Since its global re-emergence from the ashes of Daewoo, Chevrolet has come a long way in terms of design and engineering.
Sure, most of its products are still built in South Korea, but the rebadged Daewoos are now a thing of the past and what we see now are truly global products designed by GM and styled to look like the Chevrolets that they are.
The Captiva SUV was no doubt designed in the early days of this arrangement and was a bit bland as a result. While clean looking, it never really stood out in the crowded 'soft SUV' parking lot.
Fresh from middle-age facial surgery, the 2011 model now has a far more aggressive frontal appearance that's in line with the more muscular image that GM is trying to create for the brand.
Like the new Aveo/Sonic, the Captiva stares down traffic with its more angular headlights and huge double-port grille. Sadly, the more subdued side and rear profiles remain virtually unchanged.
Which makes it hard to comprehend that this is in fact "effectively an all-new vehicle" as GM puts it. Backing up that claim is a whole lot of new stuff beneath the skin, including fresh engines, chassis improvements, a new electronics package and lower NVH levels.
Of particular interest in the vehicle we tested was its brand new V6 engine, which delivers a significant increase in power output. The new direct injection three-litre unit with variable valve timing pushes 190kW at 6900rpm and 288Nm at 5800rpm (old one delivered 169kW and 297Nm).
Sounds like quite a hotrod in SUV terms then, yet in the real world you don't feel that urge the way you'd expect to - at least not at Gauteng altitudes. Not only is this a rather heavy seven-seater, but it's not particularly strong in the lower reaches of the rev range. You feel a tinge of excitement as you start it up to hear that grunty, almost industrial V6 growl only to realise that you're making a lot of noise but not really going anywhere in a hurry - unless you really work the engine. If nothing else, that exhaust note adds some old-school charm though.
The six-speed automatic gearbox, while effective most of the time, also has an annoying tendency to hunt at times and is not always in tune with prevailing driving conditions.
Then there's the fuel consumption - 10.6 litres per 100km on the slowly-driven claimed combined cycle, but closer to 14 litres per 100km in real-world conditions.
V6 SUV's such as this are automotive dinosaurs in the greater scheme of things. It really makes no sense when there are so many gutsy yet economical turbodiesels out there. If you're after a Captiva, I highly recommend waiting for GM to bring the 2.2-litre turbodiesel in later this year.
The rest of the driving experience is otherwise rather painless. The ride is supple, the cabin quiet and the handling neat enough, although the steering lacks anything in the way of feel or feedback. This model also has permanent all-wheel drive as standard for those odd mild off-road jaunts and to keep you firmly planted in slippery conditions.
The interior has seen a mild facelift and while the overall appearance is similar to before, there are a few new panels, switches and décor appointments to differentiate it from the pre-facelift model.
This LTZ model also boasts a modern, eight-speaker sound system with aux input and Bluetooth connectivity and you'll find all the goodies you expect at this high level, including leather trim, automatic climate control, cruise control and a power-adjustable driver's seat.
I wasn't particularly impressed with that seat, however. The backrest had a fairly hard, almost cardboard-like feel to it and the seat was slightly loose. Despite this little glitch, overall interior quality seemed impeccable.
Being among the biggest 'soft' SUVs, the Captiva offers loads of room for rear passengers, with ample legroom offered to middle-row occupants (who can also recline slightly) and even the third row seats could squeeze a normal-sized adult.
At R434 900, the Captiva 3.0 LTZ is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination but it is a spacious, comfortable and well-equipped option. Once again, best to wait for the diesel though.
RIVALS:
Hyundai Santa Fe R2.2 Diesel AT 7-seat - R399 900
Kia Sorento 2.2D 7-seat AT - R405 995