Chevrolet Cruze : LOOK CRUZE TALKING

Expert Rating:

Chevrolet thinks its Cruze stands a big chance of making an impact in the UK market. Steve Walker reports.

The challenge for Chevrolet as it bids to make further inroads into the UK car market is one of altering public perception as much as it is of achieving higher standards with its products. It arrived on these shores with the bizarre combination of a brand that spoke of gas-guzzling American trucks or muscle cars and a product range comprised of re-badged budget runabouts from South Korea. Slowly but surely, Chevrolet has been working at unifying its brand message and its vehicle line-up in a manner that will hit the right notes with European buyers. Could the Cruze be the car through which the all-American marque finds its European accent?

The Cruze had a decent pedigree from the outset because it arrived as the first production car to use the sixth generation Vauxhall Astra platform, known as the Delta platform in General Motors speak. These underpinnings were designed around European tastes and tested on European roads, which goes without saying for the big selling Astra but was a first for any Chevrolet product. Powering the Chevrolet Cruze, there's a choice of 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre petrol engines along with a 2.0-litre common-rail diesel. The two petrol options generate 111bhp and 138bhp respectively while the diesel is offered in 122bhp or 147bhp guises. Petrol buyers can choose a six-speed automatic gearbox if the fancy takes them but the standard fit transmission is a five-speed manual. Lots of Chevrolet's UK offerings have been rather forgettable from a design perspective but the Cruze changes that. It's a handsome compact saloon with an athletic stance and sharp, sculpted lines. The design language is set to be reproduced across all the brand's forthcoming models, so we can expect to see lots more of the distinctive deep front grille split by a horizontal bar with the Chevrolet badge at its centre. The headlights curl around the corners of the Cruze and smear back to a point along the bonnet line, while the roof drops away towards the rear, meeting with the stubby saloon boot. The car is 4,535mm long and 1,796mm wide, putting it in the same size bracket as booted versions of the Ford Focus and the likes of Volkswagen's Jetta.

"It surpasses any previous Chevrolet offering in terms of quality"

Interior quality is a sticky issue for any budget car as materials quality and eye-catching design are usually amongst the first things to be sacrificed to achieve that eye-catching price. The Cruze defies expectations on this score, however, because it's actually very slick when you clamber inside. Some of the switchgear will be familiar to owners of the Vauxhall Insignia and the dashboard design is well resolved - the stereo controls being a particular high point. Chevrolet has also built in a wide range of adjustment for the driver's seat and steering wheel which should help most people get comfy. There are three trim levels to choose from. S is the entry-point and includes remote central locking, electric front windows, a CD stereo, and headlights that stay on for a few seconds after locking the car to guide you to your door. The LS model adds air-conditioning to this tally along with 16" alloy wheels and a chrome radiator grille - it's expected to be the strongest seller. At the top of the range, LT customers can only choose the 1.8 petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engines but they get 17" alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, electric rear windows and an upgraded stereo. Only the top LT model gets the option of an integrated satellite navigation system but every Chevrolet Cruze comes with six airbags and, impressively, ESC stability control as standard. Chevrolet is hoping that this safety equipment, featured even on the most affordable models, will be a big selling point for the car, along with the exemplary crash protection qualities of the basic platform. Chevrolet products haven't enjoyed the strongest residual values, with the brand having operated predominantly at the budget end of the market. The Cruze could change all that if the public can be made to view the car as a more affordable alternative to the Vauxhall Astra. It's certainly the most convincing UK market Chevrolet to date. The 147bhp diesel engine performs well on fuel economy delivering 50mpg on the combined cycle and 149g/km. Chevrolet is a massive name in the global car industry but the brand has failed to take off in the manner hoped since its arrival in the UK. The Cruze could be the car to change all that, particularly when the hatchback versions come on stream. It surpasses any previous Chevrolet offering in terms of quality and is priced low enough to make it an attractive budget option. From the outset, Chevrolet was hamstrung in the UK by the product range it inherited from Daewoo but the Cruze provides more of a glimpse of what the American marque is really all about. Its core strengths might be the high equipment levels and low pricing of a budget saloon but riding on the Mk6 Vauxhall Astra platform, with sharp looks, good safety spec and a decent quality interior, there are other strings to its bow.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chevrolet Cruze
PRICES: £11,545-£15,195 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-11 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: [2.0 VCDI 150] 149g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 VCDI 150] 0-62mph 10s / Max Speed 131mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 VCDI 150] (combined) 50.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / ABS with EBD / Seatbelt pretensioners. [est]
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [4dr] Length/Width/Heightmm 4250/2030/1460mm [est]