1. General Performance of the Chevrolet Captiva on Route 318 and Road Conditions in March
1. The overall performance of the Captiva was quite satisfying. From Chengdu to Lhasa, covering over 2,000 kilometers, the Captiva never faltered and showed no signs of malfunction, especially on bumpy gravel roads where it cruised effortlessly. Its solid chassis was truly impressive.
2. The engine was stable and efficient, providing ample power, making the drive on Route 318 completely manageable. We crossed numerous mountains ranging from 4,500 to over 5,000 meters in altitude, and there was no noticeable drop in power. I even started the engine multiple times at mountain passes around 5,000 meters, and it fired up instantly, just like on flat land.
3. Regarding tires. I used the factory-installed tires and didn’t bring a full-size spare — only a temporary, smaller spare mounted under the vehicle (which was my biggest concern). But throughout the entire trip, all four original tires remained unscathed, though luck might have played a part.
4. As for road conditions. Since late March, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway has been fairly suitable for driving. Aside from icy and snowy sections spanning dozens of kilometers on Jueba Mountain, Dongda Mountain, and Anjula Mountain, the rest of the route had no snow or rain. For the Captiva, this posed no challenge. Currently, the road from Chengdu to Lhasa is in good condition, except for the 200+ kilometer gravel stretch between Litang and Batang which is under repair. Also, the challenging Palong La section near Tongmai in Tibet is under construction — rugged, narrow, and difficult to navigate. Most other parts are paved, offering relatively easy driving.
No further elaboration needed.
5. Fuel Consumption. From Chengdu to Lhasa, I spent a total of 1,400 yuan on fuel, including two fill-ups of 93-octane gasoline priced over 9 yuan in Chamdo. The overall fuel efficiency averaged between 7 to 8 liters per 100 kilometers. In my experience, the Captiva is quite fuel-efficient for long-distance travel.
2. Let’s Start with the Photos
The Captiva ready for departure in Chengdu. This vehicle was purchased in January 2013 and had clocked 4,500 kilometers by the time we entered Tibet. It had just received its first service at the 4S shop before the trip.
Departing from Chengdu, we took the Chengya Expressway, looped via the Ya-Xi Expressway, exited at Shimian County, and headed toward Luding. We had lunch at a roadside eatery in Shimian when I suddenly noticed the Captiva shining brilliantly and couldn’t resist snapping a photo.
The Hero City — Luding.
Approaching Kangding. The distant “Kangding Love Song” sign wasn’t captured clearly. But no matter — our focus is the Captiva, right?
Beautiful Kangding, the city of melodies.
Gongsu Mountain, home to the iconic white stupa marking entry into Tibetan region.
A selfie with the stupa and the Captiva.
Crossing Haizi Mountain, where the legendary Sister Lakes come into view.
On the road section between Litang and Batang under repair — waiting for military vehicles to pass while clouds of dust swirl.
Road condition update. Although the road here is wide, it’s extremely bumpy. You also need to maneuver carefully to avoid rocks taller than the Captiva’s ground clearance to prevent scraping the underside.
Driving on such surfaces, the Captiva loses its usual shine — so much so that when I reached Linzhi for a car wash, the owner insisted on charging me 40 yuan, claiming “your car is too dirty.” As I later learned, others were only charged 25 yuan.
Driving on these roads, if you need to pass or be passed by another vehicle, beware — the blinding dust can reduce visibility to zero.
As I was driving solo and had little time for photos, I’ll skip the lengthy details. After crossing the Jinsha River and entering Mangkang County in Tibet, we took a brief rest.
The snow-capped Donda Mountain Pass, at an altitude of 5,008 meters.
Both the summit and mid-slopes of Donda Mountain featured icy roads, yet the Captiva — without snow chains — handled them effortlessly with no slipping or sliding. The engine started normally even at altitudes above 5,000 meters. Altitude sickness? Not for the Captiva.
Crossing the Yela Mountain. Now within Tibetan territory, road conditions improved, and even Yela Mountain had been paved.
The famous “72 Turns” of Yela Mountain. Once a treacherous section, it’s now a smooth drive. The even asphalt allows even novice drivers to manage — as long as they keep their speed slow.
Approaching Baxoi County, we entered the “Tiger’s Mouth” section where an oversized truck got stuck between the road and the cliff — what a thrill ride that was.
After half an hour of rescue efforts, the passengers let the air out of the excavator tires loaded on the truck to lower its height before barely squeezing through. It seems that even without police or road management checks, oversized vehicles simply can’t pass on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Leaving Baxoi County, the snow-capped mountains stood majestically in the morning light, inspiring a sense of awe.
Majestic and towering snow-capped mountains.
The uphill and downhill sections of the Angjila Mountain were covered with ice and snow, with hidden patches of black ice throughout, requiring extra caution while driving. Here’s a quick tip on how to handle high-altitude icy and snowy roads in a Dake (SUV). Our Dake models come with automatic transmissions that also have manual mode. On flat roads or gently sloped sections, I usually use the automatic gear, but when facing steep mountain roads—especially those with many hairpin turns or icy patches—I switch to manual mode. And let me stress, this is essential. The reason is: when climbing long inclines, particularly uphill, frequent gear shifts are needed. When approaching a curve, after braking, the automatic transmission may not respond quickly enough to increase speed, resulting in the engine struggling even if you press harder on the gas pedal. This not only wastes fuel but also slows your reaction. In manual mode, however, after slowing down for a turn, you can immediately engage the appropriate gear—for instance, shifting to 2nd gear for the turn—and as soon as you exit the turn, the engine RPM will rise quickly, allowing you to manually shift into 3rd, then 4th. Your engine speed is maintained, providing sufficient power for rapid acceleration. You might not even need to lift off the gas during the shift. On icy roads, using manual mode helps you control your speed more effectively, especially when descending snowy slopes. Unlike automatic transmission, which may upshift automatically as speed increases and becomes dangerous.
Covered in dust but triumphant, the Dake finally arrived at Ranwu, a place that has captivated countless photographers. Faced with such beauty, even the Dake’s rear end seems to have grown plumper—ha ha.
A brief stop by Ranwu Lake for some “creative shots.”
Scenery of Ranwu Lake.
Scenery of Ranwu Lake.
Scenery of Ranwu Lake.
The Dake squints in admiration of the beautiful view.
Casual shots along the way from Ranwu to Bomi.
Another key town along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway—Zhamu Town in Bomi County.
The stretch from Bomi to Tongmai can truly be called a scenic highway, with breathtaking views around every corner. Imagine cruising through here in a Dake—how delightful would that be?
The pearl beneath the Sejila Mountain in Nyingchi—the Gyirong Forest Sea.
A distant view of the local houses in Gyirong.
The primeval forest on the Sejila Mountain, with its remarkable ecological environment, is truly breathtaking.
Arriving at the summit of Sejila Mountain, may the prayer flags fluttering in the wind bring good fortune to all fellow Dake drivers.
Not far from Bayi Town, the seat of the Nyingchi region, you’ll reach a famous attraction—Gading Gully.
Scenery of Basong Co Lake in Nyingchi.
The Child-Praying Cave at Basong Co Lake—supposedly a natural formation, they say.
The “Pillar in the Midst of the River” attraction along the road from Nyingchi to Lhasa.
Approaching the Songduo speed limit checkpoint, the Dake was going too fast, so we took a short rest by the stream.
Climbing up to the first high mountain on the Sichuan-Tibet route—Mila Pass, at an altitude of 5,020 meters—the Dake shows off its majestic stance, almost as if it wants to rival the heavens. Ha ha.
After a trek of over 2,200 kilometers, the Dake entered Lhasa City with great pride. Waiting at the green light, it’s only natural for the Dake to grab the “first spot.”
Took a quick drive around Lhasa City—photos taken with a phone since a DSLR isn’t practical while driving.
Beneath the Potala Palace, Dake vs. Pajero. Though the Dake may look a bit “chubby,” it’s still much more sleek than the Pajero.
The thing I worried about the most didn’t happen. The Dake’s four big wheels traversed over 2,000 kilometers of highways, regular national roads, gravel paths, and icy roads without a hitch—very reassuring. The photo shows the two front wheels.
And the two rear wheels, hehe. It’s just that my exhaust pipe was shiny in Chengdu, but now it’s turned yellow from the high heat—boo hoo.
Finally, as per tradition, here’s the proof of authenticity. Hope the moderators will mark this as a featured post. From Tibet, I wish you all the best—Tashi Delek. Ha ha, that’s a wrap for this journey. Hope to share more great photos with you all in the future. Thanks for watching.