropped from the line-up so it's hard to track down on the used market. And you probably wouldn't want to anyway. The engine line-up was tweaked in 2011 and the 150PS 2.0-litre diesel, which has always been a bit on the gruff side, was replaced with a more modern 2.2-litre diesel with outputs of 161PS and 181PS.
Other changes for the Captiva facelift include new exterior styling look (most evident in the wide grille, updated headlights and puffed-up wheelarches), chrome detailing inside and an upgraded sat nav and stereo system. Chevrolet has also worked to improve refinement on the move with lower noise levels.
Since its launch, space and practicality have been the Captiva’s strongest pulls and they continue to be so, with the option of five and seven seats, plenty of space for family life and - of course - the go-anywhere capability that comes with four-wheel drive.
Whether you’re buying new or used, the Captiva represents good value for money and low running costs for a car of this size. Since Suzuki stopped the old Grand Vitara XL-7, it’s become one of the cheapest new seven-seat 4x4s you can buy.
Reviews for Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015)'s top 3 rivals
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Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.0 VCDi to 2.4
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 22–39 mpg
It’s safe to say that the Captiva isn’t built for speed or changing direction quickly. Take corners a little too quickly and rolls around in a way that’s disconcerting to passengers. It’s much happier at a more sedate pace on the motorway or on A and B roads where the ride is good and the raised ride height gives a good view of the road ahead.
The sole petrol – a 2.4-litre with 135bhp – is largely forgettable. At least it was to buyers and sales were very low, making it now difficult to come across on the used market. So most buyers went for the 150bhp 2.0-litre diesel. It’s an engine that does the job, with decent low-down pulling power, but is left wanting when it comes to refinement. It feels old fashioned and a several steps behind engines offered by other manufacturers. It gets to 60mph in just over 11 seconds.
Both engines were dropped from the line-up in the 2011 facelift (these uprated cars are easy to spot – they’ve got a big, wide grille at the front in a similar vein to the Orlando MPV). The petrol wasn’t replaced, making the entire range diesel-only for the first time.
Out went the old 2.0-litre and in came a more modern 2.2-litre avaiable with either 161bhp or 181bhp. It’s a big improvement on the old 2.0-litre, not least because it’s more powerful and yet cleaner. The 181bhp emits 25g/km less CO2 than the old engine, meaning a £55 per year car tax saving (on 2010/2011 rates). That said, it’s still quite noisy and lacks the refinement of some of its contemporaries.
The 2011 facelift also saw the five-speed manual be replaced with a six-speed. While it’s an improvement, it still requires far too much effort to change gear and you can at times find yourself fighting with the gearlever just to change. The power delivery from the engine isn't well suited to it either. There's quite a lag at low speeds so you have to wait between shifts for the power to come on song, so it's not a nice car to drive in traffic.
The automatic gearbox is a better option but is somewhat the lesser of two evils. Around town it's quite lazy and lacklustre, while if you need to change gear in a hurry, it gets all too easily caught out, leaving you with a lot of gearbox noise and not a lot else. It's happier at a gentle pace and is good on the motorway which is the Captiva's most suitable environment.
Another area where the Captiva has picked-up friends is as a tow car. With an braked towing weight of up to 2000kg and self-levelling suspension, it makes light work of horse boxes, caravans and large trailers. Some of the on-board systems get beefed-up from 2011 too. That includes the addition of Hill Start Assist, which holds the brakes for you during those tricky hill starts and Hill Descent Control, which regulates downhill speed if you’re off-roading.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 VCDi | 33–39 mpg | 10.8–11.3 s | 191–225 g/km |
| 2.0 VCDi Automatic | 33 mpg | 11.1 s | 225 g/km |
| 2.2 VCDi | 34–44 mpg | 9.3–11.0 s | 170–219 g/km |
| 2.2 VCDi Automatic | 37 mpg | 10.6 s | 203 g/km |
| 2.4 | 32 mpg | 11.5 s | 217 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
86%
Real MPG
22–39 mpg
MPGs submitted
97
Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015) interior
- Boot space is 85–1577 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4635–4673 mm |
| Width | 1850–2269 mm |
| Height | 1755–1756 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2705–2707 mm |
The big pull of the Captiva for many - after the price tag - is the fact it's available with seven seats. This means its worth considering alongside the likes if the Hyundai Santa Fe or Mitsubishi Outlander. And it's one of the best when it comes to these extra seats which are spacious and comfortable, certainly when compared to the Outlander where they seem like an afterthought.
Getting to them is easy as the seats in the second row fold and tumble forward and once there even taller adults will find the space roomy enough - for journeys up to an hour or so at least. For kids they're ideal especially as the rows in the Captiva are arranged in a 'theatre' style which means each row is slightly higher than the one in front. For youngsters who get car sick it's a real blessing as it means they can look forward - often a real help.
There's good headroom and enough room to get your feet under the seats in front. The middle row is good too and you can happily get three across without too much trouble. Of course the majority of owners won't use the back seats most of the time and the good news is that they fold down flat into the floor to create a useful albeit narrow load area as you can see in our pictures. With them folded down the boot is a useful 769 litres although with the seats up this is cut to just 97 litres which in reality is enough for a few shopping bags.
The Captiva was revised in mid 2011 with Chevrolet aiming to improve the quality and functionality inside. It's still spacious but the once drab grey plastics on the main dash have been replaced with aluminium-look trim and some shinier plastics. The overly big steering wheel remains and still looks dates but the rather odd handbrake affair has been replaced with a neat electric parking brake which also frees up space on the centre console.
There are new brighter seat fabrics, a redesigned gear lever top while the controls on the main stack arenow blacklit blue giving them a far more modern look. The stereo display is a bit old fashioned though and reminiscent of something from 1990s Chrysler. Still, the quality of the finish certainly seems good and Chrysler has worked to improve refinement too.
While the newer diesel engine is quieter, there have been changes inside too with tweaks to the windscreen, doors and headlining resulting in less road and engine noise. It certainly feels more polished than before. The level of standard equipment is impressive for the money and a big reason the Captiva has proved so popular. All models get an aux-in and Bluetooth while if you opt for sat nav you get a USB port thrown in.
Standard equipment (from June 2011 facelift):
LS is the front-wheel drive entry-level model and comes with the lower powered 163bhp engine only. It has ESC stability control, Bluetooth, electric folding mirrors, a CD stereo, an eight-way adjustable driver's seat, seperate opening glass on the tailgate, a rain sensitive rear wiper, a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobilisier, 17-inch alloys, air conditioning and electric windows.
LT is four-wheel drive and has the more powerful 184bhp engine. Standard equipment includes seven seats, climate control, half leather trim, rear parking sensors, rain sensitive wipers, automatic lights, front foglights, cruise control, a trip computer, leather steering wheel and gear lever and a passenger's under-seat storage tray.
LTZ is the top (and best looking) version and comes with full leather trim, sat nav, a reversing camera, electrically adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, 19-inch alloys, dark taillight lenses, privacy glass, headlamp washers and stainless steel sill plates.
Chevrolet Captiva (2007 – 2015) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4635–4673 mm |
| Width | 1850–2269 mm |
| Height | 1755–1756 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2705–2707 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1665–1978 kg |
| Boot Space | 85–1577 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 10000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £19,570–£31,445 |
| Insurance Groups | 21–32 |
| Road Tax Bands | H–K |
| Official MPG | 31.7–44.1 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | 2 |
| Pedestrian | 2 |
| Overall | 5 |
On sale until June 2017
| SUV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Estate 2.2 VCDi 163 LS Start+Stop 5dr | £21,310 | 44.1 mpg | 10.0 s |
| Estate 2.2 VCDi 184 LT Auto 5dr | £28,445 | 36.6 mpg | 10.6 s |
| Estate 2.2 VCDi 184 LT Start+Stop 5dr | £27,020 | 42.8 mpg | 9.3 s |
| Estate 2.2 VCDi 184 LTZ Auto 5dr | £31,445 | 36.6 mpg | 10.6 s |
| Estate 2.2 VCDi 184 LTZ Start+Stop 5dr | £30,020 | 42.8 mpg | 9.3 s |
On sale until January 2015
| SUV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.2 VCDi LS 163 5 seat 5dr | £21,410 | 43.4 mpg | 10.4 s |
| 2.2 VCDi LT 184 7 seat 5dr | £27,055 | 40.9 mpg | 9.7 s |
| 2.2 VCDi LT 184 7 seat Auto 5dr | £28,445 | 34.0 mpg | 11.0 s |
| 2.2 VCDi LTZ 184 7 seat 5dr | £30,055 | 40.9 mpg | 9.7 s |
| 2.2 VCDi LTZ 184 7 seat Auto 5dr | £31,445 | 34.0 mpg | 11.0 s |
On sale until October 2011
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0 VCDi LS (5 seat) 5dr | £21,045 | 39.2 mpg | 10.8 s |
| 2.0 VCDi LT (5 seat) 5dr | £22,835 | 39.2 mpg | 10.8 s |
| 2.0 VCDi LT (7 seat) 5dr | £24,825 | 38.2 mpg | 11.3 s |
| 2.0 VCDi LT (7 seat) Auto 5dr | £26,260 | 32.8 mpg | 11.1 s |
| 2.0 VCDi LTZ (7 seat) 5dr | £28,755 | 38.2 mpg | 11.3 s |
| 2.0 VCDi LTZ (7 seat) Auto 5dr | £30,195 | 32.8 mpg | 11.1 s |
| 2.4 LS (5 seat) 5dr | £19,570 | 31.7 mpg | 11.5 s |
On sale until April 2010
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0 VCDi LTX (7 seat) 5dr | £27,305 | 38.2 mpg | 11.3 s |
| 2.0 VCDi LTX (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £28,630 | 32.8 mpg | 11.1 s |
Model History
- September 2004
- January 2007
- February 2008
- May 2008
- May 2010
- September 2010: Facelifted for 2011
- February 2011
- April 2013: Chevrolet Captiva Updated again
September 2004
Seen testing at Millbrook as early as 2003. Mid-size 5 or 7-seater SUV built by Daewoo in South Korea, based on the US market Chevrolet Equinox. 4,639mm long x 1,849mm wide x 1,726mm high. First shown Paris Show 2004. Launch Geneva March 2006. Was supposed to be on sale in UK Summer 2006 but conversion to RHD held it back. Choice between front-drive or all-wheel drive.
All-new two-litre, 16v 150 hp, common-rail direct-injection diesel. Or 2.4-litre, 16-valve four-cylinder petrol engine. Diesel engine jointly developed by GM Powertrain and VM Motori. Offers 150 bhp at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 320 Nm at 2000 rpm. In the EC combined cycle, fuel consumption is 37.1 mpg. CO2 198g/km. Automatic transmission available with diesel engine, delivering 32.5 mpg on the combined cycle. CO2 233g/km.
Petrol engine is a 2,405cc 16-valve four-cylinder, delivering 142 bhp at 5,000 rpm and a torque maximum of 220 Nm at 2,200 rpm. The Captiva 2.4 combined fuel consumption is 31.7 mpg. CO2 217g/km.
Suspension layout consists of a MacPherson strut in front and an independent four-link design in the rear. Ventilated disc brakes are standard on all four wheels. Standard wheel/tyre combination is 215/70 R 16 tyres on 6.5J x 16 inch wheels but larger variants will be available.
January 2007
Prices announced from £16,995 OTR, on sale from June 2007.
- LS 2.4 petrol 5-speed man 5 seater £16,995
- LT 2.0 diesel 5-speed man 5 seater £19,995
- LT 2.0 diesel 5-speed man 7 seater £21,095
- LT 2.0 diesel 5-speed auto 7 seater £22,195
- LTX 2.0 diesel 5-speed man 7 seater £23,695
- LTX 2.0 diesel 5-speed auto 7 seater £24,795
February 2008
Seven-seater ‘Edge’ model based on the 2.0 VCDi LT model priced at £19,995 – a saving of £1,145 against the standard Captiva 2.0 VCDi LT with seven seats. LT spec includes air conditioning, front fog lamps, a radio CD Player with MP3 capability, electronic stability control, power-operated door mirrors, electric front and rear windows, descent control and a neat, two-piece glass flip tailgate. ‘Edge’ edition adds striking Irmscher 20-inch Evo Star alloy wheels and distinctive chrome side bars. Zest Brown (nice orangey-copper metallic) at no extra cost. Offer ends March 17, 2008.
May 2008
New entry-level diesel Captiva 5-seat 2.0 VCDi LS priced at £18,295. £1,900 cheaper than Kia’s base model Sorento, over £2,000 less expensive than the cheapest diesel Nissan X-Trail, and more than £3,500 less pricey than the five-seat Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRTD GSi.
Has air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, a glass-flip tailgate, electrically-adjustable heated door mirrors, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, a powerful six-speaker RDS radio/CD player with MP3 socket, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, front, side and curtain airbags, remote control two-stage deadlocking and charcoal-effect roof rails.
2.0-litre 150PS common-rail diesel engine powers front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, delivering a combined fuel economy figure of 38.7mpg (43.5mpg extra-urban; 32.1mpg urban). CO2 emissions are 195g/km, and the car accelerates from 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds, with a top speed of 112mph.
May 2010
New range-topping Chevrolet Captiva LTZ introduced. Best ever equipment levels for Captiva range. Auto or manual gearboxes, seven-seats. Priced from £27,305 on-the-road
The new Captiva LTZ combines looks wiuth high levels of equipment and Chevrolet’s iconic 100-year old heritage (it was, after all, the company that invented the SUV) with a price tag that’s most definitely not premium – at £27,305 for the manual (£28,630 for the auto)
Equipped with full leather, climate control, cruise control, electrically-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic lights and wipers, bold 18-inch alloys, unique rear light clusters, privacy glass, ESC and electrically-folding door mirrors as just some of its standard specification, the LTZ is by far the best-equipped Chevrolet Captiva ever offered.
But it also offers two new innovations never seen previously on the model, namely a reverse-parking camera and a touch-screen satellite navigation unit with 7-inch display. Using the display screen, the reverse parking camera comes in addition to audible distance sensors to assist the driver when squeezing into the tightest of spots, as well as offering a greater all round view of the car, picking up a view lower than that the driver gets through the back window.
The sat nav incorporates Points of Interest and postcode search, plus USB input compatibility for music and video clips, and is standard equipment on both variants of LTZ – the auto and the manual. The two options are both powered by a 150PS 2.0-litre VCDi engine and offer combined fuel economy figures of 38.2mpg for the manual, and 32.8mpg for the auto. The manual emits 197g/km of CO 2 , the auto 225g/km.
September 2010
Facelifted for 2011
The new Captiva SUV will be seen for the first time at the October 2010 Paris Motor Show, with new front end design, enhancements to the interior and new engines and transmissions. Captiva will be one of four Chevrolet world premieres.
Three new engines that will come as standard with a new manual or automatic six-speed transmission for a powerful, smooth drive. The new engine line-up, which is comprised of one petrol engine (2.4L) and two turbo-diesel variants (2.2L), incorporates a host of advanced technologies aimed at delivering an optimal balance of performance and fuel economy.
New 2.2 litre common rail turbo-charged diesel units will be available with either 163 or 184 hp outputs, while the 2.4-litre dual overhead cam gasoline unit with variable valve timing, is rated at 171 hp.
Captiva's chassis re-tuned to further enhance vehicle dynamics, improving cornering, roll characteristics and ride feel. With Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS) and Braking Assist System (BAS) standard, as well as front-, side- and curtain airbags, the Captiva provides a high level of safety.
Upgraded interior now features new finishes and textures including all-new seat fabrics and interior décor appointments. The new Captiva features Hill Start Assist, eliminating "roll-back" on hills and an electric park brake that opens up space for further storage in the center console, including two 1-liter cup holders.
The new Captiva's audio system includes Aux-in, USB-port and Bluetooth connectivity. Passengers will enjoy their audio experience all the more thanks to improved acoustic engineering resulting in reduced road, wind and engine noise. Captiva can be ordered with a touch-screen navigation system with rear view camera for parking assistance.
February 2011
Revamped Chevrolet Captiva to arrive in UK showrooms in May 2011. All come with premium features such as Electronic Stability Control, Bluetooth, power-folding mirrors and speed sensitive power steering, yet prices start at only £21,995 on-the-road.
Two engine choices for UK, both all-new 2.2-litre (2,231cc) diesel units developing either 163PS or 184PS. The former will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the latter will have a choice of manual or auto both six-speed. All LT and LTZ models, which will be the mainstay of the range, come with on-demand All-Wheel-Drive and seven seats as standard, where many of their rivals can only offer five seats.
Entry-level LS is available with the 163PS engine only, front dricve only and five-seats. As well as the ESC, Bluetooth, speed sensitive power steering and folding mirrors it gets a six-speaker CD system with MP3 compatibility, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, a two-piece glass flip tailgate, a rain-sensor rear wiper, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser with two-stage remote central locking, roof rails, 17-inch alloys, air conditioning, a trailer provision wiring harness and electric windows all round.
The LT gets on-demand All-Wheel-Drive, seven seats, climate control, half-leather trim, solar control glass, rear parking distance sensors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic lighting control, a self-dipping electro-chromatic rear view mirror, front fog lights, cruise control, a trip computer, a leather covered steering wheel and gearknob and passenger’s under-seat storage tray. The LT also gets the 184 PS engine, with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The LTZ comes with features more commonly seen on SUVs costing almost twice as much. Full leather trim, sat nav, a rear-view reversing camera, power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, stainless steel sill plates, 19-inch alloys, dark taillight lenses, privacy glass and headlamp pressure washers are offered on top of the LT’s already generous package of specification.
The new Captiva range offers some of the best CO 2 figures in the full size 7 seat SUV class. The 163PS model puts out 170g/km, while the 184PS manual variant emits 174g/km, putting both in the 26 per cent BIK band. Combined fuel economy for the 163PS engine is 44.1 mpg, and for the 184PS engine 42.8mpg – both representing a significant improvement over the outgoing 150PS powerplant.
April 2013
Chevrolet Captiva Updated again
Cosmetic changes are minor – there’s a new front bumper, new taillights, new grille design and new fog lights. There are also new 18-inch alloy wheels. The cabin has been refreshed, too, with new seat coverings and restyled trims. Specification has been tweaked a little – top models now get keyless entry and start, while there’s dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting package and heated seats in some trim levels.
What to watch out for
Strange intermittent problem on some 2009 diesel automatics. ESP lights come on and throttle becomes unresponsive. Dealer reported problem with throttle pedal sensor. After replacing and rewiring problems can re-occur requiring a more extensive fix.
10-10-2012:Diesels seem to suffer from DPF regeneration problems.
28-08-2013:Catastrophic failure of oil pump 5 months after purchase, leading to iol getting into the cooling system.
11-03-2014:Odometer on 2009 Capitva has twice reverted back from over 30,000 miles to firstly 11,000 miles and secondly 7,500 miles. Also has ABS problems. Chevrolet dealers not very interested.
28-10-2015:Clutch and Dual Mass Flywheel of 2013 Chevrolete Captiva failed at 8,500 miles. Charged £2,100 to replace it. Unable to secure ervidence that slace cylinder was at fault.
02-07-2016:Report of satnav of 2012 Captiva failing twice; once repaired under warranty in 2015, then failed again out of warranty a year later.
24-07-2016:Report of leaking sump of identical 2014 Vauxhall Antara at 22,900 miles. Dealer kept car for three days, removed both sump pans, re-sealed them and re-tested them. The cost came to £593.64.
06-03-2017:Report of transfer box of Antara exploding because of disparity in tyre sizes. "The Transfer Box on My Vauxhall Antara 4 x4 Reg J4KJC requires replaced as the bearing exploded and cracked open the casing , Arnold Clark garage have informed me that although all my tyres are well above the legal limit and it has passed its MOT only 3 weeks ago that one of them has more wear on it and this can put pressure on the transfer box , I also have lifetime warranty or 100,000 miles but they are saying i cannot claim against this and have to pay £4,100 for a new one.
27-03-2017:Report that bolt of big end cap of engine of 63k mile 2013 Chevrolet Captiva came undone and conrod smashed its way through the engine block, trashing the engine. Quoted £8,000 for a new engine. Car serviced annually 3x at Chevrolet dealer and lastly at a local garage.
03-08-2017:Report that engine of 2013 Vauxhall Antara 2.2CDTI "blew up" and that dealer wants £5,600 to replace the engine. This disaster matches a similar report of the same engine of the identical Chevrolet Captiva throwing a rod through the block when a big end cap bolt failed.
21-01-2018:Report of "nothing but problems" with 2011 Chevrolet Captiva 2011, 2.2 turbo automatic in t years ownership. The brakes stuck on, the starter motor burned out twice and some other minor things. Now the automatic gearbox has gone wrong and it’s very expensive for a new gearbox and to have it fitted.
14-08-2018:Report of transfer box of 2012/62 Vauxhall Antara "blowing up". Owner quoted £2,500 to replace it.
07-09-2018:Report of main bearing of transmission of 2012 Vauxhall Antara failing at 50,000 miles resulting in need of new transmission box, clutch and flywheel. Is this a commonly occurring reported fault. The car has only done 50k.
19-10-2020:Report of gearbox failure on 2012 Captiva 2.2 VCDi manual.
19-07-2022:Gearbox failure reported on 2012 Captiva 2.2d automatic with 92,000 miles on the clock. Owner quoted over £3500 for a reconditioned gearbox.
