Autox india


 
 
 
DRIVEN
SECOND TIMES
A CHARM...
 
This is General Motors second attempt at a mini SUV for India. The first time around, they introduced what was essentially a Chevrolet badged Subaru Forester. While the Forester, in itself, was extremely capable and very technologically advanced (see the Forester overview separately), it lacked mainstream appeal. First of all, it looked more like a large station wagon than a traditional SUV, and therefore also lacked the customary SUV high seating position. Secondly, its full time all-wheel drive meant it sipped more petrol than its rival, the ever-popular Honda CR-V. And to top it all, the Chevrolet brand was new to India, post 1950 anyway, and couldn't quite match the cache of Honda at the time.
Over the past few years, General Motors India has established the Chevrolet brand considerably, and now its time for a second attempt, in earnest, to take the shine of the CR-V. The initial signs look good. In keeping with the new Chevrolet family look, the Captiva has an imposing and aggressive face with a large Chevrolet bowtie dead center. It looks like a traditional SUV, has lots of room inside and also allows you to sit higher than regular cars on the road. Yet, it's a monocoque chassis, which means it feels refined and car-like to drive. And what the General hopes will be its killer blow for the Indian market, is its turbocharged, common-rail direct injection diesel engine – as compared with the CR-V and Grand Vitara's petrol powerplants.
 
   
THE CAPTIVA HAS AN IMPOSING AND AGGRESSIVE FACE WITH A LARGE CHEVROLET BOWTIE DEAD CENTER

Text: Dhruv Behl
Images: Rohan Badshah & Anil Kumar
 



   

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