Chevy's Captivating 4x4

[jbowman1993]

Bangkok Post

Friday, January 27, 2006

Chevy's captivating 4x4

This Korean-developed sport-ute promises looks and practicality to meet the demands of fashion-conscious buyers who are bored with saloons

What is it? The Captiva marks Chevrolet's foray into the growing compact sport-utility vehicle market that is now crowded with many promising models. It comes with a choice of two- or four-wheel-drive, 142hp 2.4-litre petrol or 150hp 2.0-litre diesel and five- or seven-seat configuration.

It looks quite good...

Yeah. Looks are bloody important in SUVs nowadays. Some cool design cues include the flared wheel arches, front apron, twin exhaust pipes and fluid-looking head and rear lamps. In fact, the Captiva evolved basically unscathed from the S3X concept version shown at the 2004 Paris Motor Show.

...but it has Korean origins

Don't be put off by this. Ever since General Motors took over ailing Daewoo, it created a new unit called GM Daewoo and started making decent cars like the Optra compact family car current on sale in Thailand.

What's special about the Captiva?

Nothing outstanding really. But expect the Captiva to be a very complete SUV in its class with competitive prices and high specification like brake assist, hill descent control, stability control and rollover protection system. Chevrolet has also ensured buyers of driving comfort: the turbo-diesel option that is usually available with only a manual gearbox in European-spec SUVs comes with an automatic option.

How does the Captiva measure in practicality?

As said earlier, the Captiva also comes with seven seats. This is possible due to a spacious package sitting on a 2.7m-long wheelbase with an overall length of 4.6m. This is particularly important in the presence of the latest-generation RAV4 from Toyota that is hugely popular in Europe.

What are its Thai sales prospects?

It makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next month and hits European showrooms in August. The Captiva would serve as a good weapon for Chevy against the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Nissan X-Trail in Thailand. However, our sources believe the Captiva won't come to Thailand, as it would have to be made in Thailand (or other Asean countries) to yield competitive prices.

But didn't Chevrolet always yearned for an SUV?

It did and still does. What they could be looking at instead is an SUV developed from the Colorado pickup which, in turn, is a reskinned Isuzu D-Max. Using such a strategy enables Chevrolet to enjoy the 20% excise tax applied on PPVs (pickup-passenger vehicles), thus enjoying better margins than building the Captiva which must face 30% and higher content of parts sourced from abroad.

You mean something like the Toyota Fortuner?

Spot on. Imagine a Chevy 4x4 with the Colorado's front end. Reskinning Isuzu's MU-7 is theoretically possible, although the market knows that the MU-7's lengthy body, cumbersome drive, rear leaf springs and fixed third row isn't competitive against the Fortuner that has more practical dimensions and driving manners..

How long will be the wait?

Can't tell. Chevrolet (GM) never talks about tomorrow. And their product strategies are notoriously volatile. But now that production of the Zafira mini-MPV has stopped, Chevrolet badly needs a one million baht alternative for non-saloon punters. In the meantime, sign that cheque for the Fortuner.

[terdsak_12]

It looks like a Kia Sorento, or is it a re-badged Sorento. Not bad, but pricey SUVs.

[chanchao]

It looks like the designers had a long hard look at Volvo's SUV..

But if I read the article correctly, there's no guarantee whatsoever that the thing will even come to Thailand.. Indeed rebadging whatever Isuzu's more serious answer to the Fortuner will be would make a lot more sense.

Fortuner left the entire 1.2--2 million baht SUV market DEAD. And rightly so.

Cheers,

Chanchao