REVIEW 53 Chevrolet Orlando Chevy chaser Can GM’s affordable seven-seat MPV match the class leaders?
Chevrolet is a brand with something of a Jekyll and Hyde character in the UK. The Jekyll is the model range it took over from Daewoo when the Korean carmaker went bust in 2006 – the likes of the Matiz and the Lacetti. The Hyde is the muscle car heritage of the Corvette and Camaro. However, while the sexy, dangerous Hydes are largely
hidden from the UK carbuying public, the Jekyll side is itself undergoing something of a transformation. The former Daewoo cars have now been organically replaced by a raft of new models, developed by General Motors and pitched at an affordable price. The newest model, a compact crossover/MPV seven-seater
called Orlando, is based on the same platform as the Vauxhall Astra. This shared architecture is part of the reason why the Daewoo associations can finally be consigned to the dustbin of automotive history, as the Orlando is an accomplished car with a lot to recommend it. There is a range of three engines available to buyers, a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol unit, plus two versions of a 2.0-litre diesel, one producing 128bhp, the other 161bhp. The petrol engine lacks power, especially when the Orlando is fully laden, and there’s little reason to opt for it when the torquey diesels not only have the advantage of more pulling power, but also have better fuel economy (47mpg for both, compared to the 39mpg of the petrol version) and lower emissions (159g/km, as opposed to the petrol’s 172g/km). Indeed, both diesels have plenty of urge, as long as you keep the revs up above 2,000rpm, making the oilburning Orlando a natural motorway cruiser – especially as the engine is so refined. The Orlando also holds its own on the road: the body
roll is well contained and there’s an unexpected precision to the steering. In fact, it hustles along quite effectively and is unexpectedly rewarding to drive. However, the ride isn’t as compliant as it could be: drive over the kinds of uneven surfaces we all too used to in the UK and you’ll find that the Orlando tends to bump and thump. The Orlando’s cabin is tidy, but unspectacular. Some of the
plastics are a little hard and in keeping with a budget vehicle, but the blue backlighting for the instruments and dials makes them clear and easy to see, and the layout of the dashboard is straightforward. There are also some nice touches, such as the little cubby for an MP3 player behind a stereo that flips up, an interior mirror that allows the driver to see what’s going on in the rear (very useful for parents of small children) and the ability to flip the seats in the middle row with one button. The truth is that the Orlando offers quite a lot of car for not
a lot of money – prices start at £16,395 for the base petrol version. Compare that to the ticket prices of class leaders such as the Ford S-Max, Seat Alhambra or VW Sharan and, while it can’t match those cars in many areas, it’s still a serious proposition for MPV buyers. It might not have the excitement of the Camaro or Corvette, but this Chevy is still worthy of the famous bow tie badge.
Verdict 7/10
PRICE: £16,395-21,195 TOP SPEED: 121mph (2.0 VCDi 163PS) 0-62MPH: 9.9secs (2.0 VCDi 163PS) ECONOMY: 47.1mpg (2.0 VCDi) CO2 159g/km (2.0 VCDi 163PS) ENGINE TYPE, CC: 1,796cc 4-cylinder (petrol), 1,998 4-cylinder (diesel) POWER: 161bhp (2.0 VCDi 163PS) TORQUE: 266lb-ft (2.0 VCDi 163PS) GEARBOX: Five-speed and six-speed manual, plus six-speed auto
April / May 2011 | driving
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