Chevrolet Orlando unveiled

By Tom Phillips

August 2010

It’s been a two-year wait, but Chevrolet has finally revealed the production version of its Orlando MPV. The concept car impressed at the Paris show in 2008, and the finished version of its seven-seater people carrier retains the striking looks.

Designed to blend the chunky looks of a crossover with a traditional MPV, the Orlando features a low, swept roofline, flared wheelarches and the traditional Chevrolet split front grille.

On the inside, the Orlando gets a flexible seven-seat layout where the second and third rows of seats are mounted higher than those in the front for a better view for rear-seat passengers. Designed with a family in mind, the Orlando interior also features a host of cubby holes and storage areas, plus Chevrolet claims it has one of the biggest boots of any MPV.

The Orlando is based on the underpinnings of the Chevrolet Cruze, and will launch with three engine choices – a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol and low and high power 2.0-litre diesels which produce 129bhp and 161bhp respectively.

Set to go on sale in the UK early in 2011, buyers will have the choice of four Orlando trim levels, but all cars will be generously equipped with electronic stability control, six air-bags, air conditioning and electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors fitted to all cars.

The Orlando is just one of four cars that Chevrolet showed off in Paris, and starts an aggressive expansion programme for the firm which will see seven new cars launched in the European market in the next 15 months.