GM India is busy fine tuning it’s latest SUV Captiva which would be launched in the first quarter of 2008. Readers of IndiBlog have reported sightings of the test car in Gurgaon and close to Vadodara. The Captiva is a soft-roader but the most capable off roader in the class. It would be launched with a 2 liter common rail diesel engine variable geometry turbo engine which belts out 148 bhp to propel this 1800+kg SUV from 0-100kmph in 13-14 seconds. It’s the diesel motor which would make the Captiva a hot seller in the Indian SUV market as the Honda CRV & Suzuki Vitara don’t have a diesel option.

The Captiva looks good and very proportionate, it looks like a proper SUV which would satisfy potential owners ego. The Captiva has a part time automatic four wheel drive system which gives it enough off roading credentials, the limits of which many owners wouldn’t even try. The SUV comes in a 7 seater configuration but the last bench is extremely difficult for adults to get in and out of and is best to be used for luggage. GM would import the Captiva as a completely built unit and that would mean a blown up price tag of around Rs. 20 lakh. The Captiva would see competition coming in from Hyundai’s Santa Fe, Toyota Fortuner & the Mitsubishi Outlander all of which are expected by 2008-2009.