2012 CHEVROLET ORLANDO FIRST IMPRESSIONS

By Justin Pritchard, auto123.com - Kia Rondo, Scion xB and Mazda5 take note: Chevrolet is about to start cutting your grass. Thanks to wacky fuel prices, changing market conditions and smarter-than-ever shoppers, small crossover, compact car and small van sales in the Canadian market are heating up. So are sales of vehicles slotted loosely between these genres.

As part of a product and engineering rampage, Chevrolet is gearing up to join the party. With three standard rows of seating, an all direct-injected, all six-speed powertrain line-up and a name synonymous with family getaways, the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando is gearing up to hit dealer lots in the near future. This Korean-built, Canada-only model is the closest thing to a minivan the automaker's built since canning the Venture some years back to focus on crossovers.

But Orlando has no sliding doors. And it's not very big. And there are no storage bings in the floor, no V6 engine, and no power tailgate. You can even get it with a six-speed stick. Traditional 'larger' minivan stuff aside, Orlando focuses on compact driving dynamics, good mileage figures and urban-friendly sizing.

The numbers? All models get five doors, 3 seating rows, 7 seats and a direct-injected, 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 16 variable valves and 174 ponies.

Orlando rides GM's Global Delta platform, the same bit of hardware that underlies the Cruze. That's a good thing. Like the Cruze, Orlando is gentle-riding, surprisingly well isolated from the road and wind, robust in feel, and well-sorted where ride and handling are concerned.

Basic Orlando models boast above-average levels of road-noise isolation and a premium suspension feel. Higher-end models with the larger wheels and an uplevel suspension calibration come off as sportier and even more responsive and fun to drive than they need to be. There's a notable difference.

The engine is nicely hushed, moves things along adequately and transmits near-nil levels of vibration or harshness back into the cabin -- even wound right out. It should prove nicely fuel efficient in real-world driving, too. Your writer has put several thousand kilometres on this engine in other applications and has been impressed with observed mileage figures each time.

On a test drive, shoppers will likely note Orlando's numerous strengths, and a few weaknesses, too.

Good news? The cabin is largely fresh and modern, storage is generous for smaller at-hand items, forward visibility is good, seating is very flexible, and entry and exit, event to the rear row of seating, are relatively easy. It's that 'just right' height to board and exit with a lateral butt-slide too -- no stepping up or down required.

Orlando's rear-door aperture is smaller than the one you'll find in a Mazda5, but it's fully usable, as there's no sliding door to block part of the opening. Orlando's middle-row, driver-side seat tumbles forward for easier third-row access, where the 5's only slides.

Third-row seating dimensions are actually adequate for an adult of average size, too. Grown-ups mightn't want to spend hours in the Orlando's rearmost seats, but your correspondent had no issues after an hour or more spent in them. And actually, the quiet ride means first- and third-row passengers can carry a conversation with only a slight elevation in voice level.

Other nice touches? There are small covered storage facilities on the centre console and in the cargo area, as well as a sneaky flip-up audio head unit that conceals a cubby for your cell phone, iPod or other smaller items. Slick stuff.

Issues? The automatic transmission often hunts for the proper gear on hilly roads, styling may not be everyone's cup of tea, and the electric steering feels as though it's connected to the wheels by a length of overcooked linguine. It's easy to U-turn or park the Orlando, though a heavier and more precise sterring setup would help drivers get the most out of the chassis.

The low roofline translates into a short door opening, which may become an issue for the foreheads of taller occupants. Finally, some models only get a front passenger-side armrest, which drivers may lean over and use for themselves on longer trips.

Overall, where versatility, fuel economy, refinement and 'just right' sizing are concerned, the Orlando should hit the mark in its price range. Leading warranty coverage, exclusive OnStar and a perception-changing level of powertrain and chassis refinement will no doubt help move units out of dealer lots, too.

And compared to larger minivans, the Orlando won't plod along like an oversized, four-wheeled bouncy castle, or suck back the sauce like a thirsty crossover SUV. It's an exercise in 'just-right' sizing for most shoppers.

Look for the first units to arrive in dealers soon. Pricing ranges from about 20 to 30 grand.