Holden Captiva 2008 Problems

Holden Captiva is a medium-large SUV that has a lot of Australian input in its design and engineering teams. It is available in two slightly different body styles, with the MaXX having a sporty look and five seats, while the other body type can be purchased as a five- or seven-seater.The third row seats are larger than those in many of Captiva’s seven-seat competitors and, while still better suited to children than adults, can carry the grownups in reasonable comfort.Storage space when all seven seats are in place is severely restricted, hardly unusual in this size of vehicle. The seats can the folded down in a variety of ways and, when all are flat, you have up to 1565 litres of luggage space.There are a number of smaller stowage compartments including a large wet/dry area beneath the load compartment floor. Interior storage is excellent, with seatback pockets; a glovebox cooler; front and rear centre console storage; door bins; drink holders; and an overhead sunglasses holderWhen introduced in 2007 the only Captiva powerplant was a 3.2-litre V6 petrol built by Holden. The engine was shipped to the South Korean factory to be installed in Captivas used on many global markets. A 2.0-litre diesel engine was added to the range in March 2007.Initially all Holden Captiva models used the same part-time 4WD system, with drive normally being to the front wheels and the rear wheels being engaged when extra traction was demanded.The 4WD system is well engineered and the Holden Captiva can tackle some quite tough off-road areas as it has good approach and departure angles. It’s not a heavy-duty 4WD but can go surprisingly far in the hands of an experienced operator.A 2WD version, through the front wheels, was introduced in December 2009. Called the Captiva 5 and using the MaXX style body it’s a five-seater powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.A five-speed automatic with tiptronic-style manual override was the only transmission option until the arrival of the Captiva 5, which is offered with a six-speed manual as well as an automatic transmission. The automatics were upgraded to six forward ratios with the introduction of an upgraded Captiva in February 2011.All Captiva models come with electronic stability control, ABS brakes with brake assist, traction control, active rollover protection and descent control. There are dual front airbags in all models with side curtain airbags optional in the lower cost models and standard on the others.Holden is very well represented in most areas of Australia and dealers in all regions are likely to carry the more common spare parts for the Captiva. Other components can usually be shipped in within a couple of working days. Prices are lower than average for an imported vehicle in this class.Parts and servicing costs are reasonable and the relatively simple layout of the Captiva means the good amateur mechanic can do a fair bit of their own work. Safety related items should only be worked on by professionals.Insurance costs are pretty reasonable and we haven’t seen a big variation between companies. However, it’s always smart to shop around for the best deal making sure that you’re comparing apples with apples when doing so.Check for rust in the lower area of the body and in a Captiva that may have been used on the beach. Look over the interior for signs of dirt having been ground into carpets. Similarly, check for damage and/or stains on the seats.Look for off-road damage to the bumper corners, the door sills and for light scratches in the paintwork on the doors and the front guards. If the load area has been used to cart heavy gear and/or has been damaged by poor loading and/or fastening there could be severe damage to the carpets. Again, signs of sand may be bad news.Engines that are slow to start or blow smoke when worked hard may be due for major repairs. Automatic transmissions that don’t go into Drive quickly when moved from Neutral or Reverse may need servicing.So few SUVs ever get taken off-road that it’s probably worth passing up one that has been used as an SUV. Silly, isn’t it? 

With sales of SUVs booming in the early part of this century it was only a matter of time before Holden got into the act with its own model. The Korean-sourced Captiva was launched in 2006 in the midst of Holden's shift to Asia for most of its imported models.If Holden diehards were keen for the brand to have an SUV they could get into, there were others who remained skeptical about the idea of Holden-badged Korean cars. Three years later those fears have evaporated, and with a diesel engine now part of the offering the Captiva offers something others can't.MODEL WATCH Holden was caught with its corporate pants down when SUV sales surged at the dawn of the new century. Quite simply it didn't have one to offer. While Ford also recognized the need for an SUV and built the Territory, Holden tried to plug the gap in its model range with the all-wheel drive Adventra wagon that was spun off the Commodore.It didn't work. While the Adventra was a decent car it was initially only available as a V8, which set it back, and although competent it was heavy and clunky on the road.Ford's success with the Territory was a clear message to Holden that the Adventra hadn't worked and that they needed an SUV urgently to have a competitive presence in the market.The SUV market was new territory for Holden, but the Captiva ticked most of the required boxes. It looked stylish, it was of a similar size to the booming BMW X5, and could accommodate up to seven.While it came from Korea the Captiva was powered by Holden's 3.2-litre Alloytec V6 made in Melbourne. The V6 was the only engine available at the launch in 2006, but Holden read the market's move towards diesel engines well and added a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine in 2007. With Ford sticking to its tried-and-true six cylinder engine and not offering a diesel Holden's move to diesel power was a masterstroke.The Aussie-built V6 delivered peaks of 169 kW at 6600 revs and 297 Nm at 3200 revs in most models, but a different exhaust system reduced the peak power slightly in the top-of-the-range MaXX. The diesel meanwhile gave 110 kW at 4000 revs and 320 Nm at 2000 revs when at its peak and was available in all models but the MaXX.The only transmission choice for the V6 was a five-speed Aisin auto with sports shift, but the diesel could be had with a five-speed manual 'box as well as the auto. In most situations the drive went through the Captiva's front wheels, but when needed drive was also sent to the rear wheels. The all-wheel drive system was electronically controlled and used two clutches.The Captiva also boasted a comprehensive array of electronic driving aids, including electronic stability control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, hill descent control, ABS antilock braking, and rollover protection. Holden engineers had a hand in tuning the suspension ensuring the Captiva's ride and handling was in tune with the local roads, with the result it rode comfortably and handled well.Inside the Captiva was roomy, with fold-flat seating making it a flexible carrier of people or loads of luggage. As many as 20 storage options were built into the Captiva's interior, including a useful wet-dry area below the rear floor, a glovebox cooler, large rear centre console bin, and numerous other handy bins. Four models were offered in the range, which included the five-seater SX, the seven-seater CX and LX, and the sporty five-seater MaXX.IN THE SHOP With the earliest cars just three years old and done 75,000 km or so at most it's early days for the Captiva. Apart from some initial complaints about the fuel consumption of the V6 there have been few complaints about the Captiva, and none of them have been of a serious nature.At this point in its life it's important to ensure the maintenance has been kept up so the car you are considering buying hasn't been neglected. Most SUVs are used around town, but check for offroad use, and any damage that might have been sustained in the bush.IN A CRASH The Captiva scrubs up pretty well on the safety front, with dual front airbags standard across the range, and curtain airbags optional on the SX and standard on all other models. All models also have seat belt pretensioners and belt force limiters on the front seats to limit the load on the chest in a crash. There's also a comprehensive array of electronic aids to provide a high level of active safety.AT THE PUMP Holden claimed the Captiva V6 would do 11.5 L/100 km on average, while the diesel would better that with 7.6 L/100 km for the manual and 8.7 L/100 km for the auto. Many owners complained about the high fuel economy of their V6 Captivas, which they were reporting was tending more towards the 12-14 L/100 km than the official Holden figures. The diesel seems to be hitting the mark with owners reporting quite reasonable fuel economy numbers.OWNERS SAY Barry Watson says his two-year-old LX Captiva diesel is better than he was expecting it to be. He was attracted to the Captiva by its safety, diesel engine, and high level of equipment. Two years on he says it is well finished, the body is very tight with no rattles anywhere, the ride and handling is quite acceptable, and it has been very reliable with no problems experienced to date. He also praises its fuel economy and reports he gets 10-11 L/100 km around town and 7.9 L/100 km on interstate trips. His main complaint is that the trip computer does not give an in stant readout of fuel consumption, so it can't be used as an economy gauge. In summary he says he is a very satisfied owner and would not hesitate to buy another one.LOOK FOR . Attractive looks. Seats up to seven. Thirsty V6. Frugal diesel. Competent chassis. Electronic driving aidsTHE BOTTOM LINE Attractive all-wheel drive wagon with Aussie influenced looks and chassis settings, and the option of a diesel engine is worth a look.RATING: 80/100

More and more manufacturers are realising they can attract extra sales by creating two-wheel-drive versions of their 'soft roaders'.2WD buyers are looking for the practicality of the wagon - a commanding driving position, perhaps a little higher ride height for a short drive down a dry dirt track, the 'look' of an SUV, strong suspension, and in some cases seven seats - without getting a people-mover.If they don’t need to go offroad, in the snow, through muddy tracks, they don’t need the four-wheel-drive ability. But they can get everything else they want with 2WD versions of the SUV.What’s the benefit of 2WD?By opting for the 2WD version, the vehicle costs thousands of dollars less because that second set of drive-shafts, differentials, wheel joints and bits are not in the vehicle. And that means the 2WD versions weigh considerably less. Less weight means less fuel, a cost saving to the owner and lower exhaust emissions for the planet. And less weight means better performance in acceleration and handling.The month of May this year was the best-ever May for new-vehicle sales in Australia. Part of the reason was a staggering 29 per cent growth in SUV sales over May of last year. Clearly Aussies still love their SUVs and many of those extra sales were because of 2WD versions.Toyota offering its large Kluger in 2WD and 4WD, in all trim levels. The choice (between 2WD and 4WD) will give buyers an alternative purchase decision based on their real needs. Toyota also offers the RAV4, which gets revised gear ratios for with 2WD.Ford launched its Territory SUV in 2004 in 4WD and 2WD right from the start. But some brands don’t offer the full choice of models of the 4WD. For example, the Kia Sorento 2WD cannot have Kia's excellent turbo-diesel engine of the 4WD, but it's recognised that 2WD buyers are looking for lower buying and running costs and so only a base model engine is provided.KIA SORENTO - $36,490 Drives well with good ride; six-speed automatic, fuel economy Engine sometimes works hard to move 1814kg weightA much better onroad wagon than previous (4WD-only) model. The 2WD Kia Sorento is available only with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to keep down cost.Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 128kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 226Nm @ 3750rpmTransmission: Six-speed automatic; front-wheel-drive.HOLDEN CAPTIVA - $27,990 Low price, plenty of Holden dealers for back-up Modest power, tows only 1500kg, no auto optionThe Holden Captiva 2WD gives wagon motoring to Holden followers not wanting a V6 or V8 Commodore Sportwagon. Captiva has been selling well lately.Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 103kW @ 5200rpmTorque: 220Nm @ 2400rpmTransmission: Five-speed manual; front-wheel-drive.TOYOTA KLUGER - $40,990 Engine power, full model range, including seven-seater Large, blunt design, fuel useThe larger option from Toyota can be had in all the trim levels of the Kluger 4WDs, which means seven-seaters as well. The well-known 3.5 V6 engine is a good 'un.Engine: 3.5-litre, V6, petrolPower: 201kW @ 6200rpmTorque: 337Nm @ 4700rpmTransmission: Five-speed automatic; front-wheel-drive.FORD TERRITORY - $39,890 Torque at low revs, parts costs, seven-seat option Size to park, fuel use, dating body shape, auto only a four-speedThe only Australian-designed and built SUV, Territory uses Ford Falcon running gear and is a popular vehicle, especially now that Falcon wagon is ceasing production.Engine: Four-litre, six-cylinder, petrolPower: 190kW @ 5250rpmTorque: 383Nm @ 2500rpmTransmission: Four-speed automatic; rear-wheel-drive.BMW X1 sDrive18i - $43,500 BMW owner pride, diesel option, equipment, fuel economy, 1430kg weight Expensive parts and servicingBMW's new compact SUV in two-wheel-drive form is known as the sDrive. It is one of the low-cost ways of getting behind the famous BMW badge and suits Yuppies.Engine: Two-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 110kW @ 6400rpmTorque: 200Nm @ 3600rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual (optional six-speed automatic); rear-wheel-drive.TOYOTA RAV4 - $28,990 Fuel economy, Toyota reputation, modest kerb weight (1525kg), price Tows only 1500kgRAV is the most recent 4WD SUV available in 2WD and uses the Toyota Camry 2.4 engine. RAV started the compact SUV segment and has kept updated nicely since.Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 125kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 224Nm @ 4000rpmTransmission: Five-speed manual (optional four-speed automatic); front-wheel-drive.