There are two engines on offer: a 1.8-litre petrol with 138bhp and a 2.0-litre diesel with 129bhp and 161bhp power outputs. Chevrolet expects 40% of Orlandos to be sold with the petrol engine but we think you’d need your head examined if you opted for that. The petrol is a gutless unit that even the most benign driver would find irritating and our experiences of it on mild inclines proved the point.

On one occasion, with the foot flat to the floor the needle on the speedometer appeared to be moving in an anti-clockwise direction. The stats do tell a less-harsh story but are hardly inspirational: the petrol will get you to 60mph in 11.2 seconds with a top speed of 114mph, but the paltry maximum torque of 176Nm makes it feel like it’s labouring most of the time.

The 129bhp diesel delivers 315Nm of torque as low as 2,000rpm and it’ll take you from 0 to 60mph in 9.9 seconds and then on to a top speed of 121mph. The 161bhp diesel with 360Nm at 2,000rpm is the engine of choice and that will get you to 60mph in 9.7 seconds and then to a top speed of 121mph. On the road it proved to be a comfortable, unflustered engine but with a long-geared six-speed gearbox perhaps a little too unflustered.

You can be travelling at 60mph with the rev counter reading just 1,500rpm, which often means dropping a gear. With the auto the 2.0-litre unit’s a little compromised – 0-60mph takes 10.6 seconds and top speed is 111mph.

As an MPV, it does pretty much what you expect. Sure, if you throw it into a roundabout at speed you can expect it to struggle, but if you drive the car sensibly into corners it won’t lean too much and it will offer enough grip to feel safe. It’s not quite as sharp as say a Ford Grand C-Max but it’s on par with a Kia Sedona, a Renault Grand Scenic and it is marginally more agile than a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso.

Brakes are positive and the steering is well weighted. Although you couldn’t call it exciting, it is reasonably responsive.