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Back to January 2012 Motorsports News Archive
| 18-01-2012 at 08:00: ADM 2011 Holden Captiva 7 Series II Test & Review | |
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But when the family grows or you just want more room for the kids to spread out, or for your surf board, then the 2012 Holden Captiva 7 Series II is the way to go. The Series II 7 comes in three trim levels, SX, CS and range topping LX, with three different engine options, including a diesel, but all options are offered only in automatic. The 2.4 litre 4-cylinder DOHC petrol engine, 123kW at 5600rpm, is offered in the 2WD with the 6-speed automatic. The other two engine types are a 3.0 litre SIDI direct injection V6, 190kW at 6900rpm, and a 2.2 litre 4-cylinder Common Rail Turbo diesel, 135kW at 3800rpm, both in 4WD and the 6-speed automatic, with the latter being the variant we were given. The times have changed for SUV’s as they now need to handle like a sedan and not like a bus as some of the older SUV’s did. The Captiva 7 Series II is one such SUV that drives as close to a car as the manufacture can get. Pushing it hard in corners the Captiva 7 offers limited body roll and surprised me with how confident you could be behind the wheel. The diesel delivers smooth power and gear changes are timed right and although it’s a turbo it comes with little lag on take-off. The fuel economy comes close to the official figures of 8.3L/100km with our week behind the wheel averaging 8.8L/100km which is rather impressive for vehicle of this size. To help make this SUV handle like a sedan, Holden loaded it up with as many driver aids as they could. These include ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), TCS (Traction Control System), BA (Brake Assist), DCS (Decent Control System), ARP (Active Rollover Protection) and HAS (Hill Start Assist). Along with these safety systems the occupants are surrounded by six air bags in the event of a crash. The exterior change of the Series II is subtle but yet an improvement on the first series. Sleek lines around the headlights and for an AWD it is not too high that it makes it hard to get the kids in and out and the shopping from the boot. The inside of the Captiva 7 Series II is very modern and well laid out with storage in every seating section of the vehicle. The driving position is good with visibility clear in all directions. On all Captiva models the cruise control makes long distance driving a breeze and there is no need to stop and make a phone call as the easy to use Bluetooth system is clear and sharp. The handbrake will never be too hard to release as all Captiva’s have an electric park control. This is a little button in the centre console that takes a light flick to turn on and off. Being only a button also removes the handbrake leaver and creating space for a new multi-purpose storage compartment. The lack of air vents in the rear cabin areas is a defiant oversight and in summers in Australia it will take a while for the rear seat passengers to cool down. Being a seven seater the third row is really not made for adults as there is little leg and head room. With all the seats in place, only 85 litres of space exists behind the third row. Pack the rearmost seats and that area expands to 465 litres. With both second and third rows folded, 930 litres of room is available. ADM Opinion The Holden Captiva 7 Series II is a well designed and built SUV. Being a turbo diesel the power is good and fuel economy is defiantly acceptable. It looks good and drives well and has all the safety features you could want. The handling was a surprise but in the best of ways as it did not feel like I was driving a bus. There is room for the kids and their gear and the seats move away when extra room is needed. There are no issues with the gearbox and the ride is quite and smooth due to the level ride suspension. If you love a really cold car in the summer then you will need patients but this is only a minor issue in the scheme of things. Features Highlights: • Six airbags (driver, front passenger, front side and curtain) Depending on the model, additional standard features are offered such as: • Six-disc CD player, front fog lamps (Captiva 7 CX/LX) Wheels and Tyres • Captiva 7 SX has 17 x 7 inch alloy wheels and 235/60 R17 tyres Pricing Likes ADM give the Holden Captiva 7 Series II 3.5 out of 5 Helmets |
The SUV market is one that is hard fought to be at the top of. With this, Holden offer a decent selection with their Captiva range. The Captiva 5 Series II is a smaller SUV for the growing family with room to move and a number of different options to personalise it.
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