Brits get to drive new Chevy Cruze, "good value car" for the masses
Posted Jul 5th 2009 2:01PM by Sam Abuelsamid
2011 Chevrolet Cruze - click above for high res image gallery
The Chevrolet Cruze won't start rolling off the assembly line at GM's Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant and into U.S. showrooms until next spring. Right now, though, GM's Korean operations are already turning out the Cruze for sale in Europe and Asia and kids at the Telegraph newspaper in the UK have a had chance to try one out. The Cruze is the first application of the new generation of GM's Delta "global compact car platform." This fall, that platform spreads to the new Opel Astra and, next year, to the Volt and Orlando models.
As a replacement for the Lacetti, which is well known to Top Gear fans, the Cruze is apparently a big improvement. With better looks and a more solid feel, the Cruze evidently drives much better than its predecessor. In fact it seems like the only weak point is the gasoline engines. Korean-built Cruzes get a choice of 1.6-liter or 1.8-liter four cylinders, neither of which feel particularly spritely. When the Ohio-built Cruze arrives, we'll get a new turbocharged 1.4-liter which will hopefully have better torque output than the normally aspirated engines, even at similar power levels.
[Source: Telegraph]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Snoopy 2:29PM (7/05/2009)
A couple of typos here guys.
thought - though
week - weak
Thought you might like to know.
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Kumar 3:51PM (7/05/2009)
That's a nice shade of red for the new Subaru Legacy...err...Chevy Cruze.
It probably would look sharp if/when it makes it stateside in a wagon version though...hint hint wink wink to the New GM. ;)
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why not the LS2LS7? 4:13PM (7/05/2009)
I like it, but the styling will look dated quickly. The front end with the raised center section is at the end of its lifespan and the tail offers absolutely no concessions to the new "4-door coupe" trend.
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure it's a good car and if in that market, I would consider it. But in 2-3 years it's going to look out of place.
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pinili 12:04AM (7/06/2009)
Fisker suggests . . . saying only, "It's a Chevy."
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swanny 1:24AM (7/06/2009)
YAWN!
All this fuss about making a small car and it's just a rebadged Astra which we had in Oz and were absolute rubbish.............the Mrs would know as she bought one during the hype
If this is what your hoping will save the US car industry your dreaming
As for a 1.4L turbo......if the car weights as heavy as it looks @ around 1100kgs then it'll also be a slug without running high boost (15psi+) and will just be peaky and not suited to their target customers
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:58AM (7/06/2009)
GM already ships the LNF EcoTec, which is a 15psi 4-banger, and it works great and it isn't peaky.
How can this be the same car as your wife bought? The Delta II platform hasn't even debuted in Australia yet.
Rahul 2:10AM (7/06/2009)
The new Chevy Cruz is stunning. Chevrolet has been successful in delivering some really elagant and better performing cars. In spite of all these, Chevy cars had a hard time in India and eventually topped the list. Hope this Cruz comes to India soon.
Rahul
Indian Car Advisor
Carazoo.com
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Snowdog 1:03PM (7/06/2009)
Styling is overdone and will get old fast. No hatch, no interest.
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