Chevrolet

Orlando

Taking flexibility and style to a new level, the Orlando is an excellent seven-seat family car that brings outstanding versatility to the Chevrolet range. And when you take into consideration the very reasonable price-tag, you cannot fail to be impressed.

Test Drive

Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 Diesel (163bhp) LTZ Manual

Billed as the seven-seater for families who don’t want to follow the crowd, the Chevrolet Orlando is the perfect mix of bold and new and it even delivers a first class performance too.

And when you take into consideration the very reasonable price tag, this is the ideal vehicle for families who like to take on the unexpected without a fluster.

First impressions are vital when choosing a new car and this smart compact MPV is no let down. It has a beefy, ready-for-action appearance guaranteed to stand out in any crowd with its bold lines, smart alloys, distinctive Chevrolet emblem and flared wheel arches being just a few of the eye-catching features.

But it’s once you take your seat behind the multi-function steering wheel that this vehicle really makes its mark.

With prices starting from just £16.4k, I thought the interior trim would be a little plastic fantastic, but that’s not the case. There is a real sense of quality to the interior design with a smart fascia and neat glossy black central console housing most of the controls.

Features on the top-of-the-range LTZ model I tested included a very effective climate control system, sat nav, an excellent sound system with iPod connectivity, cruise control, an automatic headlights and wipers function, blue panel lighting and plenty more.

I’m often a tad suspicious when manufacturers claim to have a five-seater that “easily” converts to seven. Oh, too often I have been caught lugging the third row of seats and tugging on the “simply fold flat” operation to no avail. But that’s certainly not the case with the Orlando. Hydraulics come into action and in a matter of seconds a third row of seats are up and ready for use.

The boot is very generously sized and there is the option to fold the second and third row of seats flat to the floor when carrying larger objects. Elsewhere, there are plenty of useful storage compartments – one in particular is brilliantly tucked away behind the radio console which is an ideal place to keep your MP3 player safe from prying eyes.

Because of the vehicle’s rugged design, the interior is both light and spacious and all occupants benefit from a bright and cheerful atmosphere with light flooding in through the large windows. Admittedly third row passengers do not have bags of legroom, but it’s fine for shorter journeys or for smaller children.

The drive itself is also pretty impressive. The 2.0 diesel-powered engine with 163bhp (130bhp option available) delivered plenty of power, and acceleration through the six-speed manual transmission was smooth and very responsive.

Surprisingly for a vehicle of this size, road-holding was excellent, the cabin noise was fairly quiet and the ride deceptively smooth… even on relatively bumpy and pothole-ridden roads.

The high seated driving position means excellent all-round visibility and there is even a rear conversation mirror which means you can keep a watchful eye on the kids in the back seats without taking your eyes off the road.

Chevrolet has fitted the Orlando with a very comprehensive list of safety specifications including a strengthened body shell, six airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control and plenty more besides.

All in all, the Orlando is quite a catch. Prices range from £16.4k to £23.2k and with a choice of three trim levels and three engine types to choose from, there is one to suit the demands of today’s modern-style family.