Chevrolet Orlando Road Test
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Chevrolet Orlando Road Test
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Orlando deserves respect. This is a real minivan generous in space interior without being particularly cumbersome to manage. The engine is generally more than satisfactory in terms of performance and consumption. To all this you need to add really fair price in relation to the offered standard equipment. Of course, this is not a high-end car, but it manages to compensate for minor flaws, like some muted finish.
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Do you want to see Orlando impress you if you have that look? The Orlando is a new "Made in Korea" minivan that boasts the noble American brand Chevrolet and features an anomalous line, fully square, in the style of the Daihatsu Materia and Nissan Cube. This can be discussed, but it can also be happy (the author, for example, thinks so), and for a rather large minivan (length 4,65 m), such as the new Chevrolet, it can represent a winning card. But it's not just a matter of aesthetics. The car in question deserves attention for several more reasons. So, let's see why: first of all, it's the aspect of price that has always been a trump card for Korean production, then handling and more.
city
In an urban setting, Orlando is not in an ideal location, given its rather large size. However, this is not entirely inconvenient. This is due to a certain controllability in motion and the engine, a two-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 163 liters. In turn, the suspensions respond fairly to road loads. The last aspect: parking. It is not always easy to find enough space to host the Orlando. Parking sensors come in handy when maneuvering because the protective covers do not extend.
Outside the city
Even on country roads, Orlando does not cause discomfort. The steering isn't like a Lamborghini, but it's not too slow to react and not particularly inaccurate. The same assessment can be expressed for the transmission, a six-speed (but there is an automatic version, always a six-speed), not particularly fluid, but also not worthy of neglect. The gears are well distributed, allowing the vehicle to be used in line with its travel philosophy. Overall, the performance provided by the 163 hp 130-liter diesel engine. (but there is also a quieter version 1.8 with a XNUMX petrol engine), more than enough for a quiet driving experience. Also because the Orlando is more controllable than you might imagine at first glance, and the engine is quite smooth in delivery.
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So let's move on to an area that better matches the characteristics of Orlando. Which proves itself to be a decent traveler. Of course, you shouldn't expect world-class performance, but you do travel well. The engine is flexible enough and does not try to reach (and exceed ...) the speed indicated by the code. It also rides well because the suspensions do the job. The picture could be more positive if the car guaranteed better silence and (at least for our model) more uniform brake pedal use. On the other hand, the soundproofing is not well thought out and the modulation of the braking could be better, instead of showing the action concentrated on a few millimeters of pedal travel. But in general, this is not a rejection. Orlando quietly devours miles and leaves no room for negative feelings. In short, there are enough votes on the whole, and with a small number of votes, there could be even more.
Life on board
Being able to offer seven seats that are generally comfortable is Orlando's strength (even if it's always better to leave two young people behind...). The two extra seats disappear flush with the floor and can be pulled out quickly. The only drawback is the presence of a hat box, which greatly complicates the work. On the other hand, the second and third row of seats are raised to give passengers a better view. The driving position is generally decent: it's a pity that the right foot touches the center console, which is a bit wide. Especially since the console is made of really cheap plastic. After all, the finish is not quite the strong side of the car and there are squeaks and squeaks when driving. One last note on the trunk. Capacity - an average ticket for five people; at seven you can carry bags around the clock.
Price and costs
Here Orlando plays at home. In the Korean tradition (we reiterate that the Chevrolet brand includes not only top-end products made in the USA, but also the most popular ones besides Daewoo), the price is confirmed as one of the car's main trump cards. Which offers, especially in our richest version of the LTZ, concrete airborne equipment. Including from the air conditioner to the navigator, from the Hi-Fi system with mp3 to the on-board computer. And the accessories, offered separately, are as luxurious as the headrest entertainment system. The three-year warranty is fair (higher than many other better-known manufacturers anyway) and the total consumption is acceptable: at the end of our test, we measured an average of 11,6 km / liter. This is not a record car, but keep in mind that in these tests the cars are a little agitated and therefore we are certainly not close to ideal values. And that Orlando has a significant development in height, which does not contribute to aerodynamic permeability. In conclusion, perhaps the most pressing question: Koreans tend to depreciate greatly. Orlando, however, is in its early days. Perhaps it will surprise us by retaining its high value over time.
safety
Let's start with the endowment, which was voted more than positively. Six airbags, ABS and ESP are fitted as standard on all versions of the Chevrolet minivan, as well as fog lights and Isofix attachments for child seats. When it comes to driving behavior, Orlando confirms its philosophy of a traveler ... fully loaded and relaxed. This vehicle is not suited to the tight bends of alpine passes or to easily navigate dry bends in the countryside. With over-agility, there is a clear tendency to understeer. When cornering, the minivan's considerable weight shifts a little awkwardly outward: nothing to worry about, but this is just additional confirmation that the Orlando should be treated like a runner and not a sprinter. Otherwise, the presence of ESP protects against further problems. However, it is best not to turn it off. Visibility is excellent except at the rear due to the small rear window. Braking is imperceptible, not particularly powerful and a bit long: 39,5 meters at 100 km / h confirms this. One final note: The crash test has not yet been performed.
