What is it?The Chevrolet Orlando sounds like the sort of low-grade saloon you'd rent at an American airport. In fact, it's yet another sign that Chevy is taking Europe a lot more seriously.
It's a seven-seat MPV, first seen at last month's Paris motor show, and going on sale next March as a cut-price rival to the VW Touran and the Vauxhall Zafira.
Like the Chevy Cruze and the Vauxhall Astra the Orlando is built up GM's global Delta platform, albeit with a wheelbase stretched by 85mm. When it goes on sale next March it will be available with a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine, and two 2.0-litre diesels in differing states of tune. The top-line one puts out 161bhp.
What's it like?
For practicality the Orlando looks like making a good fist of cutting it with the likes of the new Ford Grand C-Max and the Zafira, GM's in-house rival. In fact when you start playing with the Orlando's seats it's the Zafira that instantly springs to mind as it has a similar seating system. So the middle row bench splits, tilts, tumbles forward and lies flat in the same way.
The two individual rear seats are also buried in the boot floor too, allowing you to extract them when needed, or keep a much more cavernous boot. It's pretty spacious too, even if that low roofline forces a mild penalty in your perception of head clearance. The reality is that only the super-tall will be troubled by it.
Up front there's further proof that Chevy's quality is on the up. Everything feels as tightly constructed as the latest Vauxhalls - some of the same switchgear too - and so it works well and is comfortable.
On the move there's more similarity. The Orlando is another Delta platform car so it uses the same underpinnings as the Astra and Cruze, albeit with a wheelbase stretched by 85mm. We drove two of the three engines on offer, a 161bhp diesel and a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol. Buy the diesel if you want anything approaching punch and high-speed refinement.
On our billiard table-smooth test track it was impossible to make ride judgments but body movement felt well controlled, although numb steering ruins the fun.
Should I buy one?
We'd be tempted to see what it rides like in the UK before fully committing. But there's no doubt that the Orlando's got visual appeal. It works well as a mid-sized seven-seater and it will be well priced. In short, another good step forward for Chevys sold in Europe.
Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 diesel
Price: £17,800 (est); Top speed: na; 0-60mph: na; Economy: na; CO2: na; Kerb weight:na; Engine: 4 cyls, 1991cc, turbodiesel; Power: 161bhp at 3800rpm; Torque: 266lb ft at 2000rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual
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