Chevrolet Orlando 1.8 LT Review: Orlando Blooms

What we like:

Handsome

chunky lines which make the Orlando standout from the crowd. Its easy-going nature

and extremely comfortable and well-thought out cabin. High equipment levels and reletaively attractive pricing compared to other 7-seater MPVs.

What we dislike:

Minor instruments can’t be read in midday sun

middle row seats recline but don’t slide. Tight conditions for third row seats.

So yes, the Orlando is a worthy addition to the Chevrolet family, and as an MPV, it is more relevant to Asian families, a worthy alternative to the Toyota Wish and Honda Stream, and the its considerably more expensive rivals from Europe. It has an easy-going, yet masculine and self-confident style that is refreshingly different from its rivals who seem be pretending to be either sporty (Honda Stream, Volkswagen Touran), or futuristic spaceships (Citroen Grand C4 Picasso), or purely functional and colourless (Toyota Wish),

In order to advance the game, and provide really make the Orlando a futuristic alternative would be to integrate some of the high-tech non-polluting electric, EV, powertrain from Chevrolet Volt. After all, since the Volt and Cruze share similar underpinnings and it stands to reason that it will be possible to shoe-horn all this advanced know how into the Orlando, making it the first 7-seater EV on the market. And GM had better do it quickly – Honda has already introduced the Freed Hybrid in Japan.

Credits: Story by Justin Lee Photos by Justin Lee and Raymond Lai