2012 Chevrolet Orlando Review

A Compact 7-Seater — Power to the People! We review the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando

You would be hard-pressed categorizing the all-new 2012 Chevy Orlando — not quite a minivan; certainly not a wagon; a compact crossover? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Frankly, with a standard third-row for seven passengers coupled with added safety, some ingenious interior features, a stylish exterior design, and a reasonable $19,995 MSRP CDN starting price-point, does it really matter?
Also see: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Review
Well, if you’re a young, growing family or a clan who simply cannot afford those luxury minivans with all the bells and whistles yet need to haul the folks around, my guess is: probably not. And while you could argue that a family can get into a Dodge Caravan for the exact same starting price, it’s the Chevy Orlando’s smaller frame, fresher styling, and not-so-minivan attributes than will likely resonate with families. A compact 7-seater like the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando is long overdue. And, all you Canadians, count your blessing because the Orlando is a Canada-only offering.

Under the hood

All four 2012 Chevrolet Orlando trims are front-wheel drive and powered by a 2.4L ECOTEC dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine, making a respectable 174-hp and 171 lb-ft. of torque. The Orlando sees a good dose of advanced driver control technologies as well, including: four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and panic brake assist, plus electronic traction control and StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.

2012 Chevrolet Orlando Review

Main competitors for the Chevrolet Orlando include the Mazda5, Kia Rondo, and Dodge Journey, and while they all have their pros and cons or excel in their own little way, the Orlando does offer some notable standard features either unavailable or ‘not free’ with the rivals listed above, including: OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and RemoteLink mobile app (sure, it’s a GM thing, but still); a child-view mirror (keep an eye on the kiddies with a mirror that sits above the rear-view mirror); power rear child door locking (great little feature unavailable in the rivals above); trip computer; SiriusXM Satellite Radio; deep tint windows; front and rear express down mirrors; and cargo roof side rails. All standard.

Interior and Cabin

Inside, the Chevrolet Orlando finds clever little features and functions many families will certainly value. It’s this sort of ingenuity sure to set the Orlando apart, and on the larger scale, help set GM apart from the others, where manufacturers like Ford lead the charge in innovation, stepping it up with every new model hitting the market. Considering the Orlando is actually a European product now hitting Canadian soil (the US jumped ship on the Orlando), and the progressive Europeans are usually, like, light-years ahead in both form and function, incorporating some Euro-flavour into the Chevrolet mix can only be a good (much-needed) thing. And it shows.

2012 Chevrolet Orlando Review

While these features, including the child view mirror and power rear child security door locks (basically, you can lock your kids in the back via isolated power lock button for the rear doors only), it’s the front control cluster that steals the show; the entire control panel fascia flips up to reveal additional, hidden storage. Depending on the trim level, also includes an auxiliary input and USB input, so your iPod is both plugged in AND hidden. Again, not earth-shattering features but enough to add-value, set itself apart, and above all, features that are actually useful and utilized by the consumers who undoubtably deserve (and demand) more. Power to the people.

Overall, the cabin feels spacious, and despite the array of mixed plastics, the Chevrolet Orlando sees a well-designed cockpit. Other family-friendly niceties found in the Orlando include map and bottle holders on all four doors and various individual storage compartments in the cargo area. Rear occupants have decent space, while 3rd-row passengers’ headroom is respectable thanks to the Orlando’s stretched-out, raised roof line towards the rear (when compared to the Mazda5, Rondo, and Journey, the Orlando trumps all three with the most passenger volume, by a significant margin).

CONS:

  • Wide price-point margin from entry-level to top, nearly $10k apart (4 trims)
  • Too many plastics in the cockpit
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Author:
Amee Reehal
Amee Reehalhttps://www.ameereehal.com/
Shooting cars and bikes professionally since film was a thing, for over 20 years, Amee has collaborated with the major automakers and agencies, and his work has been published in various global outlets including MotorTrend, GlobeDrive, SuperStreet, Chicago Tribune, PerformanceBMW, and others. He’s an automotive writer and founder/managing editor editor of TractionLife.com, focusing on digital marketing & SEO for the past ten years (backed by a marketing degree, go figure). Find him travelling, spending time with his kids and family. Or golfing, poorly.