Once we tested Chevrolet Captiva. It proved to be a comfortable companion for inter City runs and boasted of impressive fuel economy numbers as well , but that was about it. Off the road into true forest trails , the SUV�s limitations cropped up. Inclines see the front wheels spinning away helplessly and muddy paths give a tough time to the porky beast. It badly needed a dose of an all-wheel drive and other electronic aids to be a true-blue SUV. Nonetheless , its sales figures remained impressive with the Captiva pipping the best selling CR-V a number of times in terms of monthly sales. An automatic version and an all-wheel drive option were the only things that stood between this Chevy and sure shot success now. But Chevrolet went a step ahead and decided to give us the best of both the worlds along with a few other gizmos in the Captiva LTZ.

We were in Mumbai for the ICOTY / IMOTY awards last month when the LTZ was delivered to us. Driving towards Pune at midnight while negotiating heavy truck traffic brought back memories from last year when i had to take the big SUV from the heart of the city onto the expressway. This time , I could rest my left leg and arm thanks to the new automatic gearbox. The five-speed manual �box has been replaced by a similar speed automatic One with a claimed fuzzy logic that changes gears as per the driver�s inputs. Being used to some Superb and ultra responsive automatics like the Audi , the Beemer and the Merc , I wasn�t exactly impressed with the LTZ�s responsiveness. A week later , my opinion still hadn�t changed. Aspi reconfirmed the fact that it does take a second for the Captiva�s auto �box to respond especially when stomping the throttle for overtaking. The �box also has an option for changing gears manually. This is a welcome feature and very helpful for spirited driving.

Even at an indicated 140km/h , there is enough juice left in the mill and given the stick , the speedometer will show over 180km/h. The next day�s performance testing also impressed us with the results. As compared to the manual gearbox variant , the LTZ is just a shade slower to the 60km/h mark and only a second sluggish in the 0-100km/h sprint taking just 13.6sec � absolutely fantastic for a 1910kg SUV with a 2.0-litre diesel engine! Talking of the engine , it is the same motor found on the Chevy Magnum albeit in a higher state of tune developing a hundred and fifty horses with 320Nm of torque. The problem here , however , is the way this vehicle responds. Under 1800rpm , the SUV feels anaemic. Pedal to metal , you have to wait for a second before the �box finds the right cog and shoves the SUV ahead. Although , once above 2000rpm , the urgency with which the Captiva gathers speeds is phenomenal.

The huge exterior dimensions don�t necessarily translate into the best in class cabin space. Though the driver�s seat is electronically adjustable and spacious for tall adults , it the second and third rows that feel a bit too tight as compared to say the Honda CR-V. The design of the fascia is not the best either but ergonomics are good and there is an airy feel inside. Neat touches like a generous dead pedal , an adjustable speedometer display illumination and a rather loud horn are appreciable. The central console seems to have been designed thoughtfully. The multi-info display is followed by a small compartment , the audio system , climate control and the gear lever. One grouse was apparent � the steering wheel obstructs the flow of air to the driver which can make matters quite warm on a hot day!

The suspension seemed to get ruffled by the omnipresent cement slab joints on the expressway and is not able to absorb the harshness of small undulations. In town , again sharp undulations are not absorbed properly although as the speed builds up , you don�t have to bother about slowing down for potholes. The tyres , running on an aspect ratio of 60 , are rather low profile for a SUV and are partially responsible for the harsh ride over sharp undulations. Stability , however , remains top notch and impressive. What has really made a difference is the inclusion of an all-wheel drive and ESP (electronic stability program) package that also includes traction control and descent control system. The former two show their true colours when the heavy SUV is flung into corners � the fantastic Hankook tyres provide oodles of grip. For clicking photographs , I decided to take the Captiva to the same location we went to a year back. There are quite a few rough inclines around , the ones that made the 2WD Captiva back off with its tail between its legs. This time though , the electronic aids made all the difference. In fact with the descent control on , it was a breeze rolling down a very steep dirt decline.

The Captiva has always been a handsome looking sports utility vehicle. The chunky front end looks pleasing with the huge headlamps , the sporty air-intake design and the silver finished skid plate. The bold wheel cut-outs with beefy 235/60 Hankook tubeless tyres mounted on 17-inch wheels , the integrated air-intake and the twin exhausts protruding from the rear give a massive road presence to this Chevy. In my opinion , the Captiva is definitely one of the better looking SUVs in India.