Reviews: Holden Captiva Diesel Range

[JoeT]

Holden Captiva Diesel

Mike Sinclair
1 March 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

More torque, less fuel - will Captiva diesel be the choice of the frugal only?

What we liked
>> Diesel midrange and economy
>> Minimal price premium
>> Core vehicle's benefits

Not so much
>> No trip computer
>> Diesel clatter at idle
>> Core vehicle's shortcomings

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.0/5.0

OVERVIEW

These days the terms SUV and turbodiesel go together like, umm… two things that go together really, really, really well…

Unless you're in the upper reaches of the luxury segment, you can't sell a large SUV with a petrol engine and among the medium-sized all-roaders the uptake of diesel has been strong. Small SUV is still a petrol environment but expect that to change as more manufacturers offer compact distillate alternatives.

Ford's petrol-only Territory still dominates the medium SUV segment, but its maker is pursuing a cost-effective diesel option as a matter of urgency. The writing's on the wall given the uptake of turbodiesel models in the Prado, Pajero, Pathfinder and the more passenger-oriented 4x4 utes.

Thus when Holden launched its medium-sized Captiva SUV with a petrol V6 last year (see our launch review and subsequent road tests here) it was only a matter of time before it would follow up with a turbodiesel. In the end we had to wait just six months.

And the big news is the breadth of the diesel offer and the minimal price premium at which Holden has delivered it. With the exception of the sport-focused Captiva MaXX (which stays petrol-only) diesel will be offered across the Captiva range and, with zero 'de-speccing', the Lion is asking just $1000 extra for the new, more frugal and torquey turbodiesel.

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Holden Captiva Diesel Range

GoAuto
9 March 2007
www.goauto.com.au

At only $1000 more than its V6 petrol counterpart, the Captiva diesel is set to shake the medium SUV segment hard.

Priced from $34,990 – and that includes ESP stability and traction controls, Active Rollover Protection, a hill-descent device and anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution – the South Korean-sourced Captiva undercuts its equivalently equipped Hyundai Santa Fe CRDi rival models by about 10 per cent.

The engine in question is a 1991cc single overhead cam 16-valve four-cylinder unit featuring a Bosch common rail system with direct-injection of fuel at up to 1600 bar pressure, a variable geometry turbo-charger and a diesel particulate filter.

Made by General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology (GM DAT) in South Korea but devised in collaboration with Italy’s VM Motori engineering group, this Euro IV emissions-compliant 2.0-litre engine produces 110kW of power at 4000rpm and 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

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Holden Captiva Diesel

Bruce Newton
1 April 2007
www.wheelsmag.com.au

There's little doubt that the Captiva’s failure to move on from the opening round of Wheels Car of the Year disappointed some people within Holden.

That disappointment demonstrates just how important the success of Captiva is to them. It is a legitimate medium SUV contender, albeit at the soft-roader end of the scale, providing true competition for the Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger. Indeed, with the arrival of the turbo diesel, the Koreansourced Captiva has an alternative in the engine bay neither Ford or Toyota can offer — or will in the foreseeable future.

Just like the GM/DAT-developed Captiva, the engine exploits the Korean connection. It is a joint venture with VM Motori and built at a new GM powertrain plant in Gunsan. It’s a relatively straightforward design: inline fourcylinder, single overhead cam, 16 valves, Bosch common-rail direction injection, a variable geometry turbo, intercooler and particulate filter.

The outputs of 110kW and 320Nm sound about right without being special. In fact, the expectations before actually driving the Captiva were of something unspectacular, considering more than 1.8 tonnes must be hauled along.

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Related Thread: Holden Captiva Diesel Set To Encroach On Ford's Territory
Related Thread: Holden Captiva Petrol Range Reviews

Holden Captiva Diesel

[DemonKnightDK]

how long before this engine gets to America? 2023? drop that thing into the cobalt, G6, G8, Malibu, Impala, hell every thing gm sells and it would help immensely. I'd love to have that engine in somthing the size of the vibe, with AWD it should still get higher 30s maybe 40 HWY... hell, use the BAS system with it...

[ZvetteGuy]

Out here in the U.S. we would have a lot of people not realizing what they have and would end up filling up with Petrol rather then Diesel fuel... I could just hear all the different testimonials of how it was a disaster when they ran the motor with gasoline and ruined the motor!!!

Being American... I wish to think of us as smarter then this but, let's face it... we live in a country where we think that ordering a super-sized value menu and a "diet" Coke is actually healthy for you...

I hope that the diesel will make it to the US very soon and that GM will get on the ball and be the leader in doing so... otherwise, may the Holden do well...

GO GM!!!

[VCDJ]

GM has some good engines. Why not bring them here? GM CEO and Lutz need to be fired. These guys are stupid, even honda will bring out diesel engine in their cars before gm, and gm already has them in europe. Even Nissan will put diesel in their Maxima.

[rueben44]

Can you say Equinox! We should have had that here for 07 or at least as an 08 Chevy.

[kmacleod]

Originally Posted by ZvetteGuy

Out here in the U.S. we would have a lot of people not realizing what they have and would end up filling up with Petrol rather then Diesel fuel... I could just hear all the different testimonials of how it was a disaster when they ran the motor with gasoline and ruined the motor!!!

That happened back in 1978 when my Grandfather purchased his Olds Delta 88 Diesel. When he realized that he was filling up w/gas, A tow truck was dispatched and hauled the car to local Olds dealership. The tank was pumped out. No damage done.

He never did that again....

Ken

[bone]

I believe GM would be surprised at the sales success of a Vue diesel if sold in Canada.

[PHTM_GTO]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

GM has some good engines. Why not bring them here? GM CEO and Lutz need to be fired. These guys are stupid, even honda will bring out diesel engine in their cars before gm, and gm already has them in europe. Even Nissan will put diesel in their Maxima.

Yes we need these engines, but to say that Lutz needs to fired is ridiculous. He may be on in years but he pumped some high octane life into GM.
More importantly the US (we) do not like diesel period. All past passenger cars failed here with diesel. mainly because they were crap and the new diesels are so much more efficient, quiet and clean the majority remember the thick black smoke that would billow from the tail pipe.
And the most important thing is the new super clean Bluetech diesel from Mercedes can't even be sold in California or the north east because it's not clean enough. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I am sure many of you will) depending on population most states must adapt California emissions in a few years.

[VCDJ]

Originally Posted by PHTM_GTO

Yes we need these engines, but to say that Lutz needs to fired is ridiculous. He may be on in years but he pumped some high octane life into GM.
More importantly the US (we) do not like diesel period. All past passenger cars failed here with diesel. mainly because they were crap and the new diesels are so much more efficient, quiet and clean the majority remember the thick black smoke that would billow from the tail pipe.
And the most important thing is the new super clean Bluetech diesel from Mercedes can't even be sold in California or the north east because it's not clean enough. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I am sure many of you will) depending on population most states must adapt California emissions in a few years.

Look what that diesel engine would do for gm. Imagine if corsa diesel was here and it gets 70mpg. they would not be able to make those fast enough.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by PHTM_GTO

Yes we need these engines, but to say that Lutz needs to fired is ridiculous. He may be on in years but he pumped some high octane life into GM.
More importantly the US (we) do not like diesel period. All past passenger cars failed here with diesel. mainly because they were crap and the new diesels are so much more efficient, quiet and clean the majority remember the thick black smoke that would billow from the tail pipe.
And the most important thing is the new super clean Bluetech diesel from Mercedes can't even be sold in California or the north east because it's not clean enough. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I am sure many of you will) depending on population most states must adapt California emissions in a few years.

It was the same situation in Oz only 2 years ago. The hard part is giving them a go. Once you get over that then enjoy those little mountains of torque.
I believe the Astra Diesel gets around 6l/100km combined. That's nearly 40MPG. Sure help those CAFE requirements.

[YSSMAN]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

GM has some good engines. Why not bring them here? GM CEO and Lutz need to be fired. These guys are stupid, even honda will bring out diesel engine in their cars before gm, and gm already has them in europe. Even Nissan will put diesel in their Maxima.

It does help to read the news every once in a while, as GM announced a few months back that they are bringing a wide arrangement of diesel products to the US for 2008 or 2009. Models range from the basic I4, probably similar to the unit discussed in the above article, as well as the 2.9L V6 to be seen in the Cadillac CTS (and probably the G8 eventually...), as well as an all-new V8 that is reportedly replacing about 4.8L and should put down about 360 BHP. And I almost guarantee we'll see that in the trucks as well as the Zetas, and hell, it wouldn't surprise me to see it in the SRX and STS as well.

---

More on topic: I'm glad to see the positive reviews. We are without the VUE as of yet, or at least I have yet to see any new ones here in GR. Diesel power would certainly add a different flavor to the vehicle in the US, and generally speaking would give many people an excuse to buy the more eco-friendly diesel, and in theory save some money at the pump.

...That being said, GM just needs to be everyone to it. With Chrysler on the verge of dumping-on the BlueTec diesel technology, BMW readying their lines with diesel variants (I belive the first will be the X5, then the 3-series), Honda seriously thinking about doing a diesel product or two (not before 2009)... GM needs these now.

However, we can all point and laugh at the idiots at Ford and Toyota who think Hybrids will be their saving grace. Odd, as Ford actually has a decent diesel line over in Europe...

[dallennium]

To many brands pushing the same product.

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by YSSMAN

...That being said, GM just needs to be everyone to it. With Chrysler on the verge of dumping-on the BlueTec diesel technology, BMW readying their lines with diesel variants (I belive the first will be the X5, then the 3-series), Honda seriously thinking about doing a diesel product or two (not before 2009)... GM needs these now.

Don't you guys get the X5 Diesel? i'd say 2 out of every 3 X5's I see (and there are a fair few around) is the diesel.

(BTW the Captiva is the Korean X5 )

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by dallennium

To many brands pushing the same product.

GM is global: It's a good thing.

Get used to it.

[DmitryKo]

Originally Posted by ZvetteGuy

Out here in the U.S. we would have a lot of people not realizing what they have and would end up filling up with Petrol rather then Diesel fuel... I could just hear all the different testimonials of how it was a disaster when they ran the motor with gasoline and ruined the motor!!!

See Ford Easyfuel