2006 Holden Captiva 2.4L 5MT AWD (141 HP)

Vehicle Overview

When GM bought the remains of the Korean brand Daewoo in 2002, it also inherited the carmaker’s R&D center, which it used to create a new generation of crossovers, such as the 2006 Holden Captiva.

Designed as a world SUV, the 2006 Holden Captiva was built in Korea. This unusual decision helped the automaker lower production costs for the vehicle. Furthermore, the same factory made the vehicles sold in Europe under Chevrolet, Opel, and Vauxhall brands wearing the Captiva and the Antara nameplates, respectively. However, customers embraced the new vehicle, which was no longer a body-on-frame construction. It wasn’t meant to attack serious offroad trails like the Corner Country or the Monkey Gum Track in New South Wales. However, the crossover was good enough for regular streets and unpaved roads. Thanks to the higher ground clearance than most other vehicles, the Captiva proved efficient for families craving comfortable rides, roomy cabins, and low running costs.

The 2006 Chevrolet Captiva shared its front fascia with the rest of the Captiva/Antara range sold in Europe. It featured rounded horizontal headlights with side-mounted turn signal lamps. They flanked a reversed trapezoidal grille with shaved corners where the brand’s badge took center stage on a thick chromed slat. Below, the wrapped-around plastic bumper was body-colored on the upper side and black, unpainted, on the lower one to emphasize the vehicle’s off-road-ready ability.

From its profile, the black moldings around the wheel arches and on the side sills continued emphasizing the car’s higher ground clearance. The 2006 Holden Captiva was available with standard 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, depending on the grade and options. These improved the car’s look and made it look more upscale. Furthermore, the color-keyed door mirrors, handles, and chromed trims around the window line attracted customers looking for budget-friendly yet well-equipped vehicles. The tall greenhouse was longer than on the Captiva MaXX lineup and ended in an arched rear end with a slightly tilted forward tailgate. Behind the rear doors, between the C- and the D-posts, GM placed a set of windows to improve rear three-quarter visibility.

Holden offered the unibody-built Captiva with an attractive cabin, available in three grades: the SX, the CX, and the LX. The former two sported full-cloth upholstery, while the highest grade boasted leather-faced seat trims. Fronting the driver was a four-dial instrument panel where the fuel level and coolant temperature gauges flanked the speedometer and tachometer, with the odometer shown on a tiny horizontal LCD. Atop the center stack, the automaker placed a storage compartment for lesser-equipped vehicles, while a color screen for the navigation unit was available. One of the car’s main advantages over competition was its availability as a people carrier, with a capacity of up to seven seats. The last row was cramped, suitable mostly for children. However, the second split-folding (60/40) bench seat could recline, improving comfort. To further improve the driving experience, the 2006 Holden Captiva was available with automatic climate control and power seats for the driver.

At the sales start, the 2006 Holden Captiva was available with a 3.2-liter V6 gasoline engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Later, the automaker introduced a two-liter turbodiesel version mated to a five-speed manual and even a 2.4-liter inline-four spark-ignited powerhouse. Besides the all-wheel drive versions, which used an electronically-controlled center differential that sent the power to the rear wheels only when the computer detected a slippage on the front axle, the crossover was also offered with an FWD-only system, which attracted customers craving for a budget-friendly crossover.