Things are different in Europe, where consumers love the compact people movers generally termed monocabs, multi-purpose vehicles, or MPVs (sorry, Mazda). Among the most popular of these popular mini-minivans is General Motors' seven-seat Opel/Vauxhall Zafira, which is also sold in Brazil under the Chevrolet banner.
The Zafira was introduced back in 2001 and heavily updated in '05. A face-lifted version with additional powertrain choices hit European dealers in February 2008. But here's the kicker. As part of GM's recently signed contract with the United Auto Workers, a variant of an upcoming redesigned Zafira may be built in the U.S. and will sold here starting in 2011 as an addition to the Chevy lineup. Dubbed Orlando, the new Chevy version will have bolder styling than its Opel cousin, but the basic layout will closely mirror the Zafira. The 2011 Chevrolet Orlando will likely be marketed as a thrifty compact crossover SUV, not a small minivan. It's the same approach used for the only other such vehicles on the American scene, the Mazda 5 and KiaRondo.
Reports say the new Chevy people mover, codenamed MPV-7, will be based on GM's new front-wheel drive Global Compact Vehicle Architecture that is also known as "Delta 2." This is the same platform that underpins the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The next-generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra is also expected to be built on the Delta 2 platform. The 2011 Chevrolet Orlando made its debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show in early October, the same show where the Chevrolet Cruze debuted.
In America, the 2011 Chevrolet Orlando will slot beneath Chevy's Traverse, a midsize crossover sharing GM's Lambda platform with the BuickEnclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, and the Chevrolet Equinox. Where the current Chevy HHR fits into this picture is unknown. Elsewhere, the new Chevrolet Orlando will likely replace the current Daewoo-based Chevy Tacuma.
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Chevrolet says the Orlando will be sold in the United States by 2011. The Chevrolet Orlando should offer SUV-style people and cargo toting utility, so buyers will want to comparison shop small utes as well as car-style compact wagons. We recommend that your SUV short list include the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, as well as the Saturn Vue. Of these, only the Toyota currently offers three-row seating like the Orlando.
2011 Chevrolet Orlando Release Date: No definite word yet, but sales in the United States should start during 2011.
2011 Chevrolet Orlando First Test Drive: We'd look for initial seat time some three to four months before the on-sale date, whenever that is.
2011 Chevrolet Orlando Prices: We have no concrete information, but one published report says U.S. prices could range from the high $20,000s to the low $30,000s. That's a startling $10,000 above the similar Kia Rondo and Mazda 5, and suggests either a very high level of standard equipment, unrealistic marketing expectations, or maybe both. However, we suspect final pricing could be somewhat lower and maybe sweetened with incentives, this to match the competition and because mini-minivans have yet to catch on with U.S. consumers. Indeed, both the Rondo and Mazda 5 are hardly flying off the lots, with respective sales around 18,500 and 13,300 for the first 7 months of 2008.
