Chevrolet Captiva (2006-2015)

Chevrolet is now a defunct brand in the UK, but don’t let that stop you from considering what was arguably its most capable model when it was current. The Captiva is a seven-seat SUV that was one of the most affordable cars in its segment when it was new. The brand’s low profile when it was trading here meant the Captiva shed its value quickly; with Chevrolet’s profile dropping further since its UK dealers were shuttered at the end of 2015, its products are more affordable than ever. The Captiva is no class leader in any one area, but as an all-rounder it’s plenty good enough to deserve your attention.

Key dates

7/06: The Captiva reaches UK showrooms with 150bhp 2.0-litre diesel or 140bhp 2.4 petrol engines.

2/08: The special edition Captiva Edge appears.

5/08: There’s a new entry-level diesel, the 2.0 VCDi LS. 

5/10: The range-topping Captiva LTZ arrives with standard leather trim, heated front seats, privacy glass, parking sensors and a rear-facing camera.

3/11: A facelift brings a redesigned nose and an upgraded interior. A 2.2 diesel replaces the previous 2.0-litre unit.

6/13: Another facelift brings restyled lights, bumpers, grille, extra equipment and a posher cabin.

Checklist

• Clutches can burn out in under 20,000 miles, especially if the car is used for towing.
• Brake discs can fail prematurely, so feel for juddering through the pedal under braking.
• The automatic transmission makes for relaxed cruising, but significantly increases the cost of the annual road tax bill.
• The ESP can cut in for no apparent reason, leading to the throttle losing response; a software update is the cure.
• The diesel engine of pre-facelift cars sounds really agricultural around town and when cold.
• The interior trim feels cheap in places, but it tends to last well. However, the silver paint finish on some items can wear away.
• The trip computer can be woefully inaccurate, especially with fuel consumption figures.

We like

• Spacious
• Comfortable
• Good value
• Well equipped
• Looks smart

We don’t like

• Not great off-road
• No UK dealers
• Cheap interior

Chevrolet Trax (2013-2015)

The Chevrolet Trax had barely gone on sale in the UK before its maker announced that it was shutting up shop in Europe. As a result this micro-SUV never really stood a chance, but it didn’t come close to threatening the class leaders anyway, so it was never much of a loss. That’s not to say the Trax is a poor car though. It always offered strong value and a decent level of practicality, along with a four-wheel drive option – it’s just a shame the car was so bland with it. Now Chevrolet has ceased trading in the UK you’re on your own in terms of getting problems fixed, but thankfully reliability seems to be OK, even if it’s short of the class best.

Key dates

8/13: The Trax goes on sale. There are 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol engines, the former in normally aspirated or turbocharged (1.4T) forms. There’s also a 1.7 VCDi diesel. The 1.6 petrol engine has front-wheel drive only, all other engines are offered with front- or four-wheel drive.

12/13: Chevrolet announces that it’ll stop selling cars in the UK on 31 December 2015. The Trax remains on sale until this point, but unsurprisingly, sales are slow once the car is launched, with dealers already gearing up to close down.

Checklist

• There’s no spare wheel; just one of those dreaded ‘mobility kits’. Your best bet is to buy a Vauxhall Mokka space saver wheel and keep it in the boot.
• Vauxhall dealers should be able to maintain your Trax for you, but parts availability could be an issue, although service items shouldn’t be a problem.
• The MyLink touch-screen multi-media is intuitive but it can be slow to operate and sometimes it crashes for no obvious reason.

We like

• Good value
• Looks smart
• Spacious cabin
• Efficient diesel engine

We don’t like

• Defunct brand in the UK
• Poor refinement
• Cabin feels cheap

Richard Dredge