The four-year-old Chevrolet Captiva has just gone under the knife. But what we've ended up with is something much more than a mere face-lift

The Chevrolet Captiva has been around for a while,  almost four years since its launch in 2008. In this day and age, it is pretty much a car from a different era, an era when GM wasn’t really enjoying the success it does today. Back then, it was one of Chevy’s most successful and recognised models in the country and with a little exaggeration, one could even say that it was the Captiva that kept the ball rolling till the Beat and the Cruze arrived on the scene. That being said though, this friendly-faced SUV was getting a little long in the tooth and in the light of the Cruze getting a completely revamped engine, GM saw it fit to get some dental work done in the Captiva, albeit only in the top end model.

Now let’s get this straight – the LT and the Xtreme models haven’t received any updates. What Chevy has done instead is effectively introduce a new top-spec model, called the 2.2 LTZ AWD, armed with a new engine, an attractive new fascia and revamped interiors. This redesign has been seen on the international Captiva since 2011, and now it has finally made its way to India. Don’t get me wrong; underneath it’s still pretty much the same SUV that we’ve come to know and love all this while. But now, with its bolder, much bigger grille, redesigned headlights and new bumper, the new Captiva looks much more aggressive and intimidating compared to the older model. Apart from the revamped front end though, the only other small change is a new side grille on the front quarter panels. Otherwise, externally, the car remains completely unchanged.

Step inside however, and you’re treated to many more changes. There is a completely redesigned instrument cluster with a far cleaner and more modern layout and you also get a new music system. The wood trim bits have been replaced by faux carbon-fibre strips – a touch that goes brilliantly with the all-black leather interiors. In fact the faux carbon-fibre dashboard trim strip cuts through the centre console, creating two separate areas, one for the multi-function display and the stylish clock and the other for the music player and climate controls. Overall, it’s a nice touch and really adds to the style quotient of the car. The Captiva maintains its 5+2 flexi seating option which features a split folding middle row as well as a split collapsing third row to make room for luggage.