Chevrolet Orlando special test: Day 7 – Venice > Lake Garda

Little by little we are reaching the end of our special test of the Chevrolet Orlando, which, as you may remember, has taken us all the way to Italy from Madrid to put this MPV to the test.

Yesterday’s leg kept the Orlando parked, but today we set off again, heading for Lake Garda, one of the lakes at the foot of the Alps, with breathtaking scenery and roads winding along the shore that are ideal for those of us who enjoy driving.

Day 7 – Venice > Lake Garda

We left Venice on a fairly cloudy day, and it soon began to rain. On the way to Trento, we came across a very picturesque mountain landscape, with the typical mountain villages that will almost certainly be covered in snow when winter arrives.

Shortly afterwards we began descending through the mountains to reach the first town on the lake, Riva del Garda. These towns have considerable charm and good views of the lake.

We continued along the route to Limone. To get there we went along a two-lane road with numerous bends and frequent tunnels, many of them poorly lit, but with impressive views of the lake. It was precisely here that parts of the chase scenes from James Bond were filmed in Casino Royale.

After having a gelato, we set off towards Milan, but first we came across a peculiar village in the Comune di Tremosine. The approaches are straight out of a film, through mountain passes and stone everywhere; the road climbs and climbs without stop (just like the Orlando’s fuel consumption).

A few minutes later we reached the village, one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I have seen to live, with views of Lake Garda. As in all mountain villages, we see the famous Fiat Panda 4×4 outside every house, both the old and the new model.

And this is a good moment to stop and look at the lake, take photos and better appreciate its size. After that, we set off directly for Milan.

Driving impressions

After several days with the Orlando we can now speak with greater confidence about the interior space. One of the things we liked is the number of storage spaces it has for leaving things, as is typical of an MPV. It has good door pockets, a central compartment and cup holders, and a glovebox where the satnav sits; the main glovebox, however, is of normal size.

The front seats are comfortable, but there is no armrest for the two front seats, only for the driver. Visibility is adequate and it has large mirrors that also help.

The rear seats are spacious and comfortable for two adults, and even three can travel reasonably well. There is enough room for legs and head, and the rear seats have their own air vents.

The third row folds up quickly and easily, and although space is tight, two adults can sit there with adequate room for feet and head.

Photos | Test team