Opel is back in 4x4 business and this time it's at the more glamorous SUV end of the market. The new Opel Antara has been attracting a lot of interest, with fresh Opel styling and attractive engine options. Michael Moroney took the Antara on test and gives his verdict.

Opel has an impressive Antara back as competition in the 4x4 sector. It has good engine power, reasonable economy with loads of space and prices start at €41,350 before delivery charges.

Opel is back in the 4x4 market, this time with an attractive looking Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in the shape of the new Antara model. It's a new 4x4 option, with some clear Opel styling to differentiate it from the related Chevrolet Captiva. So is there a difference and what is the extra value of the Opel offering?

I drove the new 2.0 litre diesel powered Antara and gave it a good opportunity to prove itself across a range of road conditions. The 2.0 litre engine is impressive, delivering smooth power in the main cruising speeds. Engine power peaks out at 150bhp, which is good for an SUV in this size range and well ahead of the performance of some of the 2.2 litre competition.

Engine torque is good also, allowing the Antara to achieve a good towing rating of two tonnes with a braked trailer. All diesel-powered Antaras come with a self-levelling device. Instead of the conventional shock absorbers, a regulating system with a pump integrated in the shock absorbers, reservoir, sensor, control mechanism and damper is fitted at both rear wheels and automatically adapts the Antara to loads and trailers.

Antara buyers who plump for optional factory-fit towing pack will also discover that Antara will cleverly recognise when a trailer is plugged in and automatically calibrate the ESP system to compensate. A yaw-rate sensor immediately detects any yawing tendencies in the car-trailer combination and automatically stabilises it again with brake intervention or by closing the throttle.

These are among the features that seem to give the Opel option the edge. The Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva both offer the same performance diesel engines. Their acceleration figures are almost identical, although Opel claims a slightly better 0 to 100km/hr rating at 10.6 seconds.

The fuel economy figures are also very similar. Both come with a rating of 7.6 litres/100km (37.2mpg) for the combined driving cycle. The diesel powered Antara comes with a CO2 rating of 198g/km, that's enough to keep it out of the highest VRT rate, but leaves it in the F rate, which will attract a high rate of VRT come 1 July.

The key feature of the Antara is its 4x4 system. Opel and Chevrolet use what they call an intelligent, active four-wheel drive system, which is claimed to combine the benefits of front-wheel drive - such as low fuel consumption and easy manoeuvring - with those of four-wheel drive. Under normal conditions, the Antara is a pure front-wheel drive car, while Chevrolet offers a front-wheel-drive only version at a competitive price.

However, power can be distributed between the front and rear axle at a ratio of up to 50:50 when needed. The key element for this function is an electronically controlled, electro-magnetically operated, electro-hydraulic differential on the rear axle. The compact and light four-wheel drive system is fully integrated in the ABS and ESP systems and supports the driver effectively in all driving situations, such as during heavy acceleration.

The Antara braking system uses large, ventilated disc brakes and a modern four-channel ABS. The ABS hydraulics also takes over the brake assist function if emergency braking occurs (Hydraulic Brake Assist, HBA). The Opel ESP system boasts numerous additional functions that further increase active safety, including Descent Control System (DCS), a standard feature in all Antaras. DCS allows the vehicle to safely maintain a constant speed even down steep inclines without the driver needing to brake.

During winter holidays on snow-covered roads, for instance, the system ensures that the car does not exceed a pre-selected speed, thereby remaining easy to control. It operates at speeds of up to 50km/hr.