HOLDEN KNOWS A BIT about SUVs. It has had a few of them on the field over the past two or three decades. Some were perhaps more 4×4 than SUV, but back a decade or so, the distinction in the market wasn’t as clear.

Like the early Jackaroo. Lots of mums on the school run liked them. It was under-powered but versatile and sold in reasonable numbers under ‘the lion’ badge.

The diminutive Drover didn’t fare so well, nor the forgettable Frontera. With a ladder-frame and low-range transfer case, the Frontera was rugged enough but not so well suited to life in the urban jungle.

In later years, the Commodore wagon-based Adventra SX6 and SX8 carried the SUV mantle for Holden. While these were designed to give Holden dealers a showroom answer to Ford’s Territory, they struggled for traction in the market (if not on a gravel road).

In 2006 with the arrival of the Daewoo-sourced Captiva, all that changed. Holden was finally able to field a versatile and well-equipped SUV that was capable of squaring off against the mid-size soft-roader competition.

Few buying in this segment will bemoan - or even notice - the absence of a low range transfer case. The style and versatility on offer winning points instead.

So, for a car considered vital in the modern market, how does the Captiva acquit itself?

After throwing it through a test cycle of peak hour crawls and weekend escapism, TMR discovered just where Holden’s Captiva belongs in the popular SUV pecking order.

Styling

The Captiva is a global car for GM; variously badged as a Holden, Daewoo and Chevrolet. It is doing ok for Holden and now is a regular sight on Aussie roads.

The overall design may be a few of years old, but it’s ageing well.

It ‘sits’ bigger than it actually is – its internal space a testament to its well though-out packaging. With a deep swage line that runs through the door handles and into the vented guards, and contrasting lower body cladding and wheel arch mouldings, the Captiva looks the part for the segment.

Overall, its understated utilitarian lines are not without appeal and will offend few. Ours, in deep blue metallic, looked pricey – which it’s not.

Some of the features of the 60th anniversary model seen here, such as the chrome plated bumper vents and clear-lens tail-lights, are omitted from standard versions of the car.

The rest of the range scores a chrome grille and numberplate valance, body coloured (instead of contrasting) door handles, dual exhaust outlets and alloy wheels.

There are four Captiva variants available, the SX, CX, LX and the range topping Captiva MaXX. The 60th Anniversary model on test is based on the LX.

Equipment & Features

All models in the Captiva range are available with active all-wheel-drive (standard on CX, LX and MaXX). The base model SX can be specified as a two-wheel drive diesel.

Each comes with an MP3 compatible CD player with steering wheel controls, power mirrors, remote central locking, powered windows and mirrors, and a two-stage tailgate that allows just the rear window or the entire panel to be opened.

There’s also air conditioning (climate control for the LX and MaXX), split-folding seats in the two rear rows and cruise control as standard.

Standard safety features include, Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, a Descent Control System, ABS brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Active Rollover Protection, along with dual front and side curtain airbags.

Both the SX and CX are fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels while LX and MaXX are fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels. Importantly, all models have a useful 200mm of ground clearance.

The 60th Anniversary model (based on the LX) comes equipped with a number of additional features including 18-inch sports alloy wheels, ‘silver premium painted’ skid plate and fog lamp inserts, ‘silver premium painted’ roof rails and door handles, unique black bezel headlamps, unique tail lamps and a ‘60th anniversary’ rear badge.

Inside, there is a seven-inch driver information display and in-dash DVD player, front passenger under-seat storage tray, leather gear-shifter and electrochromatic mirror.