As far as buying a fashionable car goes you can’t get much worse than buying an MPV unless you fancy a tractor. MPV’s have long been criticised for making their owners look like they have given up on singledom and style in favour of family and practicality. However, I would like to argue that this is no longer the case; people carries of late have actually been rather good, not just at carrying numerous people but also as actual cars. Ford’s C and S Maxes are excellent, dynamic vehicles in their own right while Citroens C4 Picasso makes you feel like you’re driving a space ship…. you can’t get much funkier than that. All this brings me on to Chevrolets latest MPV offering, the Orlando, another irritatingly good people luger.
Before getting down to the nitty gritty of gadgetry, performance and price it is important to point out how good this car looks, it’s not just any old van with windows. It might be unashamedly square in appearance but thanks to those flared wheel arches, creases running along the side and chunky front end the Orlando looks big purposeful and handsome, with just a hint of a smirk on its face if you look at it head on. Aiding the Orlando’s appearance is its comparatively low roofline for an MPV, it makes the whole car look lower, wider and ultimately more car like. Similarly the side windows narrow the further back they go, riding the car of any slab sidedness. All this is perfect for keeping the stereotyped image of an MPV at bay.
There are 3 models of Orlando available and true to Chevy’s previous form they come packed with extras all as standard. In the base LS model how does air-con, 6 airbags, traction control, stereo with MP3 connection, electric windows and door mirrors, flat load bay and the obligatory 7 seats sound? If that’s not quite enough for your needs then the LT and top of the range LTZ offer alloy wheels, part leather interior, rear parking sensors, climate control, auto wipers and headlights, auto dimming rear view mirror and cruise control. Now if all that still isn’t enough standard equipment for you then quite frankly you’re just being greedy. Accompanying all this Chevy’s Orlando will be available with either a 1.8 litre petrol mated to a 5 speed manual or a 2 litre turbo diesel with a choice of 6 speed manual or automatic. The engine to go for is most definitely the diesel as it gets the best balance between performance and economy. The engine comes in two states of tune, with either 130bhp in the LS or 168bhp in the LT and LTZ, both power outputs return 47mpg combined. The adequate torque available from both engines mated to the aforementioned 6 speed gearbox should also make light work of any family outings which encompass motorways too.
Lastly and quite possibly most importantly the prices for all this 7 seater SUV luxury and performance start at an almost comically cheap £16,410 for the LS. Even the top of the range LTZ model starts at £18,310. Not bad at all for families car shopping on a budget. In comparison a similarly spec’d 2 litre diesel Ford S-Max Titanium would cost £26,500 while an equivalent Volkswagen Sharan SEL costs a not inconsiderable £32,205. Think about all the things you could do with an extra 18k if you bought the Chevy!
So to conclude, Chevrolet has managed to make quite a good case not only for the humble MPV but also for themselves by building the Orlando. It is a versatile, good looking, well performing and ultimately good value people carrier, but importantly it is a people carrier you can drive without having to hide your face in shame, that honour is saved for the people in a Ssangyong Rodius.