No easy Cruze for Chevrolet

Expert Rating:

What is it?

The Cruze is Chevrolet's new entrant to the small family car class. It brings a sharp new style to the Chevrolet range and points the way for future models. It also shows that Chevy is sticking with its formula of plenty of equipment at affordable prices, which will be one of the key reasons for buyers to consider this saloon over its mainstream hatchback rivals.

Is it any good?

From the outside, the Cruze looks good and this is carried through to the interior, which offers plenty of space for the driver and passengers. The dash is a handsome affair, though we found the two-way adjustable steering wheel did not tilt up sufficiently to stop it from hindering taller drivers' view of the main dials. At the back, the boot is generous in its proportions and is easily accessed through a large opening, so it's not as badly hampered by being a saloon as it could be. There are three engines from launch: 1.6- and 1.8-litre petrol units and a 148bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel. A 123bhp version of the diesel will join the range soon after the Cruze goes on sale. We found the 148bhp diesel didn't deliver the pace or punch we'd expect from an engine of this size and power output, and neither does it manage the economy figures we'd hope for in a turbodiesel car of this class. It turns in 50.3mpg combined consumption, which is reasonable but nothing to shout about. The petrol engines all manage 41.4mpg and they also share a carbon dioxide emissions figure of 159g/km. The diesel produces 149g/km of CO₂. On the road, the diesel is underwhelming and noisy. We found the optional six-speed automatic gearbox slow to respond and not particularly smooth when it did, so best to stick with the accurate five-speed manual gearbox that is standard across the Cruze range. As for the petrol engines, they need to be worked hard to deliver half decent performance, yet this is always accompanied by a coarse sound. Road and wind noise are successfully quelled, so it's all the more disappointing that engine noise is so intrusive. There's also a lot of jiggle from the suspension, which rarely settles unless the road is mill pond smooth. Grip is reasonable in corners, if not on a par with a Ford Focus, and the steering is nimble and quick to respond to the driver's inputs.

Should I call the bank manager?

Unless you're a big fan of the Cruze and desperate to have an American-badged car on your driveway, we'd hold off sorting the bank loan until trying several of the Cruze's rivals. Yes, there are three trim levels - S, LS, and LT - that offer decent levels of equipment for the price, but most of the Chevy's competition is there or thereabouts when it comes to standard kit too. For the record, the S comes with electric front windows, CD stereo, six airbags, ESP traction control and remote central locking. The LS adds air conditioning, rear parking sensors and 16-inch alloy wheels, while the LT gets climate and cruise controls, electric rear windows, 17-inch alloy wheels and the option of integrated satellite navigation.

Summary

Chevrolet has made great strides with the look and appeal of its small family offering with the Cruze. It provides plenty of equipment, space and value, but it is also likely to lose more of its value when it comes to selling on in the used market. We also found all of the cars we've tried to suffer from rattles or creaks, which does not bode well for the car's long-term robustness. Value for money may be the cry from Chevrolet, but we'd advise looking elsewhere among the many talented cars in this class for a more rewarding ownership and driving experience.

Alisdair Suttie