2011 Chevrolet Orlando Buying Advice

Chevrolet says the Orlando will be sold in the United States by 2011. The Chevrolet Orlando should offer SUV-style people and cargo toting utility, so buyers will want to comparison shop small utes as well as car-style compact wagons. We recommend that your SUV short list include the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, as well as the Saturn Vue. Of these, only the Toyota currently offers three-row seating like the Orlando.

2011 Chevrolet Orlando Release Date: No definite word yet, but sales in the United States should start during 2011.

2011 Chevrolet Orlando First Test Drive: We'd look for initial seat time some three to four months before the on-sale date, whenever that is.

2011 Chevrolet Orlando Prices: We have no concrete information, but one published report says U.S. prices could range from the high $20,000s to the low $30,000s. That's a startling $10,000 above the similar Kia Rondo and Mazda 5, and suggests either a very high level of standard equipment, unrealistic marketing expectations, or maybe both. However, we suspect final pricing could be somewhat lower and maybe sweetened with incentives, this to match the competition and because mini-minivans have yet to catch on with U.S. consumers. Indeed, both the Rondo and Mazda 5 are hardly flying off the lots, with respective sales around 18,500 and 13,300 for the first 7 months of 2008.