High on the highway: The new Chevrolet Cruze boasts of an impeccable ride

A car that is expected to take on the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and the Škoda Laura must truly possess a knockout factor. A look at the new Chevrolet Cruze and you know this car means business. It’s not merely the proverbial silver lining for General Motors — it has the potential to catapult the company from the sidelines of the industry right into the spotlight.

The Cruze’s styling is the result of a development programme that saw 221 GM prototypes built and tested to European standards. The best part about a car designed for Europe in particular is that even the India-built cars will boast of European quality, safety, refinement and dynamics. And the Cruze comes with some key advantages — a powerful diesel engine and an equipment list seen only in cars that cost a lot of money.

Though Chevrolet hasn’t announced prices yet, it’s expected to be in the Civic/ Corolla ballpark, which is a good starting point for a car that offers so much.

STYLE FILE

The Cruze is unlike any Chevrolet seen in India — it’s aggressive, sharp and taut; not words associated with any Chevrolet in the recent past. This new-generation Chevy’s angular headlights, gaping split grille and sharp chin aspire to make a style statement. The striking coupé roofline with that steeply raked rear windscreen instantly grabs your attention.

You’ll also notice the very BMW-like swage line that runs from the front-wheel arches right up to the tail-light. The rear of the Cruze looks good, with its twin LED-filled tail-lamps and the thick chrome bar between them.

The Cruze’s monocoque shell is constructed with high-strength steel for the main load-bearing body parts — GM claims the structure can withstand 2.5 times its weight. Safety features include a collapsible pedal box, ABS, two airbags and a fuel tank mounted between the rear wheels, for protection in case of heavy rear impact. And to reduce cabin noise and vibration the new Chevy uses an isolated front sub-frame, separated from the body by four rubber mountings.

MacPherson struts up front and a twist beam axle at the rear allow this car to ride comfortably. It sports specially developed JK Vectra tyres (disc brakes all around), designed to improve comfort over sharp ridges and ruts.

INSIDE STORY

The Cruze’s interior has a distinct twin cockpit theme, which nearly separates the spaces in front and the rear. The V-shaped design looks original and there’s a hint of a driver-focused cabin here.

The Cruze boasts of a keyless system dubbed PEPS (Passive Entry Passive Start). You simply keep the key fob in your pocket, press the clutch and push a clumsily located button on the left of the steering wheel to start and stop the car. Pulling the door handles automatically unlocks the car while a touch sensor on the same enables locking the car.

It’s easy to find a suitable driving position with the supportive manual-adjust driver’s seat and the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. It feels good, with toggle-type steering-mounted switches that have a nice tactile feel — particularly the large knobs for the air-con controls with a grippy, rubberised finish and chrome highlights. This is the first Chevy to come with right-hand-drive configuration for the wiper/ headlight stalks.

The rear seats offer decent legroom and good under-thigh support. But the coupé-like roofline and steeply raked rear screen could mess up your hairdo if you’re reasonably tall. The four decently-sized door bins, a big glovebox, cup and bottleholders, a lined dash-top box and a central storage cubby in the cabin add to the car’s practical appeal.

But the Cruze really scores with all the equipment it comes with. Apart from the PEPS system, you get a six-CD changer music system with an aux-in port, a large screen that displays multiple functions and an on-board computer, which calculates a range of parameters from average speed to real-time fuel consumption. And then there are the sunroof, alloy wheels and cruise control.

UNDER THE HOOD

At the heart of the Cruze is a familiar turbo-diesel unit — from the Captiva — making 148bhp and 33kgm of torque. It has the same variable geometry turbo, a common-rail system that delivers fuel at 1600-bar to the cylinders, four valves per cylinder and a single overhead camshaft. The difference between the Captiva and Cruze engines, however, is the ECU calibration and fine-tuning of the intake and exhaust lengths.

On the fuel efficiency front, the Cruze exhibits commendable top-end performance. It delivers 10.2kpl in the city and a more frugal 14.1kpl on the highway and its 60-litre tank will prove helpful as you cross several states before tanking up.

DRIVER’S DEAL

You’d definitely have a smile on your face if your car made it to 100kph in less than 10 seconds. Taking just 9.6 seconds to get there, this diesel has the performance to leave all its rivals, including most petrol ones, blushing.

The mid-range is strong, not failing to mention the petrol-like top-end performance too. In a straight line, this car will cross the 150kph mark in 21.2 seconds and run to 180kph without breaking into a sweat. Pedal on the metal and the speedo needle hits 210kph without too much huffing. The fact that not many petrol saloons, and even fewer diesel saloons can boast of such effortless performance makes the Cruze a very accomplished highway cruiser.

On the highway, the Cruze exhibits phenomenal straight-line stability. The steering weighs up nicely and gives you confidence. At lower speeds, the ride is slightly stiff. The suspension offers a flat and consistent ride with no heaving and pitching. The easy-to-twirl steering is a boon in town, especially while parking, because the Cruze’s length will show up in the tight confines of the city.

FINAL VERDICT

The Cruze is a car that you would want to own rather than need to have and it could well be the game-changer for GM. The sharp styling, trendy interiors and excellent performance will attract individuals more than families. And the fact that it’s the quickest diesel this side of a BMW makes it phenomenal value for money.

This Chevy’s equipment list drives the point home further. What’s crucial is the car’s pricing. It’s expected to rub shoulders with the Civic (as estimated at the time of writing this article)— a good reason to wait and watch.

SPec check

Chevrolet Cruze

Price: Rs 13 lakh (est), on-road, Mumbai
Engine: Diesel/ front, transverse/ 4-cyls in-line,1991cc
Power: 148bhp at 4000rpm
Torque: 33kgm at 2600rpm
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Weight: 1520kg
Tyres: 205/60 R16 tubeless, JK Vectra
Suspension (F/R): Independent, MacPherson struts, coil spring, tubular stabiliser bar/ non-independent, compound crank type, coil spring
Turning circle: 10.9m
Brakes (F/R): Ventilated discs/ solid discs