Chevrolet Is Spoiled For Choice

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

With the introduction of diesel models, Chevrolet has entered new territory. The previous LPG specialist is now spoiled for choice for its customers. Thomas Flehmer helps with the decision.

Chevrolet presents its customers with difficult tasks. The importer from South America, under the umbrella of General Motors since 2005, now also offers models with diesel engines. Until now, Chevrolet was considered a specialist in LPG. The Captiva SUV has been available in both versions since last year. We drove both a 2.4 LT with LPG and a 2.0 LT with diesel drive.

Dimensions unchanged

That the Captiva is very appealing in terms of design is of course withheld from both models. The 4.64 meter length, 1.85 meter width and 1.72 height also remain unchanged. Likewise, almost everything remains the same in the interior. There is one exception: the 2.4 LT has a small display on the center console that shows the fill level of the gas tank, which is housed in the spare wheel well. If all the diodes are green, the tank is full and the journey can begin.

Of course, the gas model also has a petrol tank, because the fossil fuel is needed to get the SUV going. Depending on the weather, it can take up to 90 seconds for the Captiva to run on the alternative fuel. While the change was made with a slight jolt in earlier models, the Captiva does not even notice the switch from gasoline to gas.

Quiet engines

You don't have to compromise on performance either. In gas mode, the Captiva maintains the power of 100 kW / 136 PS, which let you pass the 100 km / h limit in 11.5 seconds. The 110 kW / 150 PS diesel engine, equipped with a torque of 320 Nm, which is applied at 2000 rpm, makes the mark in 10.6 seconds. Both models end at 178 km / h.

But it's seldom so fast in an SUV. Cruising is more fun here. Both units work very quietly, with primarily wind noise penetrating the interior. While you would expect it with a gasoline engine, the diesel engine designed by VM Motori in Italy and produced in South Korea is pleasantly quiet even at faster speeds between 150 and 160 km / h.

Diesel more powerful

It is in the nature of the engine concept that the compression-ignition engine has a more powerful appearance than the gasoline engine. So the diesel can also tow a trailer load of 2000 kilograms. The petrol engines have to make small compromises here, for them the limit is 1500 kilograms.

In return, you want a sixth gear more in diesel than in gasoline. This would also benefit consumption. For the diesel, Chevrolet gives 7.6 liters in the third mix, for the petrol it should be 9.3. With LPG, however, the Captiva always exceeded the ten kilogram mark.

Lower running costs with gas

The operating costs are of course lower. Depending on the region, a liter of LPG, which is available at over 2200 filling stations in Germany, costs around 70 cents. During the test drives, however, you always had to take water pump pliers with you to unscrew the adapter on the gas tank.

Chevrolet press spokesman Uwe Rowold believes that this is due to the wrong screwing technique. According to Rowold, the adapter does not have to be screwed on very tightly. A liter of petrol costs around 40 cents more. With a tank volume of 65 liters, the LPG goes to the cash register with a slip for 45 euros, the diesel customer pays around 26 euros more per tank.

Payback after two and a half years

In return, the initial costs for the gas customer are higher. 2760 euros have to be paid for the retrofit, which is then amortized after around 120 tank fillings. The acquisition costs are almost identical. The Captiva LT with starts at 30,390 euros - plus the costs for the conversion. The 2.0 LT is available from 32,790 euros. Overall, the 2.4 LT is 450 euros more expensive to buy. Depending on how you refuel, you have to calculate between two and two and a half years before amortization occurs.

In return, you do a little more for the environment. Diesel emits 197 grams of CO2 per kilometer. In pure gasoline mode, the 2.4 LT has 222 grams of CO2 per kilometer, while in LPG mode, only about 182 grams are chased through the exhaust pipe.

Slight differences

The bottom line is that the differences are very small and develop into a question of faith. From an environmental point of view, preference should be given to LPG. If you prefer to drive more powerfully, the diesel is the better choice.