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Updated Chevy Orlando Undergoes Testing

Just north of of the United States lays a more niche car market, featuring slightly different models than what we receive here, or so we’re led to believe. And if the Orlando name doesn’t exactly equate to Disney World for you, then you probably understand just what sort of select vehicles we’re talking about. And as seen on The Detroit Bureau, Chevy is currently testing a facelifted model destined for what could be the 2015 model year (not pictured).

The refreshed MPV appears to be mostly the same as the current one, sans for swapping out the more traditional headlight design for alien-eye units similar to the ones currently found on the Chevrolet Spark. Will it come to America? Perhaps.

And would you be interested in one? Give us your three cents in the comments!

A metro Detroit native, Alex Sizeland is GM Authority's staff writer with a focus on covering GM culture and performance cars.

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Comments

  1. If it looked more like the concept instead of the watered down bland mobile that it became then yes. As it stands now, nope.

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    1. I loved the Orlando concept car! I don’t understand why GM beat it furiously with the ugly stick for the production model.

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      1. Same here. The concept had real possibilities. I was going to seriously consider it as a replacement for my then Malibu Maxx. I have a truck. I have an SUV. I don’t want another tall SUV that has to punch a hole in the atmosphere any larger than necessary.

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  2. I had read somewhere that the next generation Equinox/Terrain were supposed to move down in size to the Delta platform. Is this not the platform the Orlando is built on? After seeing the spy shot, I hope this is not anywhere close to the direction of the next Equinox.

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    1. Yes, the Orlando is built on the Delta platform, as is the Cruze, the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, the Zafira, and also the Cascada, even if that is presented as a “midsize” convertible. Whatever

      And the Orlando and Zafira are vans, not SUVs.

      Based on the rumors peddled by this website, I expect a future SUV based on the next generation Delta platform replacing the Opel/Vauxhall Antara and Chevrolet Captiva, and probably also the Chevrolet Equinox. More modularity in the platforms, and more global vehicles instead of region-specific ones.

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      1. “Peddled”. Huh… interesting choice of words. For some reason, I’ve always thought of that word as carrying a negative connotation, but maybe that’s unfounded.

        Either way, the D2XX will underpin the next-gen Equinox, which will be folded in with the Captiva (not sure if Captiva will then take the Equinox name).

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  3. Assuming it got cruze like mileage and was made in usa, yes.

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    1. Agree. We are looking for Cruze mileage, Buick interior styling/features, and an exterior look that is a touch more flashy. This could be the car to replace our aging wagon. The roof line and interior space would be great for our hauling needs. To get the mileage GM will need its next-gen engines and do something to improve the efficiency of the transmission.

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      1. If Veranohatch is searching for “Cruze mileage, Buick interior styling/features, and an exterior look that is a touch more flashy” as “the car to replace [his] aging wagon”, that would be the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira, not its Chevrolet Cousin Orlando.

        Maybe GM could get the Bochum (Germany) factory to produce as a sideline some Zafiras with a Buick Waterfall grille and Buick badges at front and tail. This need to be done before 2016, when GM wants to end production there.

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        1. Well Observer7, would you believe that what we will need to replace is indeed a rebadged Opel? The car is loaded and in my opinion has an ultra smooth transmission and engine (V6). It’s just a little heavy and dated by today’s standards. There is now so much new technology to improve performance, mileage, comfort, and safety.

          Frankly, the Opel portfolio is what I wish more people in the states would fancy. Hopefully Buick will evolve. The Verano Hatch, with an efficient power-train, would be ideal. Will it really happen, and will it carry some of the features that Europeans tend to get? I am staying tuned.

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  4. Where is Canada, if not in America?

    Or do you have invented a new name for that continent spanning from Alaska to Fireland?

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    1. You are correct. Canada is in America, just north of the United States. So the Orlando is already in America.

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  5. Please tell me that tester is wearing a disguise. That couldn’t look more horrible!

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  6. Looks like the Opel Combo Tour they get in mainland Europe, a 7 seat van based MPV. This is probably aiming at that same market of rugged basic roomy MPV.

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  7. Looks like a Chevrolet to me…

    I see the Orlando quite often as a taxi here.

    “Here” is in Germany.

    Maybe the Orlando is cheaper than its Opel cousin, the Zafira.
    Yes, the Orlando starts at 18,990 €, the Zafira Tourer at 23,350 € (Zafira Family at 23,250 €).

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  8. V6 Zafira Tour now that’s a thought 😀

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  9. I don’t understand that people for the last ten years or so have with the term “stationwagon” in the automotive world. It is what it is, from the Ford Expedition, Edge, Explorer, or GM Suburban or Equinox, to the Jeeps, Nissans, Toyotas SUV. Ladies an Gentlemen they are essentially 4WD station-wagons. Grow up motoring public and embrace the humble station wagon. My beloved Malibu Maxx is on the end of it’s lifecycle, Chevrolet needs to get a grip and bring the Orlando south. I’m a European at heart, have traveled there and the humble station wagon reigns supreme. My friends from France and Germany ask me why people drive so many foolish vehicles, I respond by saying my daily driver is a hybrid, but my horse farm car is a chevy wagon. Then I have to explain the term ego-mobile and why a mother of one has to have a Expedition to drive to the market to get groceries that get 11 to 13 mpg. I was ready to trade old faithful in on a new HHR, but bang … GM dropped that. I’ve not had any good luck on one to two year old trade-ins, people don’t look after cars like they should. I looked into a two year old HHR but the previous owner only changed the oil once in during the lease, that has discouraged me from buying even a certified pre-own anymore. So guys at GM authority if you got any pull with Chevrolet get’em to bring down the Orlando from Canada, Ford, Fiat, or the other guys just don’t have what myself or alot of other want. I’d really love a Cruze Wagon like we used for a rental in France.

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  10. Observer7 hits close to home with the “Multi-platforms” in autos, Ford’s Focus, C-Max, Escape, next Gen Short Transit Connect (and a lot of Euro/Asia) models share the same platform, engines, transaxles, etc. Ford has a fews Aces in hiding. The Fiesta shares is platform with the European B-Max, and the new Transit Tourneo work/passenger van. Like GM, Ford is scared into stupid to bring a wagon into the U.S. sales line.

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  11. I realise this comment feed is a little old. Still some may read. We have an 2012 Chevy Orlando LTZ model, velvet red exterior with Leather interior, sunroof, heated seats and remote-start, 18” alloy rims. From Ontario, Canada, we are a family of 5: Dad, Mom, 3 children (12, 6, & 3) and a Brittany Spaniel puppy. We travel 1 hr to work from home and have family who live a couple of hours away. We travel alot. I would like to list the pros and cons from our experiences.

    PROS: Best bang for your buck; affordable for 7 person and all its extras. Fuel economy especially when gas has been as high as $1.42 CAD per litre ($5.47 USD per gallon) and lets face it minivans and vehicles like the Acadia are gas guzzlers and do not live up to their gas mileage just talk to someone who owns one; Versatile as you do not always need to use the extra seats, SUCH A SMOOTH DRIVE (not like we make a habit of weaving in and out of traffic), easy to park and manouver like a car but that sense of safety being higher off the ground when driving; ergonomic dash set-up with secret USB storage compartment; OnStar to open up the doors when the kids accidently lock themselves in the vehicle with the keys (it happens, not often of course!); Attracts people at the gas station always curious about it’s uniqueness. Believe it or not, many Canadians actually like the look of it. Size wise it is compact. Parked next to a car or even Mazda 5, it looks big and tall; yet, when parked next to a minivan, it looks so small and short. Also, it happens to be quite popular with grandparents who are looking for cargo space for golf clubs and all that weird stuff they pick up from garage sales for their grandchildren plus, up to 5 seats for the grandkids. Families are generally smaller today, so less grandchildren, and grandparents are on a fixed retirement income, fuel economy is crucial and from what I hear many appreciate the versatility.

    CONS: You have to choose between Cargo space and extra seats, you cannot have both. SOLUTION would be roof racks, cargo carrier basket on trailer hitch, or bare roof bag with long straps. Two children in carseats until they are 8 years old and 80lbs, yeah our 12 year old has to climb in through the trunk. It’s fine when Dad is not in the car, she is old enough to sit up front. No solution yet as putting the car seats in the back row means you have to uninstall the carseat everytime you want to use the cargo space. Also, it is a tight squeeze for a 12 year old between two car seats and she’s still growing! We’ve done it when we absolutely had to but at some point we have to tell one kid to look out one window, the other out the other window, and the middle kid straight ahead. Acadia, Traverse, Enclave come with bucket seats; but, drive the Orlando and then one of those and I swear they weigh twice as much just like a minivan. Lastly, there are no controls for heat or air conditioning in the 3 row seats, so our 12 year old either complains of freezing or sweating to death, also there are no opening windows back there since technically the seats are in the trunk.
    The Chevy Orlando is like the mini-Minivan. When compared to others listed above as well as the competition similar vehicles, it is a difficult decision between the two. You need to evaluate you needs, your budget, as well as the deal breakers and compromises.
    Hope this helps.

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