What's outside today 37 - Vauxhall Antara

This is Vauxhall's newish SUV, the Antara. It looks remarkably similar to the Chevrolet Captiva which is hardly surprising given that they are more or less the same car.


Unlike the Captiva we tested for the Verdict last year, this car has a diesel engine, a much better choice for a heavy 4x4.


Where the Antara disappoints a bit, perhaps because it tries a bit too hard, is with its interior; our top-end SE spec test car was fitted with lashings of leather and wood which didn't quite come off - looked a bit over the top IMHO. I suspect the less expensive versions may actually have nicer interiors.


The Antara isn't bad to drive though - flat, fairly car-like handling and a high driving position make for a relaxing drive on long journeys.

Cars on TV 1 - NDTV's Car and Bike Show

NDTV is an Indian 24 hour news channel; it's carried on Sky as Channel 513. Every Sunday morning at 10.30 it broadcasts its motoring programme the Car and Bike Show.

This provides a window on a different motoring world altogether. There's none of your knowing Top Gear style irony and cynicism here but a lot of breathless enthusiasm for the latest scooters and budget motors. Interesting to see what's available on the Indian market, too. Last week's show had a review of the Chevrolet Avea (not sure whether that's a small American Chevy or a Korean Daewoo-style effort) which majored on the chrome strip on the bootlid, chrome being quite a big subject that features quite heavily on this programme.

Truly fascinating and well worth a look.

What's outside today 16 - Chevrolet Lacetti

This weekend a panel of Independent readers in Yorkshire will get to be the stars in a reasonably-priced car when they try the Chevrolet Lacetti.


I'm especially interested to see how it performs on the journey north. The Lacetti is one of those cars that have somehow escaped me until now, but I always take a particular interest in what is coming out of Korea, a country that represents one of the bigger motor industry stories at the moment.


Initial impressions are that the interior is just a little on the grey and plasticky side but well equipped and not too bad for the price. Of course, the real proof is in the driving. Another Korean Chevrolet, the Captiva, featured on the Verdict a few weeks ago - that was generally a rather likable machine but could perhaps have done with just a little bit more polish.

What's outside today 12 - Chevrolet Captiva

Going back today. A sound, even pleasant, machine but I can't help thinking that the advertising message - 'premium SUV without the premium' - doesn't really strike the right note.


Our test car was the pricey top-of-the-range model but it didn't have the polish of the Freelander 2 that was on the Verdict recently. Going on about it being 'premium' (not sure I like the word anyway) rather draws attention to that, and away from the basics, which are actually done rather well. I'm not sure the renaming of Daewoo as Chevrolet really works either but that's another subject.


These specific grumbles apart though, and looking at the big picture, the Captiva is another piece of evidence for the growing strength of the Korean industry.