Test Drive: 2012 Chevrolet Orlando LT

2012 Chevrolet Orlando LT. Click image to enlarge

More Chevrolet Orlando reviews at Autos.ca Manufacturer’s web site Chevrolet Canada

Review and photos by Grant Yoxon

Photo Gallery:
2012 Chevrolet Orlando

Second Opinion:
By Chris Chase

The Chevrolet Orlando is a seven passenger compact minivan — or as GM would prefer, “part MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle), part crossover” — that competes in Canada against the Mazda5 and the Kia Rondo.

The “in Canada” part is worth mentioning, because the Orlando, which is built in South Korea by GM’s Korean subsidiary, is not sold in the United States — at least not yet.

Young families who need the flexibility to seat up to seven passengers or routinely carry lots of stuff with them, but are reluctant to pay the purchase price or the fuel costs for larger multi-purpose utility vehicles (minivans and crossovers), will find the Orlando appealing.

With four-cylinder fuel economy, more modest monthly payments than most minivans and SUVs, but equipped with passenger and cargo carrying capacity of these much larger vehicles, the Chevrolet Orlando provides the flexibility to carry all of a family’s precious cargo without breaking the family budget.

2012 Chevrolet Orlando LT. Click image to enlarge

And the budget starts at just $19,995 for the entry level Orlando LS, equipped with power windows, locks and remote keyless entry, four wheel disc brakes, ABS, stability control and traction control, CD player with MP3 and auxiliary audio inputs, block heater, tilt steering wheel, three auxiliary power outlets, manual transmission and 16-inch steel wheels.

Our test model, a 1 LT, takes the standard equipment up a notch with air conditioning, cruise control, premium cloth seats, floor mats, power heated mirrors, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, driver arm rest and centre console. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but our tester came equipped with the six-speed automatic, a $1,450 option, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels ($510) and a vehicle interface package at $460. Total price, all in including a destination charge of $1,595, brought the price of the Orlando to $26,310. Taxes extra of course.

2012 Chevrolet Orlando LT. Click image to enlarge

Other trim levels available include the 2LT which adds the 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, USB port, vehicle interface package, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and tire pressure monitoring system for $24,895, and; the top-of-the-line LTZ at $29,735 with its standard automatic climate control, chrome and stainless steel exterior trim, ambient interior lighting and electro-chromic rear view mirror. Leather seating, sunroof and navigation system are available at extra cost.

The Orlando is as compact as the Chevrolet Cruze on which it is based, yet it is surprisingly roomy, with seating for seven and a bit of luggage or, with the third row folded flat, seating for five and a lot of luggage.

When fitting seven passengers into a vehicle compartment, form follows function and for most manufacturers that form takes the shape of a minivan or a rather large (and thirsty) SUV. It may not be the prettiest form on four wheels, but GM’s designers have done a nice job shaping the Orlando without sacrificing its functionality.

There are three rows of theatre-like seating, with each successive row slightly higher than the row in front. By folding one or more of the seats in the second and third rows, numerous seating configurations are possible. When fully flat, the Orlando will hold 1,594 litres (56.3 cu. ft.) of cargo behind the front seats. To carry all the drink cups, toys, games and other stuff that accumulate in family vehicles, the Orlando has two large cup holders in the centre console, map and bottle holders integrated into the front and rear doors and a number of compartments in the cargo area.

There is also a hidden storage area — hidden so well that I never realized it was there during my test drive — behind the face of the audio system, large enough to carry items like an MP3 player, sunglasses or wallets. Here you will also find the auxiliary jack and the optional USB port for iPod or MP3 connectivity.

The driver and front-row passenger seats have tremendous for and aft adjustment permitting the right amount of legroom for both tall and short drivers. Our tester’s upgraded fabric felt very durable. The driver and front passenger seats have been constructed with a lot of natural lumbar support and we found them to be very comfortable, even for extended drives.

2012 Chevrolet Orlando LT. Click image to enlarge

The seats have been positioned high, allowing easy access and giving the driver an upright seating position with a commanding view of the road. Visibility to the side and back is also excellent. My number one access and exit tester, my 91 year-old disabled father, declared that getting into and out of the Orlando was the easiest of all the vehicles I have tested in recent years.

The third row is also easily accessible as the two outboard seats in the second row tumble and fold to allow easy access into and out of the third row. Both rear doors open normally — they do not slide like a minivan or the Mazda5.

The Orlando is powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder engine, rated at 174 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. With the automatic transmission, the Orlando is rated by EnerGuide at 6.9 L/100 km on the highway and 10.6 L/100 km in the city. My combined fuel consumption for a week of mostly around town driving was 11.7 L/100 km.

Power to the front wheels is managed by an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission with electronic range select. The transmission has a wide selection of shift patterns that adapt to the style and habits of the driver. The electronic control also adapts to the prevailing road conditions, reducing gear shifting when climbing and using engine braking during descents.

The automatic also features ActiveSelect manual control, which allows the driver to select gears sequentially using the shift lever. You will use this once, like I did, and probably never use it again, unless stuck in snow, when a higher gear can help prevent wheel spin. Up shifts and down shifts were just too slow to make this feature entertaining. Left to its own devices, the transmission shifts quickly and appropriately both for spirited driving and for saving fuel.

Around town the Orlando proved to be both quick and nimble. Acceleration from a standing stop was more than sufficient as was power to pass and to merge into freeway traffic. You won’t feel like the King of the Road at a stop light, but you will be far from embarrassed. This little wagon can hold its own.

2012 Chevrolet Orlando LT. Click image to enlarge

With its McPherson strut front suspension and compound crank axle in the rear, both adopted from the Chevrolet Cruze, the Orlando corners remarkably flat considering its higher centre of gravity. Steering is light and direct, and with great visibility in all directions, lane changes are quick and parking is easy. Hydraulic bushings in the McPherson front suspension help isolate passengers from uneven road surfaces giving the Orlando a ride that balances comfort and agility.

Inside, the Orlando is very quiet, one of the quietest four-cylinder-powered cars I’ve driven. Even under hard acceleration, engine noise is muted. Wind noise, when the weather is calm, is negligible and minimal when running against a strong headwind.

Safety features include large, effective disc brakes with 11.8-inch rotors in the front and 11.5 inches in the rear with electronic antilock brakes (ABS) on all four wheels. And pure stopping power is supplemented with electronic brake force distribution (which governs the amount of braking at each wheel to ensure the shortest stopping distances), traction control for wet or slippery conditions, electronic stability control to help prevent skids on slippery surfaces, and hydraulic brake assist.

Standard passive safety features include six standard air bags — two front, two seat-mounted side and two curtain air bags — head restraints for all seating positions, power rear child security door locks, child-view mirror and standard OnStar with six months of Directions and Connections service. Crash sensor technology automatically unlocks all the doors in the event of a crash.

Since the Orlando is not sold in the United States, it has not been crash tested by either of that country’s crash testing organizations. However, the Orlando has been tested in Europe where it received a Euro NCAP 5 Star rating, one of the top scoring cars in Europe in 2011.

The car is not sold in the US because GM feels that Americans would not buy a compact minivan like the Orlando. But with fuel prices rising fast in the US — it may not be long before we reach par on fuel as well as the dollar — that may change. How well the Orlando sells in Canada may well be a test of its viability south of the border as well.