Comments on: GM’s mid-size SUVs lagging behind European competition

By: El Aleman

El Aleman — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:01:03 +0000

True words, no diesel, no sales, especially for SUVs, some of which are only sold as diesels, such as the Peugeot 4008 or the Citroen C-Crosser.

Also the VW Tiguan is out now, so at least in Germany EVERYBODY is gonna buy one. Seriously, VW is like Microsoft in Germany.
VW always comes last to the party, but leaves with all the hoes, figuratively speaking.

By: xyunya

xyunya — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:16:26 +0000

Commodore, even Vue with 6 cylinders does not compare very well in US with 4 cylinder CR-V & RAV-4. It just doesn’t in my opinion (and probably all people who bought a lot of RAV-4s and CR-Vs and walked pass Saturn). It’s hefty, bulky, corner poorly and not as well executed: quality of materials and overall feel. In Europe, where diesel is the market requirement for a CUV, 500 lbs of heft for identical characteristics diesel engines translates into 20% fuel consumption penalty (and the same lousy handling compare to Honda & Toyota). Furthermore, in countries like Spain & Greece Toyota and Honda have a better cache perception. This is not scientific fact, but merely my observation that I saw those vehicles in ritzier parts of Madrid, Barcelona, Athens. Europeans can correct me, if I am wrong.

By: fan

fan — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:00:21 +0000

antara may look nice, but qualitywise, the ones ive seen are SAD. (thats new cars on the parking lot of dealerships)
anyway, the dealerships are the only places where you DO see them, anyways… the antara was released more than a year ago… i think i havent seen anymore than, say, ten on the road…
no wonder gm is falling back with products like that. no wonder their products are like that, when they always cheapen out to badge-engineering in korea…

By: steve333

steve333 — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:27:24 +0000

The Antara is not Korean based.
Its a CUV that rides better than the Rav4 and CR-V, but gets worse MPG. In Europe that hurts sales. GM needs to find a way to take the bloat out of their vehicles, even at the expence of a little ride comfort.

By: Commodore

Commodore — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:49:26 +0000

“GM also had problems delivering diesel versions of the SUVs in early 2007, which hurt sales.”

That fact makes the article pointless. No diesel, no sales. It’s as simple as that in Europe. It’s not like there is anything wrong with the Antara or Captiva and its not like the CR-V or RAV4 are significantly better. They are not

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:45:08 +0000

Ignore ‘CaCaLover’, an ignorant monkey rattling the cage, nothing more.

By: olds307

olds307 — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:40:00 +0000

A Corvette will last longer than any VW.

By: cookie4me

cookie4me — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:21:01 +0000

500 lbs is a huge penalty for this vehicle. I’m surprised GM didn’t take note of that.

By: LaCaLover

LaCaLover — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:18:25 +0000

grow up c6 racer, VWs will last longer than your POS Corvette

By: LaCaLover

LaCaLover — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:16:26 +0000

Xyunya it may have opel or vauxhall or chevrolet badges but it is made in Korea

By: Dindel

Dindel — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:54:17 +0000

Weight is the main problem with the Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva. From a European perspective, GM made a wrong call selling Korean built and engineered utes. The Renault Koleos (made by Samsung) won’t sell either, I predict.
Manufacturing locally is still the best way to succes -in any market.

By: xyunya

xyunya — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:27:49 +0000

Opel is build in Europe. CR-V and RAV-4 maybe smaller on outside, but since those are realistically 5 passengers vehicles they all will accommodate 5 (Europeans) comfortably. On the downside Vue is over 4000 lbs and Honda and Toyota are about 3500 lbs. Even diesel will spend more fuel lugging over 500 lbs of dead weight. Japanese and PSA CUV mileage is much better (Peugeot & Citroen are selling re-badged Mitsubishi Outlander with Peugeot diesel).

By: C6Racer

C6Racer — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:27:07 +0000

Those won’t even be in the the competition. VW products fall apart as soon as they leave the assembly line.

By: LaCaLover

LaCaLover — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:01:59 +0000

And now the Tiguan and Q5 are out the crappy Korean built GM offerings will falter further

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:53:53 +0000

Are the RAV4s and CRVs not smaller than the Vue and Captiva? Anyways, I’m surprised Chevy sold that many to begin with.