The Chevrolet Captiva SUV has been with us since 2007, with a facelift having arrived in 2010. The engines, however, have remained unchanged, giving customers the option of a 2.4-litre petrol, 3.0-litre V6, or until now, a 2.0-litre diesel.
The old 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, with it’s 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque, has been replaced in favour of a new, more powerful, refined and fuel efficient 2.2-litre turbo-diesel unit. Whereas the previous engine required 7.7 L/100km, the new 2.2-litre requires 8.0 L/100km, but for the 3.9 percent hike in fuel consumption, the Captiva benefits from a massive 25 percent more torque and around 23 percent more power.
This latest generation diesel engine, with variable geometry turbocharger, produces 135 kW at 3 800 r/min and 400 Nm of torque at 2 000 r/min. As with the outgoing diesel-powered model, drive is sent to the road via all-four wheels.
The added power and efficiency have come from a number of revisions to the engine. (This is where things get a bit technical, so if you just want to know how the new engine performs, feel free to skip the next two paragraphs.)
Highlights include, a double overhead camshaft (DOHC) configuration with four valves per cylinder; camshaft timing by way of a chain drive for improved timing accuracy and lower maintenance costs; an improved combustion chamber design that affords a lower compression ratio of 16.3:1; as well as an exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) cooler that channels unburnt exhaust gas back into the induction system for lower emissions and reduced engine knock and vibration.
Other features of the engine include oil-jet cooled pistons, a balance shaft module integrated into the oil cooler for significantly reduced noise and vibration, and a dual-mass flywheel that eliminates low frequency resonance and transmission noise at low engine speeds. The aluminium cylinder head is produced using a rotocast process for reduced weight. The spiral surface design of the intake ports assists in creating swirl in the intake charge for an improved fuel burn characteristic.
Despite the variable-vane equipped turbocharger, the diesel Captiva is still a bit sluggish off the mark, although the engine isn’t solely to blame. With 2.4 tonnes to haul and a gearbox that, although smooth, can be described as lethargic, the Captiva is a little hesitant at first. Once it’s woken up though, it’ll reach 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds and a top speed of 191 km/h. On the move, the Captiva 2.2D is very quiet, with only a subdued engine note and distant whine from the turbocharger when stepping on the gas pedal. In familiar turbo-diesel fashion, in-gear acceleration is strong thanks to the available torque and the speedo climbs promptly. Overall, it’s a refined engine that goes about its business without a fuss and with enough enthusiasm when required.
The Captiva 2.2D is available exclusively in the LTZ trim specification, which means it’s packed with luxury and convenience features, some of which include: leather covered seats, gear lever and steering wheel; electronically adjustable driver’s seat; rain sensing wipers; auto activated headlights; cruise control; rear park distance control and a sunroof.
| Pricing | (incl. VAT and CO2 Tax) |
| Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT M/T | R313 500 |
| Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT A/T | R329 000 |
| Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT AWD M/T | R356 700 |
| Chevrolet Captiva 3.0 LTZ AWD A/T | R454 600 |
| Chevrolet Captiva 2.2D LTZ AWD A/T | R427 500 |
Pricing includes a 5-year/120 000 km warranty, 3-year/60 000km service plan and roadside assistance.
