The Captiva Equipe is the special edition that will likely be a regular sight from now on.

POTENTIALLY it’s here for the long haul, is in endless supply and has already bumped its donor out of the showroom, but as far as Holden is concerned, the Equipe edition of its medium sports utility is still a limited count special.

At $35,990, the Captiva Equipe reduces the access point to the model’s seven-seater format by $5000 and leaves it competing with vehicles in the next-size-down compact SV category.

Holden New Zealand is talking up the model’s prospects and sees it being a major revitaliser for Captiva volume, which has slipped since the start of the year.

Its arrival means the previous entry level LS grade models, that came out in five- and seven-seater format, for $2500 and $5000 more, are now relegated to special order status, regardless that both were only refreshed at the start of the year.

A spokesman agreed with MotoringNetwork conjecture that those editions would find little sales opportunity now that there was a cheaper vehicle, with the same 2.4-litre front drive layout and a higher level of specification.

What also fuels the LS models’ relegation to the reserves bench is that there’s every potential the Equipe is not only here for a good time but also, potentially, a long time.

Although it insists that the Equipe is a ‘special edition’ and ‘limited count’ model. Holden NZ has signalled it can essentially take as many as it wants for as long as it wants.

Holden New Zealand general manager of corporate affairs Edward Finn describes Equipe as “a model that is just basically a special edition that is available at the moment for our customers.”

Yet, when asked how many Equipes Holden NZ expected to makes available and for information about how long the promotion might last, he replied: “It’s not so much an actual number of vehicles, it’s more to do with our capability to access build space out of the plant.”

“It’s not a limited number. It’s an addition that we are doing, building on the LS model.”

For all that, Holden is nonetheless shying from impressing that this car has become the de facto baseline specification for this medium sports utility that, having reached its 10th year of production, is now one of the older entries in an increasingly competitive sector.

Year to date, Captiva has captured 1049 registrations, including 163 in July. It remains a top 15 passenger choice, but holds 11th spot, three places lower than last year and, despite the big swing toward off-road style models, is being beaten by the Holden.

The Toyota RAV4 unsurprisingly, given its massive fleet/rental penetration, dominants the category with 1962 registrations but other SUVs, some more compact, have won ground: Kia’s Sportage (1743), the Mazda CX-5 (1640) and Hyundai’s Tucson and Santa Fe – respectively 1279 and 1171 – included. The Toyota Highlander, another fleet/rental special, is also 22 units ahead of Captiva.

At the start of this year Holden consolidated the Captiva line by dropping the compact Captiva 5, based on an Opel, and choosing to instead represent with the Captiva 7, a larger car out of South Korea that sells globally, mainly as a Chevrolet.

The latter lost its numerical designation, meted extra equipment plus an smarter infotainment that dropped inbuilt sat nav and instead provided for an app-run provision, plus AppleCarplay/Android Auto. It also updated to a Chevrolet-style grille and front fascia that includes LED daytime running lights for the first time.

The Equipe enhances its LS equipment with an electric sunroof, 18-inch unique alloy wheels, roof rails, leather appointed seat trim and front fog lamps.

Holden NZ boss Kristian Aquilina also believes the variant’s seven seat functionality will also be a strong selling point.

“The seven-seat functionality is a key attribute which finds favour with many families, both large and small, while the five-star ANCAP rating provides further peace of mind.”

Adding to the safety story is a seven-inch multifunction colour touchscreen with a rear view camera. And, finally, ISOFIX child seat anchorage fixtures for every chair.

Additional convenience features include passive entry and start with sensor key, as well as an electric eight-way driver’s seat.