The Chevrolet Utility is currently one of the best-selling workhorse bakkies in the local market. To add more variety to the range and increase the appeal of this Ute, General Motors has introduced a diesel engine in two different trim levels.
Exterior
Standard exterior features across the range include body-coloured bumpers, door handles and side mirrors, plus tinted windows. On top of this, the Sport model gets 15-inch alloys, an aluminium-look roof-mounted spoiler and fog lamps.
Interior and standard features
On the inside, there’s hard plastic panelling and it feels cheap, but, on the model that I drove, Chevrolet has gone a long way to lift the ambience so that it doesn’t feel as though you’re driving a bakkie. There is chrome detailing around the air-con dials, while contrasting colours have been used to create a cabin that has a bit of a passenger-car feel to it. Standard features on this model include a six-speaker sound system with USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth functionality, central locking, an alarm system, electrically adjustable and heated side mirrors, automatic headlamps and electric windows all around. All Ute models with the exception of the Base come fitted with ABD with EBD.
Behind the wheel and on the road
Finding a confortable driving position was difficult. There’s height adjustment on the seat and rake adjustment on the steering column, but no position felt quite right for me. Eventually, I settled on whichever one felt nearest to comfortable and got used to it. My taller driving partner had the same problem.
The 1,3-litre turbocharged engine under the bonnet delivers 55 kW and 170 N.m of torque available from 1 750 r/min. This is mated with a five-speed manual transmission. The modest outputs mean that overtaking requires some forward thinking and quite a bit of gearing down. It’s also a loud and unrefined engine and uses a lot more revs to get going than you would expect – not really something that you would expect from a diesel.
With a fully laden load bay, the ride was a bit bumpy, but it was still better than I expected of a vehicle of this nature. Also, wind noise permeated the cabin from either side of the vehicle.
Chevrolet claims a fuel consumption figure of 5,5 litres/100, but our enthusiastic driving meant that the consumption had reached an average of 9,0 litres/100 km by the time we reached Graaff-Reinet and our range had dropped from over 1 000 km on a full tank, to just under 400 km when the tank hit the halfway mark. To get the best out of this diesel unit, you would probably have to drive at a speed of about 80 to 100 km/h.
Summary
The Chevrolet Ute is a workhorse, so I never expected it to offer the levels of comfort that a passenger car gives. It’s impressive in terms of appearance – inside and outside – and it offers its occupants a decent amount of comfort and space. The diesel engine, however, is not very refined, it doesn’t really feel turbocharged at all and, depending on your driving style, it may not return the fuel consumption that you hope for. Also, like many other diesel vehicles, I find it rather expensive when compared with its petrol powerplants. But, the chances are those wanting a small diesel workhorse will have the Chevrolet Utility on their shopping lists. Aside from the aging Nissan NP200, there isn’t much else out there.
Specifications:*
Model: Chevrolet Utility Diesel Sport (Club)
Price: R189 100 (R172 400; Base price will be available at a later stage)
Engine: 1,3-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 55 kW at 4 000 r/min
Torque: 170 N.m from 1 750 r/min
Fuel consumption: 5,5 L/100 km
Pay load: 681 kg
Warranty: 5 years/120 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*manufacturer’s claims
