YOU can't say Chevrolet is inexperienced in the world of 4x4s and Sports Utility Vehicles.
It has been building these multi-purpose vehicles for ages and has amassed a wealth of experience. The last Chevvy 4x4 I drove was the Blazer, a true grit Yankee off-roader, but last week I got to grips with a whole new aspect of all-wheel driving with the gold cross badge - the Captiva SUV
Captiva is the child of car giant GM's link-up with Daewoo and is part of a range of Korean-built cars which now sell in Europe under the Chevrolet banner.
The Captiva is no Yank-tank, but an attractively priced family-friendly 4x4 with a very European style.
So here is yet another Korean-inspired 4x4. Is that so special? The answer is a most definite yes because the Captiva has an ace up its sleeve- it is a seven seater and that expands its family appeal no end.
It is ideal for the larger than normal family unit which does not want to be slotted into the full-size MPV category and yearns for the more exciting world of the SUV.
THe Captiva I drove, the LT 2.0 VCDi features a state-of-the-art, Euro 4 rated, diesel engine which brings 37.2mpg within the sights. So it really is all-systems go for economy minded customers.
My test car tipped the price scale at £21,140 and represents good value for money.
It's versatile too, because the rearmost row of two seats fold flat as does the row in front to transform the Captiva into a capable load-lugger when required.
But my very big plus point goes to performance. This is one of the faster-off-the-mark SUVs, especially in the low and mid-range. Its punchy diesel makes for some interesting driving and the whole package comes over as a car you could not easily become bored with.
If anything, the steering is a little light, but the overall driving experience is impressive.
Of course you don't have to have a diesel as there is a 2.4 petrol model available. But the word on the streets is that the diesel is the model of the moment.
Not all owners want permanent four-wheel-drive because it can be costly in terms of fuel economy and emissions.
The system on Captiva however, allows power to be directed only to the front wheels under normal driving conditions, yet it is able to detect situations where four-wheel-drive would be best and adapt the system to cope, automatically bringing all the wheels into power play.
Although the car is extremely well-equipped, my test vehicle had something of a black hole in the middle of the dash. It looked like the housing for a satnav, but had a very bland, black flip-up door covering a cubby hole.
Apart from this feature which looked as though it was waiting for something to be fitted, the Captiva is a most rewarding drive.
FAST FACTS
Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 Diesel LT (7 seat) 5dr
Price: £21,140
Mechanical: 148bhp, 1,991cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front or all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 111mph
0-62mph: 11.5 secs
Combined mpg: 37.1
Insurance group: 12
CO2 emissions: 197g/km
BiK rating: 29%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 5yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust