| A Week at the Wheel | Cambs, England | Vauxhall Antara |

Inside & Out:

As you can see, the Vauxhall Antara looks similar to its cousin, the Chevrolet Captiva. However, it also manages to look a deal more classy and expensive with more care taken about the details. This continues on the inside where, despite sharing many of the hard points, the Antara boasts a nicer layout with decent materials familiar to anyone who is used to a current Vauxhall.

The dash with the integrated satnav is a much better design than that of the Captiva and rivals that of the Honda CR-V. Cabin space is generous, although we didn't find the seats as comfortable as some competitors' over extended periods. However, it is a very practical space and the range of cubbies is useful.

Engine & Transmission:

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel is the common sense engine in the range and does a good job in the Antara. There is no mistaking that it's a diesel, but it is relatively refined and has the manners and, more critically, the all important torque required to propel the significant bulk of the Antara. The transmission, which switches to four-wheel drive when it detects it is required, is as subtle as it is clever. The gearshift is slick - although it can be a tiny bit notchy at times - and very car like.

Ride & Handling:

The car-like theme continues on the ride and handling front as the Antara has very good road manners - as is the norm with the latest crop of SUVs of this genre. There is a fair amount of body roll during cornering, but it always feels controlled and the chassis offers a good blend of grip and absorbency. It isn't the last word in body control compared to something like a BMW X3, but it is still a fine effort on a par with the majority of the competition.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Equipment levels in the SE model tested are generous with most desirable options included as standard, including Xenon lights and parking sensors fore and aft. The diesel gives over 30mpg on the combined cycle and keeps CO₂ emissions down which, along with the 20,000-mile service intervals, should keep running costs down; coupled with the available performance it renders the 2.4-litre petrol unit somewhat redundant.

The Vauxhall Antara demands a significant premium over the Chevrolet Captiva and whether it's worth it depends on personal priorities and expectations. It is definitely a higher quality and more polished offering, but the cost does push it to the top of the pile in terms of price, above the majority of the competition.

Overall:

Vauxhall's Antara is a competent and competitive addition to the market sector. Cleverly positioned in the price structure, it is clearly differentiated from the Chevrolet Captiva thanks to the higher levels of quality and finish. It doesn't excel in any particular area, but it is solid in most; as such the Antara is well worth a look against rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail.