Chevrolet S3X is Called Captiva
Text & Photo courtesy GM Motor Corporation
11-22-2005

A compact SUV for Europe
First diesel powered compact Chevrolet SUV
Available with five and seven seats
World premiere in Geneva, March 2006
Captiva will be the name of the new Chevrolet Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) due to be launched in summer 2006. As the S3X concept, the vehicle made its first appearance at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, where it was enthusiastically received by the media and the public. The Chevrolet Captiva offers expressive design and a spacious, convenient interior featuring high quality fabrics and materials. The new Captiva (length/width/height: 4,639/1,849/1,726 mm) will be available with seven or five seats respectively. Customers will also have the choice between front-wheel and four-wheel-drive variants.


Captiva will be Chevrolet’s first compact SUV with a diesel engine. Tailored to European roads and customer requirements, the vehicle will initially be available with a modern two-liter 150hp common-rail direct-injection diesel. Like the two available gasoline versions (2.4-liter four-cylinder and 3.2-liter V6), the turbodiesel offers dynamic driving performance. The Captiva will be the first model in Chevrolet Europe’s range available with an electronic stability program (ESP).


The diesel engine was developed by GM Daewoo Auto&Technology Company, in cooperation with GM Powertrain and VM Motori. It is the first application of a family of diesel powertrains that will become available in other Chevrolet products in Europe, beginning in 2006.

Some decnet styling for a cute-ute.

I agree, this is a great looking little suv....has some BMW ute essense...and I always liked that one. Again, why are all the good-looking Chevys in other markets?!

Aside the headlights and most likely smaller wheels.. what's different from the concept?

the euro stuff from other companies does sell well here. why wouldn't this?

It looks like the bottom of front bumper, the middle section is dark color compared to concept.

The concept looks a little bit more masculine and aggressive.

The trouble is, the rest of the world has moved on, but America (as portrayed by the Big 2 1/2) hasn't. All over the world there are cool, amazing vehicles - some even being designed and built by American companies, but even if they are brought to America (as in the Maxx platform) they are "dumbed down" for the American market. Maybe American consumes were stupid once. Honda, Nissan and others have proven what American consumers want now. It is time for GM to stop treating North America as an island unto itself and start giving the people what they want: exciting designs and vehicles that handle and perform flawlessly. The Japanese already figured it out. This little SUV and other Opal/Vauxhall designs proves that GM CAN do it. JUST BRING THE DAMNED THINGS HERE. AND DON'T WATER THEM DOWN!!!

From a styling standpoint, I don't see it as an improvement over the Equinox.

(CAPTIVA?)----So I guess when you get in it GM uses ON STAR to locks the doors so you cant get out?-----For WHAT I wonder?