Chevrolet Orlando mini MPV

Drive

There are three engines available. A 1.8-litre petrol with 138bhp, and two 2.0-litre diesels. Although the petrol is cheaper, it feels too weak to power a car of this size, and makes progress painfully slow up steep hills. The diesels both deliver plenty of in-gear acceleration though, with the top-spec 161bhp version getting from 0-60 in 9.7 seconds. Despite this strong performance, it returns 47mpg and emits just 159g/km. There's a choice between either a six-speed manual or conventional automatic transmission, and both are solid rather than exceptional. The Orlando excels on the motorway, where it's quiet and refined, but It's surprisingly grippy in corners  too. The steering is light but offers little feedback to the driver, and thick pillars and a small rear window can make visibility an issue.

Comfort

Overall, the Orlando matches its rivals for comfort, but there's a big difference in comfort and luxury depending which engine you go for. The petrol is noisy and intrusive, but the diesels are much quieter and relaxed, if slightly clattery on start-up. The tall windscreen means there's wind noise at higher speeds, but the ride quality is good too, firm enough to keep body roll to a minimum without ever becoming harsh. Buyers should be wary of fitting 18-inch alloy wheels though, as they can make the ride a little jittery. There's room for adults in all seven-seats, which are supportive and comfortable, but the sloped roof does compromise headroom in the third row.

Reliability

A five-year warranty comes as standard, and includes a servicing package and roadside assistance ensures the Orlando will be a hassle free ownership prospect. Only Kia's seven year deal is better. Chevrolet doesn't have a reputation for customer satisfaction or sturdy build quality, but this new model seems like a step in the right direction. Some of the interior plastics feel cheap and flimsy, but the mechanicals are built to last. 

Practicality

Like MPV rivals, the Orlando's interior provides plenty of storage, with the seats folded flat - but boot spce is very limited with all three rows of seats in place - at a supermini rivalling 79 litres. Rear most seats seats fold and roll with one pull of a handle. Although the middle bench doesn't slide like in some people carriers, there's enough leg-room to keep even very tall passengers satisfied, and the Orlando's big doors and square tailgate were clearly designed with families in mind. 

Value for money

The entry-level petrol starts at £16,345, which is a lot of car for the money, but even the top LTZ models undercut rivals from Citroen and Ford by over £2,000, with the high powered diesel set at £20,195. They're well equipped too, with cruise control, rear parking sensors and six airbags as standard. The higher trims also get more attractive interiors, with added chrome and gloss black giving the cabin a more quality feel. The only downside is that residual values, which should be around 35% of the original value after three years.

Running costs

The Chevrolet certainly isn't the greenest MPV around, and although the company claim that the 1.8-litre petrol will return 38.7mpg on the combined cycle, you'll struggle to replicate that in real world driving. The diesels fair better, with close to 50mpg, although that drops to 40.1mpg if you opt for the automatic. Insurance on people carriers is normally quite pricy, but the Orlando sits in the lowest groups of any MPV, ranging from 10-16 depending which model you go for. Servicing costs should be low too, and repairs can be carried out at Vauxhall dealers if there's no local Chevrolet outlet, with checks required every 20,000 miles.