Holden Captiva 2017 Review

Take the whole family in a Holden Captiva 2017

We love:

• Low entry price
• Spacious
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Pain points:

• Lacks finesse
• Cabin noise

Holden Captiva 2017 review

A five-door SUV wagon with a clever interior, the Holden Captiva 2017 will keep everyone inside connected and safe.

Exterior of the Holden Captiva 2017

Running boards to help smaller children get in more easily, though they may seem superfluous as the car is quite low. Tinted windows keep the passengers more comfortable, especially in summer, and daytime running lamps increase visibility and safety.

Image courtesy of Drive

The aluminium alloy wheels are lighter and more stylish than steel wheels, and higher spec models come with roof rails and an electric sunroof. Standard colours are white and red, with other options costing a little more.

Inside the Holden Captiva 2017

Dual-zone air conditioning allows the driver and passenger to set their temperature independently - great for long drives when the passenger's getting some rest but the driver wants the cool air to help stay awake and safe.

Smart key entry means you can get into the car without the keys in your hand, as long as they are close by, by pushing a button on the door to unlock it. The electric park brake means there is a little bit more space, and six airbags ensure the safety of the passengers under the 5 star ANCAP Safety rating

Trim varies from cloth to partial leather depending on the model you select. The large, leather-wrapped steering wheel has audio controls and ventilation controls, so you rarely have to take your hands off the wheel.

The middle row has enough space to seat three adults. ISOFIX anchor points in the second row make it a bit harder for passengers to get in and out when a child seat is fitted. In the back row, there's less space, so only children will really be comfortable.

Connectivity

Standard across the range is a 7-inch touchscreen with Holden MyLink, AM/FM radio with a six-speaker stereo system. You can connect your phone to Bluetooth too.

Image courtesy of Drive

There's no sat nav, but it's no problem because you can simply use your phone's navigation over Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. You can control your connected phone and the sound system with the steering wheel controls or by voice.

What's it like to drive a Holden Captiva 2017?

With blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert, cruise control (in the top spec LTZ), AWD and hill-descent control, driving the Holden Captiva 2017 is a relaxing experience. Automatic headlights mean that you'll avoid a flat battery from leaving the lights on when you park, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel just increases driver comfort.

The driving experience does depend on the engine that you choose. The diesel offers a much nicer drive with better fuel economy but is a little more expensive to purchase and service. The fuel guzzling V6 offers the smoothest ride of the three options. Steering is fairly heavy around town, but responsive at highway speeds.

The one thing you might miss is the spare tyre, which is an optional space saver. If you don't option the spare, you've just got a standard repair kit.

Who's the Holden Captiva 2017 for?

When you have a large family to transport, then looks, performance and speed aren't your first priority. The Holden Captiva 2017 is a well-priced large family SUV with good after-sales support.

For a people mover, there's really nothing wrong with it at all, offering reliability as any problems with earlier models were promptly addressed by Holden's engineers. It should hold its resale value, with the 2015 model selling for a little over half the purchase price after three years.

Feature Summary

Price: from $26,490 to $40,490

Engine: 2.4L petrol or 3.0L V6 petrol, 2.2L turbo-charged diesel

Transmission: six-speed automatic or five-speed manual (petrol only), FWD or AWD.

Wheels: 17, 18 or 19-inch aluminium alloy.

Safety: 5 star ANCAP

Fuel: 8.5L/100km (diesel), 14.4L/100km (petrol V6)

AV and tech: 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Seats: 7

Doors: 5

You can finance a Holden Captiva 2017 from $130/week*, get a quick quote to find out exactly what it will cost to captain this practical family SUV.

No time to shop around for your car? Just tell us exactly what you want, including the features and colour. We will find the vehicle to match and negotiate the best price for you.

*Over a 5-year loan term.