Back in early 2007, established Australian magazine Overlander 4WD ran its yearly competition, Four Wheel Drive of the Year, which involves testings and awards given to the select few – the Holden Captiva was a semi-final finisher. Now, to me, this comes as something of a surprise. To see it line up alongside such heavyweights as the Jeep and Land Rover contenders was slightly jarring – the Captiva, from looks alone, comes across as decidedly to the SUV end of the 4WD spectrum. It is curving and sleek, and in spite of respectable ground clearance, and all in all has the air of a city run-around, albeit something a little more substantial than a Vauxhall or a Kia. And at the awards, it was the diluted size and shape that left the Captiva on the outside of the cut when the list of finalists was announced – there was no room to transport a full sized spare tyre in the back, a pre-requisite.

That minor quibble aside, however, and mitigating as much as possible one’s pertaining preconceptions, it actually transpires that the Captiva turns in a fairly respectable showing. It will, at the very least, take you on most dirty (or dirty) roads and negotiate a bumpy paddock, but then I suppose that is the very least you would demand from it, provided you were out for a little more than added padding for the city commute. A prospective buyer has a range of styles to choose from, as well as engine types. Outlander 4WD magazine didn’t specify which variant of Holden Captiva they chose for their semi-finalist list – they tested one with a 3.2 litre V6 engine, so it could have been the LX, CX, SX or MaXX. The Holden Captiva illustrated in the magazine article, however, seems to have five seats, so this cuts down the possibilities to either the SX or the MaXX – the LX and CX models are seven-seaters. Possibly they tested the Holden Captiva MaXX, as this has 18″ inch alloy wheels but a 16″ steel as the spare. The CX and LX models can come with a 2 litre turbo diesel automatic, and the SX has a manual turbo 2 litre diesel variant.

Whichever body style or engine in the Holden Captiva you prefer, it’s good to know what the engines can do. The 3.2 litre V6 petrol engine is a 4-valve DOHC with sequential fuel injection. The 2.0 litre turbo diesel, on the other hand, has a Variable Geometry Turbocharger and a particulate filter. The petrol engine is the more powerful of the two, having a maximum output of 169 kW at 6600 rpm in the LX, SX and CX variants, and 167 kW at the same revs in the MaXX (the model Outlander 4WD tested had a maximum output of 169 kW – maybe it was the Holden Captiva SX after all, in spite of the SX having 17″ wheels). The diesel engine may have less maximum power – 110 kW at 4000 rpm, but it is torquier (more torquative?), delivering 320 Nm at a low 2000 rpm as opposed to the petrol’s 279 Nm at 3200 revs. The diesel engine also comes out much better off in terms of fuel economy, as the manual version consumes 7.6 litres per 100 km on average (automatic: 8.7 l/100 km), while the petrol goes through 11.5 litres per 100 km in all body styles except the MaXX, which needs 11.6 litres to do the same distance.

The Captiva comes up trumps on the question of handling and stability – the awards show judges made specific mention of the positive merit of the suspension in their obiter dicta. The all wheel drive system the manufacturers developed has a sensitive torque split ratio that sustains across a wide range of terrain and conditions, and the level ride suspension has been tailored to cater for the changing loads and road surfaces that the car will be asked to handle, resulting in a comfortable ride without real interruption. While sharing with Holden’s specifically city range of vehicles a common ESP package, the Captiva beefs its own up a touch with a package that includes rollover protection and added grip on hills.

On the inside, the Captiva is equipped with a bevy of fairly de rigeur mod cons – a 12 volt power outlet, a 6-disk CD changer with MP3 compatibility, and advanced climate control. Safety is bang up-to-date, as you would hope in a car that must necessarily bridge the divide between on- and off-road driving. Air bags for drivers and passengers and load-limited seatbelts are about as cutting edge as it comes, but all the necessities are present and correct. The higher-end models of the Captiva range feature seats with a leather trim, electronic climate control and 8-way adjustable
So it didn’t make it into one of the top spots in the Outlander final – cut it some slack, the Captiva is still doing a decent job with the tools at its disposal. It is pretty and fun, but also reliable and secure. Not much potential for wild thrills, but then you will also bypass the risk of spectacular spills.

Specifications:
• Engine: 2405cc four-cylinder
• Power: 103kW @ 5200rpm
• Torque: 220Nm @ 2400rpm
• Induction: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: Five-speed manual
• Driven Wheels: Front wheel drive
• Brakes: Four wheel discs
• Top Speed: N/A
• 0-100km/h: N/A
• CO2 Emissions: 231g/km
• Fuel Consumption: 9.7L/100km (ADR)
• Fuel Consumption: 10.3L/100km (As Tested)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
• Fuel Type: Unleaded
• ANCAP Rating: N/A
• Airbags: Six
• Safety: ABS brakes with EBD and BA. ESP.
• Spare Wheel: Space saver
• Tow Capacity: 2000kg/750kg (braked/unbraked)
• Warranty: 3 years/100,000km
• Weight: 1737kg
• Wheels: 235/65R17