Chevrolet should know what SUVs are all about as the company holds the distinction of marketing the first ever SUV, the Suburban Carryall it was called, way back in 1935. It was a seven-seater that was built for the hills and prairies of America as much as the towns.

Fast forward to 2007 and in July the evolution of the original of the species will be on the market here. Can we expect the same rugged strength? Well Chevrolet think so and put their faith in the new model with a test-drive over the wild mountains of Kerry and West Cork, areas that have been the burial ground of many a rally car when the area was used in the Killarney Lakes and Munster rally events.

No rally tactics were called into play but the Captiva handled the treacherous tracks . . .

and later dual carriageway and town traffic with ease. The suspension rides easily on good surfaces but as one would expect gets a bit bumpy over uneven terrain.

The secret of the Captiva is that it is easy to handle in any circumstances. The high driving position is good, all controls are within easy reach and the steering wheelmounted controls for the entertainment equipment are user friendly.

At the heart of the newcomer is a state-of-the-art two-litre diesel powerplant. This was important for Chevrolet because this is their first ever diesel and it had got to be right for the all-important diesel market in Europe, and the emerging one in the US.

In our market the Captiva would not have been worth launching without a diesel as the only petrol engine on offer is a 2.4-litre unit which attracts high taxes as the capacity is over two litres and it is less fuel efficient.

The diesel engine is built in Korea but is the result of collaboration between GM Powertrain and the prestige Italian engine people VM Montori. The engine uses Bosch technology and is available with front-wheel-drive or on-demand allwheel-drive and there is a choice of two power levels.

The FWD models get a power output of 127 bhp with a five-speed manual gearbox while the AWD models get a 150 bhp unit with a five-speed or automatic transmission. The torque output is 295Nm and 320 Nm respectively.

The engine in the top of the range LTX version proved capable of handling demanding climbs with lively acceleration and has good lowdown response. It can churn out 182 km/h (109 mph) and under full throtle in AWD mode takes 12 seconds to get the Captiva to 100kms. In mixed driving expect about 8.6L/100km (32 mpg) although Chevrolet claim higher figures. The C02 emissions are 197 g/km.

The Captiva has been built as a global vehicle. In America it is the Saturn VUE and a Holden in Australia. In Europe, under General Motors' other brand name, it is the Opel Antara which will launch shortly after the Captiva arrives and will be a five-seater only.

The Captiva has been given a strong European look, sweeping grille high sides and a coupe-like rear. It is aimed at the 35-50 age group as a family vehicle and will adapt to a variety of uses. The layout is practical with seven seats coming with the AWD versions and five seats with the FWD offerings.

Prices will start at just over 34,000 for the petrol and the top trim level LTX version while the more powerful diesel engine is expected to be 10,000 - 13,000 more.

Trim levels at the top end are good with full-leather seats, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, a parking aid system, sunroof, tailgate flip glass, 18" alloy wheels and roof rails. The Captiva scores well on safety features. All but the entry level petrol and diesel versions come with electronic stability control (ESP) linked to the AWD, there are 10 airbags, threepoint belts for all seven seats and a body subframe that has extra strong structures to divert the force of a frontal impact away from the cabin and protect passengers.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Chevrolet Captiva 2 litre diesel
Engine 150 bhp
Length 4635 mm
Width 1850 mm
Height 1755 mm
Wheelbase 2705 mm
Acceleration 0-100km - 11.5 secs
Top speed 182 km/h (109 mph)
Transmission 5-speed manual
Economy 7.4L/km
Price TBA (approx /44,000)
C02 emissions 197g/km