What is it?
A hatchback version of the Chevrolet Cruze saloon. Since its introduction in 2009 the Cruze has only been available as a four-door, but as of summer it will go on sale as a five-door hatchback, making it a rival to heavyweights like the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf, though it's more likely to be competing with cheaper alternatives like the Hyundai i30 and the Kia cee'd. Traditionally, budget saloon cars like the Cruze haven't sold well in the UK, so Chevrolet is hoping that the new five-door model will be more appealing to buyers.
Is it any good?
The Cruze comes with a choice of two petrol engines - a 122bhp 1.6 and a 139bhp 1.8 - and a 2.0-litre 161bhp turbodiesel unit. The 1.6 is best avoided as it's drastically underpowered, while the 1.8 improves things but not enough for us to recommend it. The diesel is the obvious choice here - it's far punchier and returns 50.4mpg, which is good but far from class-leading for a hatchback in this sector.
There's little in the way of feedback from the steering, so the Cruze could never be regarded as fun to drive. It's quite refined and comfortable, though, while the chunky looks are distinctive enough to make the Chevy stand out in a crowd.
It may have lost its boot but the Cruze is still a spacious car. You can fit 413 litres of luggage in the back with the rear seats in place - that's almost 100 litres more than the Ford Focus hatchback - and there's plenty of room for front and rear occupants. It's just a shame that the interior is a bit low grade next to classier rivals like the Hyundai i30.
Should I call the bank manager?
The Chevrolet's biggest asset is its affordability. It starts at £13,995 for the basic 1.6 LT model, which comes with air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, an aux input and remote central locking. Every other model costs less than £20,000 except for the top-of-the-range automatic diesel model when it's specified with the LTZ Exec pack, but even that's only just over at £20,295. The Cruze's prices more than hold their own next to equivalent Hyundais and Kias, too.
Summary
If you're used to driving a modern Volkswagen Golf or a Ford Focus then the Cruze won't appeal because it's just not in the same league. It's an awful lot cheaper than those two, though, while the roomy interior and distinguished looks make it more appealing as a budget family hatchback. The Kia and the Hyundai alternatives have the edge when it comes to quality, but it's still hard to knock the Chevrolet, as it's a lot of car for the money and a decent, cheap family hatch. It's more likely to hang onto its value than the saloon, too.
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