 Primed to take on the Corolla, Civic and the Laura – the journey for the Cruze is all uphill. So will the Cruze finally manage to take GM to the next plane? OverDrive (Oct. ’09) takes a look...
The Cruze feels formidable, solidly built and quite European and is supported by a fairly good package that has strong visuals and mechanicals. One of the most impressive looking sedans in its segment the Cruze is chunky with new age lines and surfaces reflective of sportier Chevrolet icons such as the Camaro and Beat.
Its underpinnings and drivetrain too are mechanically sound, principally because they are tried and tested bits, used in some of the toughest markets in the world. Under the hood is a 2.0-litre common-rail diesel engine, sourced from Italian engine builders VM Motori. A variable geometry  turbo forcing induction gives this compact four-cylinder engine the necessary boost, even though it comes in a bit late. Max power is rated at 150PS at 4000rpm while 323Nm of maximum torque is available at just 2600rpm. Though this engine has already been seen and appreciated in the Captiva, it feels more competent in the Cruze thanks to minor tweaks to its 5-speed manual gear-box and the exhaust along with a light yet extremely strong high strength steel body that reduces effort on this engine thus optimising both efficiency and performance.
Interestingly the Cruze comes with a stiffer torsion bar in the rear suspension set-up rather than a multi-link, while the front makes do with the standard MacPherson layout. Ride quality is stiff but complaint and the Cruze eases itself across potholes and bumps comfortably. Handling however is  not a strong point – the Cruze lacks interaction and the steering feels vague and never direct.
On the interiors – the Cruze is designed like a BMW – driver-centric so everything revolves around driver comfort. The seats are impressive, well cushioned yet firm with hip bolsters that grip in sport seat like fashion with good lumbar support. However the cabin is short on space. Moreover the roof sweeps down towards the rear reducing headroom for rear passengers.
Overall the Cruze is a promising car but the sticker price of Rs. 14 lakh upwards may prove to be a deterrent. The higher model (the LTZ) features a sunroof, cruise control, multi-information display, parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, steering wheel audio controls and keyless entry and ignition! |
