- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.2DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
135kW, 400Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Holden Captiva 7 LX Series II Diesel Review
HOLDEN CAPTIVA REVIEW
Vehicle Style: Medium SUV
Price: $43,490
Engine: 2.2 litre DOHC turbodiesel inline four
Outputs: 135kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six speed tiptronic automatic
Official fuel efficiency: 8.3l/100km
On test fuel efficiency: 9.8 l/100km
CO2 emissions: N/A
OVERVIEW
A bold new facelift, a revised interior and all-new engines and transmissions have given Holden's popular Captiva 7 a new lease on life.
Improved refinement and lower prices sweeten the deal. We found the range-topping LX diesel variant to be a good, quite comfortable drive and with features well-matched to its target market.
INTERIOR | RATING: 3/5
- Quality: Not a whole lot has changed in the interior with regard to plastics quality - we find them a bit wanting. Still, despite the average dash plastics, the LX's leather trim is soft, looks durable, and, all over, the cabin build is solid.
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Comfort: The seat cushions are firm, but the front seats are accommodating enough. The steering column telescopes as well as tilts, helping the driver 'get set' at the wheel.
The Captiva's flat floor makes the centre rear seat acceptable for most (although the centre backrest is too lumpy to be comfortable). Second-row passengers will find that both legroom and headroom is good.
The third row seats can be difficult to access, and footroom and headroom are in short supply for adults.
One oversight is a lack of air outlets for the rear cabin, meaning the back half of the Captiva can take a while to cool down in hot weather.
- Equipment: The Captiva 7 LX is equipped with cruise control, climate control, satellite navigation, a seven-inch LCD multi-function touchscreen, Bluetooth, an electric driver's seat, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, a trip computer and an eight-speaker stereo system with 6-CD stacker and USB input.
- Storage: With seats in place, just 85 litres of space exists behind the third row. Stow the rearmost seats and that area expands to 465 litres. With both second and third rows folded, 930 litres of room is available.
ON THE ROAD | RATING: 3.5/5
- Driveability: The Captiva's new 2.2 litre turbodiesel is quite a smooth unit. It feels strong and is tractable and flexible in its power delivery. It works well with the six-speed auto and there's plenty of torque for highway on-ramps and overtaking. Even with the family loaded up, it has ample power for the highway.
- Refinement: Thanks to a range of updates to the Captiva's acoustic insulation, the new diesel is supremely quiet from inside the cabin. The engine is also vibration-free, and the cabin is peaceful at speed.
- Suspension: The 2011 Captiva's re-tuned suspension has a better on-road ride and improved resistance to body-roll. But the trade-off is a choppier ride over corrugations and poorly-graded gravel roads.
- Braking: The Captiva's brakes have a smooth, progressive engagement, and the 'hill start assist' feature is great when starting off on steep inclines.
SAFETY | RATING: N/A
- ANCAP rating: Not tested.
- Safety features: Six airbags (front, front side and curtain), front seatbelt pretensioners, three-point seatbelts for all occupants, ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control and stability control.
WARRANTY AND SERVICING
Warranty: Three years/100,000km.
Service costs: Service intervals are set for every 15,000km/12 months, with a complimentary inspection after the first 3000km/three months. Servicing costs vary, so contact your local Holden dealer before purchase.
HOW IT COMPARES | VALUE FOR MONEY RATING: 4/5
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Ford Territory AWD Ghia ($57,890) - The Territory Ghia still sets the benchmark for handling, but offers less passenger-friendly packaging. A diesel is not currently available, but it's on the verge of replacement with a new diesel coming. At over $14,000 more than the cost of the Captiva it's currently one of the more expensive medium SUV options in Ghia trim.
(see Territory reviews)
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Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander ($48,490) - Updated last year with the excellent R-series diesel engine, the Santa Fe feels slightly bigger than the Captiva, however lacks options like sat nav and front parking sensors.
(see Santa Fe reviews)
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Kia Sorento Platinum ($49,190) - The Sorento packs a lot of value into its $49k asking price, with a lengthy standard equipment list, the same grunty diesel as the Santa Fe, plentiful storage and good interior packaging.
(see Sorento reviews)
Note: all prices are Manufacturer’s List Price and do not include dealer delivery or on-road costs.
TMR VERDICT | OVERALL RATING: 3/5
Holden's facelifted Captiva 7 is a solid step up from last year's model, but there's still room for improvement in the cabin.
It remains one of the most competitively priced seven-seater SUVs on the market, and is a good option for value-seeking buyers.