Chevrolet Cruze“The most important new Chevrolet yet” they say, and though some might say there wasn’t too much competition, there’s no doubt that the latest cars are a big step up from those early days in 2005 when the Chevy name took over from GM Daewoo. The Cruze is a four-door saloon with typical Euro outline, and what’s really noticeable about it is the pricing, which puts it at a distinct advantage. Obvious competitors in terms of value for money are the Kia cee’d, Hyundai i30 and Skoda Octavia, but Chevrolet themselves feel the car will also take the fight to much more expensive rivals when considered for its specification and impressive build quality.Four-door saloon it may be, but a folding rear seat means it’s not far behind in terms of hatchback practicality. Body size is roughly that of a Vauxhall Vectra, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of room for passengers and their luggage – loads of room up front of course, but plenty in the rear seats too, unless the front occupant has availed themselves of maximum seat travel. Chevy have paid a lot of attention to seat design, endowing the front ones with enormous fore-aft travel to suit the gangliest of European occupants. Boot volume is 450 litres before the seats are folded, gained through measurements of 100 x 98cm.Four engines are offered: petrol of 1.6 and 1.8 litres, plus a 2-litre diesel with choice of two power outputs. Only the higher (150PS) of these was available to test at launch, and it’s a wonderfully refined unit with plenty of urge. Unusually, however, you do need to keep the revs above 1500 to get the best out of it; below that, you’re liable to find yourself lacking any forward push. The 5-speed box is certainly partly responsible for that, with its gearing kept high (indicated 37mph in top gear per 1000 revs) to maximise fuel economy. Obviously a 6-speed box would have helped the cause, but the impressive pricing would inevitably have suffered a hit.Our test of the two petrol engines included a spell with the new 6-speed auto gearbox (auto isn’t available with either diesel), and as one who doesn’t usually like to share the cabin with an auto stick, I can honestly say that this box was a revelation: wondrous smooth changes that are scarcely noticeable. Having said which, the £1100 cost and loss of 5.3mpg from the manual version’s fuel consumption certainly seem, for anyone with half an eye on motoring costs, too high a price to pay.This is a good car to drive, and everything works well and easily. The high rear window (a common saloon feature) does succeed in making one a very slow a and careful parker, but apart from that the vision is good all round. Seats are comfortable and hold passengers firmly in their embrace. As for the driving position, there’s plenty of adjustment for seat height and wheel reach to make a good position easily attainable. The ride too is comfortable – nicely placed between soft and firm – and it suits the car well.All around the car the quality of finish is exceptional. Particular attention was paid to panel gaps and shut-lines – across the car every single gap is below 3mm, and the design is very acceptable to anyone reared on Euro motoring outlines. The distinctive concave shoulder line that flows from the front flanks of the car into the rear deck is apparently set to become a new Chevrolet design signature in all future models. In the cabin there are novel touches like the fabric covering to the top of the facia; being light in colour it might prove impractical in the long run, but on our new cars it looked stylish, and the overall lightness of the trim is a pleasant change.The line-up kicks off with the 1.6 S, which has an impressive list of standard equipment despite the value price tag. As well as air conditioning and remote central locking, the model features follow-me-home lighting (unusual at this price), CD-radio system with auxiliary input socket, electric front windows, a fully-adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel, soft-touch cabin materials and a factor that Chevy themselves are deeply impressed with – blue-backlit dashboard dials. Between 2009 and 2012 a further eight new Chevrolet models will apparently be introduced, with massive growth projected in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, as well as more traditional markets such as Western Europe and the UK. The Cruze is a highly impressive start to all of that.Size: 4.60 x 1.79mEngines: Petrol: 1.6 litres – 113PS 1.8 litres – 141PS Diesel: 2.0 litres – 125PS 2.0 litres – 150PSGearbox: 5-speed front driveBest consumption: 125PS Diesel – 51.4mpgPrice at July ’09: from £11,995Full details of the Cruze available on the manufacturer’s website: www.chevrolet.co.ukPeter Cracknell – July 2009
Chevrolet Cruze
“The most important new Chevrolet yet” they say, and
though some might say there wasn’t too much
competition, there’s no doubt that the latest cars are a big
step up from those early days in 2005 when the Chevy
name took over from GM Daewoo. The Cruze is a four-
door saloon with typical Euro outline, and what’s really
noticeable about it is the pricing, which puts it at a distinct
advantage. Obvious competitors in terms of value for
money are the Kia cee’d, Hyundai i30 and Skoda Octavia,
but Chevrolet themselves feel the car will also take the
fight to much more expensive rivals when considered for
its specification and impressive build quality.
Four-door saloon it may be, but a folding rear seat means
it’s not far behind in terms of hatchback practicality. Body
size is roughly that of a
Vauxhall Vectra, so it’s no
surprise that there’s plenty
of room for passengers
and their luggage – loads
of room up front of course,
but plenty in the rear seats
too, unless the front
occupant has availed
themselves of maximum
seat travel. Chevy have
paid a lot of attention to
seat design, endowing the
front ones with enormous
fore-aft travel to suit the
gangliest of European
occupants. Boot volume is
450 litres before the seats
are folded, gained through
measurements of 100 x
98cm.
Four engines are offered: petrol of 1.6 and 1.8 litres, plus
a 2-litre diesel with choice of two power outputs. Only the
higher (150PS) of these was available to test at launch,
and it’s a wonderfully refined unit with plenty of urge.
Unusually, however, you do need to keep the revs above
1500 to get the best out of it; below that, you’re liable to
find yourself lacking any forward push. The 5-speed box
is certainly partly responsible for that, with its gearing
kept high (indicated 37mph in top gear per 1000 revs) to
maximise fuel economy. Obviously a 6-speed box would
have helped the cause, but the impressive pricing would
inevitably have suffered a hit.
Our test of the two petrol engines included a spell with the
new 6-speed auto gearbox (auto isn’t available with either
diesel), and as one who doesn’t usually like to share the
cabin with an auto stick, I can honestly say that this box
was a revelation: wondrous smooth changes that are
scarcely noticeable. Having said which, the £1100 cost
and loss of 5.3mpg from the manual version’s fuel
consumption certainly seem, for anyone with half an eye
on motoring costs, too high a price to pay.
This is a good car to drive, and everything works well and
easily. The high rear window (a common saloon feature)
does succeed in making one a very slow a and careful
parker, but apart from that the vision is good all round.
Seats are comfortable and hold passengers firmly in their
embrace. As for the driving position, there’s plenty of
adjustment for seat height and wheel reach to make a
good position easily attainable. The ride too is
comfortable – nicely placed between soft and firm – and it
suits the car well.
All around the car the quality of finish is exceptional.
Particular attention was paid to panel gaps and shut-
lines – across the car every single gap is below 3mm,
and the design is very acceptable to anyone reared on
Euro motoring outlines. The distinctive concave
shoulder line that flows from the front flanks of the car
into the rear deck is apparently set to become a new
Chevrolet design signature in all future models. In the
cabin there are novel touches like the fabric covering
to the top of the facia; being light in colour it might
prove impractical in the long run, but on our new cars it
looked stylish, and the overall lightness of the trim is a
pleasant change.
The line-up kicks off with the 1.6 S, which has an
impressive list of
standard equipment
despite the value price
tag. As well as air
conditioning and remote
central locking, the
model features follow-
me-home lighting
(unusual at this price),
CD-radio system with
auxiliary input socket,
electric front windows, a
fully-adjustable driver’s
seat and steering wheel,
soft-touch cabin
materials and a factor
that Chevy themselves
are deeply impressed
with – blue-backlit
dashboard dials.
Between 2009 and 2012 a further eight new Chevrolet
models will apparently be introduced, with massive
growth projected in Central and Eastern Europe and
Russia, as well as more traditional markets such as
Western Europe and the UK. The Cruze is a highly
impressive start to all of that.
Size: 4.60 x 1.79m
Engines: Petrol: 1.6 litres – 113PS
1.8 litres – 141PS
Diesel: 2.0 litres – 125PS
2.0 litres – 150PS
Gearbox: 5-speed front drive
Best consumption: 125PS Diesel – 51.4mpg
Price at July ’09: from £11,995
Full details of the Cruze available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.chevrolet.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – July 2009
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