Holden combines Captiva 5 and 7

HOLDEN has axed the Captiva 5 and consolidated its mid-sized SUV line-up into a re-designed Captiva 7 body as part of a mid-life makeover to arrive in showrooms early next year.

Now called simply Captiva, the revised vehicle was unveiled in its Chevrolet guise at the Bangkok Auto Expo this week, prompting Holden to show its version about two months ahead of launch.

Exact range specifications and pricing are being withheld until closer to launch, but the company has confirmed that the new model will get a choice of both five- and seven-seat options and a variety of powertrains, plus a host of new features including the latest Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The move simplifies the range and removes customer confusion over the 5/7 split that originated with Holden’s decision to take the Opel-designed Captiva Maxx and American-oriented three-row Captiva to cover various market needs.

The new look for the South Korean-built wagon includes a Chevrolet-style grille and front fascia that includes LED daytime running lights for the first time.

The two-port grille gets multiple black horizontal blades, with chrome surrounds reminiscent of Holden’s latest Commodore VFII sports models.

The refreshed interior includes a new Commodore-style steering wheel with audio, phone and cruise control buttons, dispensing with the old Daewoo-style wheel that harked back to Epica.

Safety has been improved with the addition of blind spot alert and rear traffic warning on the top-of-the-range LTZ.

A “cleaner, more contemporary” infotainment panel gets GM’s latest MyLink technology including phone projection technology and a rear view camera as standard.

Holden’s electrical group engineering manager Joe Sawyer said Captiva’s new system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was class-leading.

“Using the system's seven-inch colour touch screen, steering wheel controls and voice command technology, customers are able to send, read and reply to text messages and calls, access music and navigate using Apple/Google maps effortlessly,” he said.

The facelift is likely to be the last for the 10-year-old Captiva that has already had one major facelift and various tweaks since it was launched in 2006.

Ultimately, the vehicle is expected to be replaced by one or two all-new crossover vehicles, including a large SUV based on the same E2XX mid-sized car platform as the new-generation Insignia.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra has already confirmed such a vehicle will roll down Opel’s Russelsheim production line in Germany before the end of the decade.

The current Captiva is built on the ageing Theta platform which is expected to be dumped at some point.

Until then, the Captiva will battle on with the help of updates such as the one we see here, along with sharp pricing appealing to families with a need for three rows of seats and other such family friendly features.

The current Captiva 7 is being offered at $29,990 driveaway in an Active special edition that even includes a $1000 “plate bonus”, leather seats and sunroof.

So far this year, Holden has sold 13,497 Captivas – 8613 Captiva 7s and 4884 Captiva 5s – about line-ball with last year. This is more than the large segment leader, Toyota Prado (12,630).