Chevrolet Orlando Finally Becomes Top Small Minivan In Canada
Published: April 26th, 2012
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Back when we reviewed the Chevrolet Orlando, we noted that it had trouble catching up to its chief rivals, the Mazda5 and the Kia Rondo. No longer.
March was the best month for the Orlando, with the Chevrolet MPV nipping at the heels of the Honda Odyssey. Chevrolet sold 759 Orlandos, compared to 774 Odysseys. Unfortunately, both have a long way to go to catch the segment leader, the Dodge Grand Caravan, which sold 4531 units in March alone. The Grand Caravan’s full-size dimensions and Orlando-sized pricetag (starting at $19,995) make it an irresistible proposition for many Canadian families.
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I've often wished for a true replacement for the original T-115 Chrysler minivan, this looks awfully close. Too bad we don't get them in the US. @mospeada "How did we get to the point that “small minivan” makes any sort of sense at all?" The things we call minivans today rival the size of (and some are bigger than) the cargo vans of the 1970's. That is how we got to the point of needing a small minivan. An Orlando or Mazda 5 really IS a minivan. Those other things are at least an oxymoron. We haven't developed a word for the maxi-minivans.
The Chevrolet Orlando? Is that Tony Orlando's little brother?
I really want to like this thing, but I just can't do it. It's too expensive ($27k when nicely equipped) and too vanilla looking. I'm thinking of getting a new(er) vehicle and had hoped the Orlando would look better in person. It does not. So, either a slightly used HHR (love the fold flat seats and the 6'2" of flat floor space in the back - great little camper!) or wait and see what the new Colorado replacement looks like. I know these things are popular in Europe, but why did GM have to follow Mazda off a cliff, styling-wise? The Mazda 5 is just too ungainly looking to look at directly during daylight hours.
They should have called it a Chevy Ontario.