GM Korea, the local unit of U.S. automaker General Motors, launched the new 2016 Chevrolet Captiva SUV in Korea on Monday.

The new Captiva is the latest version of the carmaker’s crossover SUV, encapsulating Chevrolet’s family look and performance.

Company CEO James Kim said, “I believe the new Captiva will significantly help the Chevrolet brand to increase its sales volume in the SUV segment, which is now the most competitive sector in the local auto market.”

The seven-seater SUV comes with a 2.0L CDTi (common-rail diesel turbo injection) engine mated to a 6-speed AT, codeveloped by GM Powertrain Europe and GM Korea. It also incorporates active safety features devised to help prevent accidents.

The new Captiva also received a 5-Star Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) safety rating, company officials said. The model supports an infotainment system with a 7- inch touchscreen, supporting a link with smartphones.

The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association recently reported that the SUV segment in Korea last year increased 33.9 percent from the previous year. Due to the rising demand, automakers have been lately reinforcing their SUV lineups.

“We are thrilled to present a well-designed, and high-performance Captiva SUV to customers,” Kim said.

By Hong Sung-pyo 
(hong1@heraldcorp.com)