Holden Captiva 7 LS

The Holden Captiva has tried to captivate numerous buyers looking for a multi seat SUV since it first hit the market in 2006 with a five seat model.
The Korean made Captiva 7 was fourth in the sales pecking order last month behind Toyota's Prado, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Kluger.
Captiva 7 sales are about half of those three.
Various engine, AWD / front wheel drive and seating combos are available including  powerful and economical diesels.
This is the base petrol powered LS seven seater.

Style wise it's a good looking vehicle.. the new nose and tail treatment works well.
The seven seat configuration is a good idea in an SUV this size.. the rearmost seats fold flat into the floor when not in use.

Fold down the middle row and the cargo area is cavernous. However the LS lacks a few amenities you'd expect to find, including a reversing camera.. all you get are sensors in the rear bumper.
I couldn't find any information on outside temperature settings or distance to empty despite poring though the handbook, which only seemed to describe the more upmarket versions.
Pushing the info button on the radio console didn't result in anything being displayed.
After several minutes of fiddling and searching I was none the wiser. The sound system is pretty good though, and more than adequate for tone and clarity.

Access to the cabin is good although the shorter in stature might find it a bit high climbing in. There's plenty of storage space including a deep and convenient recess below the console cup holders. The front doors have large red lights in the lower edge for safety when opening them at night, the armrest is in just the right position, and there's a well positioned dead pedal for the driver's left foot.. Headlights are reasonably powerful on high or low beam. There's the convenience of keyless entry and start as well as a hill descent feature for safer off roading. And you get a full sized spare wheel.An electric parking brake is also welcome.
However the ride is disappointing...very firm and choppy over even mild suburban ruts and irregularities and hard unforgiving seats don't help here.

I have driven earlier versions and don't recall the Captiva being so harsh and uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, it corners well, but the steering feel is a little numb. The wheel itself is adjustable for reach and rake.

The 2,4 litre 4 cylinder engine lacks adequate torque( just 230 nm) and with a full load struggles to get up to speed. Once there however it's a quiet cruiser.
At around 30 K the Captiva 7 LS is reasonable value but competitors offer just a bit more in the way of comfort and kit, even in basic configurations..
Still if it's seven seats you want it's worth having a look.
Peter Sellen