I think that this vehicle would be a step in the right direction. GM had really utilized it's Opel division to produce some excellent vehicles of late. Very similiar to the Mazda5 and the Kia Rondo in concept.

Man !!!! I can't wait to see the US model with more 'Manly' styling.
I bet some dude is sitting down right now with his crayons doing the design.

This looks very nice. It has a look of a Honda Civic in a "wagon" theory form, a Volvo S40, Toyota Matrix in one.

Hopefully they will also make it in AWD. I have longed for the return of wagons in the US. For far too long we left it up to the european manufactures to fill that gap!!

This looks very nice. It has a look of a Honda Civic in a "wagon" theory form, a Volvo S40, Toyota Matrix in one.

Hopefully they will also make it in AWD. I have longed for the return of wagons in the US. For far too long we left it up to the european manufactures to fill that gap!!

Looks like a good idea. My family had an 2000 Venture until last year when we bought a Sienna. It had it's problems (one major + a malfunctioning oil change light), but overall it served us well. The Uplander, from what I hear, is a POS.

Chevy should do well with this if they can make it reliable.

Are we talking room for seven REAL passengers or seven sardines like some of the supposed 7 passenger crossovers and SUV's. If a 6 footer can sit in the very back without his/her knees pressed in to the seat in front of him/her and their hips not pressed into the other persons then I am ok with it. But if that is not the case. do not bother it the back seat and give us more trunk room.

FUGLY...I particularly dislike its Honda Fit-like exterior, and I doubt the oversized wheels and the low ride height are for good. Why does it need those huge frickin headlights?

The car also looks narrow, I'm not familiar with European cheap cars, is this one based on the smaller Astra and not on the bigger Vectra? Looks like that to me. If so, it is a stretched subcompact, really, kinda like a stretched Honda Fit.

"I bet some dude is sitting down right now with his crayons doing the design."

LOL

"Chevy should do well with this if they can make it reliable."

/agree

This will be a FAR better mommy-mover than some of the older GM designs. We should reinforce the carmakers' trend of late to make more sport-wagon stuff, and less minibus stuff. And, we will all see better on the highways :)

I've heard Honda Fit, Volva S40, Toyota Matrix...

To me it looks like the most obvious influence is the Mazda5. Overall shape and especially the grille region...

I'm surprised that GM is improving so fast. Crossovers are big and a car like this would be a welcome addition to what already on the market.
If GM is going to rebadge Opel models then they should get rid of a lot of their excess engineering baggage. Of all the good GM cars of late, none seem to be US designed.
This is another good car to add to a once poor GM lineup. Although this won't turn GM around, it will sure help 'em do a 180.

As for the stupid comment about being able to fit 7 adults, take note that this car is not targetted for such use. This is a car for mommys (and maybe daddys) that drive this vehicle to work but may also need to drop off a few kids at school. This is intended for a young family so 2 adults in the front with young kids in the rear seats...

Saturn was the first GM company to turn itself around so it's about time another branch does the same thing. Now get rid of Humvee and GM truck division, keep Buick for overseas use only, and work on Cadillac and Saab and GM may have a future.

@ Cleeve:

It may be true that there is some Mazda5 in the grille area, but the shape itself is very common in the european markets (often labelled "mpv"'s, or multi-purpose vehicles) this shape can be found in other cars designed for europe by brands like ford and volkswagen

@Jay:

Exactly, this vehicle is designed for small families and maybe fitting other kids in a pinch. I have a minivan that has served me well, but I rather have something smaller/more fuel efficient for the next vehicle. The third row in my minivan is usually down 90% of the time, as I use the cargo capacity more than passengers.

more "manly"? GM always does this. morons. why not just bring over the Opel as is? it'd probably sell better than it would if they bastardized it. what a waste.

This is an excelent car.. We have it here in brazil and its awesome.

Its good for 5 big adults + luggage OR 2 kids (not older than 12 i would say)
But this gives you a tremendous flexibility.. Comute kids to school. Small trips. And its not that big of car that you cant drive by yourself....

If had any use for more than 2 seats, i would buy one.. but 99% of the time, im by myself or with one more person in my car.. so, a smaller car makes all the sense. (eventualy, i need to move things around, that for I rent a truck or a van... much easier than living with one)

"Saturn was the first GM company to turn itself around"

Saturn didn't turn itself around...GM gave up on them. The only thing Saturn sells now are Opels with slightly different grilles. Not that it's a bad thing, the Opels selling in the US seem to be fine products.

We have GM bashers here and we have GM lovers here.

Problem is both views are very radical.

What GM should do is make another company with out showing any company ties and try selling the car in the States.

Too many people prey on others to brain wash their views on to others.

This is not a bad looking car. If the car has been reliable overseas then it is clear that GM knows where the money is.

The USD is going to be worthless in a few years becuase of Bush and the way the American people show no loyality to their companies...

It's ok looking, nothing spectacular.

Reminds me of a spectra5 more than protege5 thought.

Sphere... I wouldn't call it fugly... it's definitely way better looking than the current North American "midi-vans". But it's still a minivan. If you don't like minivans, there's only so much that can be done.

I'm glad minivans are going back to their roots of being smaller, lighter and efficient vehicles instead of the fat land-yachts they've become over the past 10 years. There's nothing mini about any of the current minivans, except for the Mazda 5 and Kia Rondo.

I drive the european version, the Zafira, its the most practical car you will ever own, I normally use it in 5 seat mode (the back 2 seats fold into the floor) you then have a normal family car with a reasonable sized storage area.

If you have something big to collect you can fold down the middle row of seats and have a 2 seater Van, if you have more people to carry it only takes a couple of minutes to fold up the back row of seats.

Its not a particulary fast car, but then thats not what its for.

This is actually the current Vauxhall/Opel Zafira. Due for replacement in 2009. The Chevy version will be based on the next generation Zafira and will actually look nothing like this.

This is actually the current Vauxhall/Opel Zafira. Due for replacement in 2009. The Chevy version will be based on the next generation Zafira and will actually look nothing like this.