Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 VCTi (2009) CAR review

By Simon Harris

13 March 2009 09:00

With questions surrounding the future of General Motors, it’s (surprisingly) business as usual for its highest volume brand, which means lots of new metal. We've just driven the Chevrolet Cruze saloon, which arrives in showrooms in July and marks a switch to bolder design, while the platform will spawn a production version of the Orlando MPV, a Cruze-derived hatchback, and of course the new Vauxhall Astra. The Cruze also marks the beginning of the replacement of Chevy’s old re-badged Daewoo products with completely new models.

Does Chevrolet have a future?

Yes it does. No matter how things turns out for GM, if you look at individual car brands, Chevrolet is number three in the world in volume terms, behind Toyota and Ford so it has a great deal of awareness and a degree of loyalty. The Cruze will be a more common sight in other markets around the world than in the UK: here about 1000 units a year will be judged a success.

Recognition will also be boosted through Chevy’s presence in the World Touring Car Championship, where the old Lacetti (prepared in the UK by Ray Mallock) was a regular threat to the BMWs, although failed to make an impression against SEAT diesel dominance in 2008. However, the Cruze scored a fifth place behind four SEATs in the first race weekend of 2009 and took some points home – not bad for a car’s first outing.

Isn’t motorsport an extravagance for a company in financial trouble?

It is an expensive way of marketing cars, especially if you’re not winning races, and Chevrolet is reviewing its participation. But we digress. The Korean-built Cruze is aimed at what used to be called ‘budget’ cars in the UK, but has since been rebranded in current marketing parlance as the ‘value sector’. As a four-door saloon there aren’t any direct rivals for Cruze at present, but obvious alternatives include the Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed and a recently facelifted Skoda Octavia.

>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Chevrolet Cruze first drive

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Statistics

How much?	£15,195
On sale in the UK:	July 2009
Engine:	1991cc turbodiesel, 148bhp @ 4000rpm, 236lb ft @ 2000rpm
Transmission:	Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance:	10.0 sec 0-62mph, 131mph, 50.4mpg, 149g/km CO2
How heavy / made of?	1427kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4597/1788/1477

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