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Is Holden Captiva discontinued?

Yes. Holden Captiva has been discontinued in Australia, with sales ending years ago as the brand shifted its lineup, and Holden’s local operations were retired in the early 2020s.


Overview: what happened to the Captiva in Australia


The Holden Captiva was a compact/mid-size SUV that served Australian families for a decade or more. Over time, GM and Holden restructured their SUV lineup to emphasize newer crossovers, and the Captiva name gradually faded from showrooms. Holden as a brand also faced a broader exit from the Australian market in the 2020s, culminating in the end of new-car sales by Holden in the country.


Timeline: when the Captiva disappeared from Holden’s Australian lineup


Below is a concise timeline of the key milestones that led to the discontinuation of the Captiva in Australia and the subsequent changes to Holden’s presence in the market.



  1. 2006–2011: The first-generation Captiva was introduced to Australian buyers and offered in 5- or 7-seat configurations, competing in the growing SUV segment.

  2. 2013–2015: A refreshed Captiva remained in the lineup as GM expanded its SUV range; Holden introduced newer models that began eroding Captiva’s market share.

  3. 2015–2016: Australian sales of Captiva declined and production/end-of-life stock followed as Holden shifted focus to newer crossovers such as the Trax.

  4. 2020–2021: Holden announced its withdrawal from the Australian market, ending new-car sales under the Holden brand in the country.


In short, the Captiva was phased out in Australia several years ago, and the Holden brand itself has not been a national new-car carrier in Australia since the early 2020s.


Global status: what happened outside Australia


Across other regions, the Captiva nameplate has largely been retired or reorganized within GM’s SUV lineup. While some markets offered related GM crossovers under different badges, Holden’s Captiva specifically is no longer part of Holden’s global or local catalogs and is not sold as a new model in Australia.



  • Global nameplate shifts: GM restructured its SUV offerings, phasing out older Captiva variants in favor of newer crossovers in many markets.

  • Badge variations: In some regions, similar vehicles continued under Chevrolet or other GM brands, but not as Holden Captiva.

  • Used-market reality: If a Captiva still appears for sale, it will be a used example from earlier years, not a current-model vehicle.


For buyers seeking a current Holden experience, it’s important to note that Holden as a brand no longer sells new cars in Australia, and the Captiva name is discontinued. Prospective buyers should consider newer SUV options from other brands or look to the used-market for older Captiva models if they are specifically interested in that badge.


Notes for prospective buyers or researchers


When researching a used Holden Captiva, verify maintenance history, service availability for GM-era components, and the availability of parts in your region. Older GM platforms can require careful ownership cost considerations compared with more modern compact SUVs.


Summary


Holden Captiva is discontinued in Australia. The model’s run ended years ago as Holden shifted to newer crossovers, and the Holden brand exited the Australian market in the early 2020s. While used Captiva examples may still appear on the market, there are no new Captiva models for sale from Holden, and buyers should look to other brands or older stock when exploring this badge.

Why do Holden Captivas have a bad reputation?


Holden imported a bunch of cheap Daewoos to slap Holden badges on them and make a quick buck. The Captiva is probably the worst of the bunch because it's more expensive and uses way more fuel than the imported Daewoos on top of being just as unreliable.



Will the Captiva 2025 have a new design?


A sharp new look.
Designed to wear its attitude at every outing, Captiva steps out in style with new front and rear fascias, available LED auto headlamps and new 18-inch alloy wheels.



What replaced the Holden Captiva?


Successor. Holden announced in July 2017 that by the end of 2018, the Captiva would be discontinued in Australia and New Zealand, being replaced by two new models, these being the Equinox and Acadia. The Equinox officially arrived in November 2017, replacing the five seat variant.



Why was Captiva discontinued?


The Chevy Captiva was discontinued primarily due to shifting market demands and strategic lineup changes by General Motors. In the U.S. market, the Captiva Sport was a fleet-only vehicle that was replaced by the newer and more competitive Chevrolet Equinox, allowing GM to focus on more profitable segments. Globally, production was phased out in favor of the Equinox, which was built on a newer platform, and to update the overall model range.
 
Reasons for discontinuation

  • Strategic focus on the Chevy Equinox: Chevrolet phased out the Captiva to concentrate on the Equinox, which was more popular in the retail market. By focusing on the Equinox, Chevrolet could improve its residual values and better compete in the compact SUV segment. 
  • Fleet-only model in the U.S.: The Captiva Sport in the United States was exclusively a fleet vehicle, popular with rental companies. Its discontinuation in the U.S. was a specific decision to end its run in that market, not a global stop. 
  • Global model range updates: The discontinuation was also part of a broader, global strategy to update Chevrolet's lineup. As the Equinox was launched on a newer platform, it made sense to replace older models like the Captiva in various international markets, such as Australia, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. 
  • Older platform: The original Captiva platform was older, and the decision to move to the newer, more flexible D2XX platform for the Equinox was a key factor in the transition. 


Kevin's Auto

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.