Fulfilling its role as a global car for General Motors, the Chevrolet Cruze will get its US debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, open to public on 4th December. The Cruze is GM’s ‘one plug for all sockets’ car; it’s already on sale in Europe and China and it’s designed to replace various products within the GM umbrella – from our Korean sourced Optra to the US market Chevy Cobalt.
The North American market Cruze will be built in Ohio, USA, but the C-segment rival to the Civic and Corolla is essentially the same car as what we’re supposed to have got back in July. The 1.8-litre ECOTEC four-cylinder is the base engine for the US (with 136bhp and 167Nm, Asian variant rated at 140bhp/177Nm) but there’s a 1.4-litre ECOTEC turbo with 138bhp and 200Nm of torque peaking below 2000rpm – proof that even the Americans are now on the downsizing wagon. Chevy claims that with this engine, the Cruze will be able to cruise for over 800km with its 57-litre tank.
The US will get two six-speed transmission options – manual or tiptronic auto. For the Cruze bound for ASEAN, you’ll need to choose the automatic to have six ratios, which is a class first.
The sharply styled Cruze is also sized to compete. It is about the same length as a Civic but wider and taller, and its 2685mm wheelbase is just shy of the Honda’s class leading 2700mm. It sits on GM’s new Delta II platform that also underpins the new Opel Astra, with MacPherson struts up front and a rear torsion beam suspension.
Personally, I think that the Cruze’s interior will be a major selling point in the showrooms. I had the privilege to test drive the Cruze earlier this year at the Shanghai Motor Show (where GM put on a grand show) and loved the cosy wraparound cabin which has a sense of specialness about it, rare in a humdrum family saloon. The dashboard is in the ‘dual-cockpit’ style which GM is adopting for all their new-generation models and it’s easy to see the link between this cabin and the latest Opels. A particularly nice touch is the swathe of fabric (or leather) across the passenger side of the dash. The instruments do more for style than legibility, though.
We were confined to a short route in a public park (with dodging gardeners and mini tractors) so this is just an initial impression. The Cruze imparts a solid and rigid feel missing in its Japanese rivals; this plus the substantial weighting of the steering and controls makes for a believable Continental experience. The Cruze’s slightly soft gait should also translate to comfortable long distance cruising. What about the six-speed ‘box? No doubt, it’ll benefit highway economy but it’s not a match for the sharpeness and speed of the Civic’s five speeder; it’s more of the smooth, slurry type. The manual was nice though, with positive shift action and a light clutch.
Our part of the world doesn’t get the 1.4 turbo, so it’s either the 1.8 or a 115bhp/150Nm 1.6-litre. The smaller engine is noticeably slower but somehow more pleasant than the 1.8; it emits less buzz and is smoother revving, just remember not to traffic light drag with the bodykitted Vios beside you!
It’s hard for the likes of Chevrolet to compete against the Japanese strongmen in Malaysia when everyone is already set on buying a Honda/Toyota/Nissan, but at least a good, modern product like the Cruze will give them a fighting chance. But it seems like HICOM-Chevrolet is reluctant to get down on the field to play!
More pics after the jump.
[zenphotopress number=999 album=652]
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interior look dull for me :(
in picstures nice lar. I went to the showroom in Brunei 2 weeks ago and the quality aint so good. Everything feels loosely connected.
Vios or City is much much better. Cheers
stupid… vios is lower class!
lala !
yup.. agree… so dugong…. no comment about city… but vios surely fungly… dem…
Would be nice to have this go head to head with the other 2 Koreans….the Forte and Elantra
The Elantra is a little to oldie but this would go wall to steal some thunder from Naza KIA.
Now, if only either KIA or Daewoo would come out with the equivalent station wagons…..
"But it seems like HICOM-Chevrolet is reluctant to get down on the field to play!" – It's been like that since the early days until now. When I was working part-time for their dealers, can you imagine the frustration in waiting for the Captiva's launch? Over a year in fudging about and when it gets launched, it took 3-4 months before stocks reached our side (in Melaka) which led to cancellations in order
So when will the Cruze make it to the Malaysian market Paul?
Do you also think it will be competitively priced along the lines of the Peugeot 308 and Kia Forte for an aggressive market penetration?
dont look too maskulin for american car but still nice
The grill looks funny. Guess people in front will laugh b4 give way for u to overtake. Airbag section in co pilot seat reminds me of Hyundai Sonata. A typical koren style center air cond vent.
However guess I have no problem spend 5-7 hours touring time; appreciating the dash. But wait a sec… no bumper lamp? Aiyoh Chevy… whats going on?
Hoping the price range is around Forte. Then we have plenty of choice to burn RM 85k. Ngeh ngeh ngeh!
Sirimusa said,
December 2, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
So when will the Cruze make it to the Malaysian market Paul?
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not paul la, but danny
Waiting for this car. Not sure what is happening to the brand in Malaysia.
the cruze are suppose to be on sales by mid of 2009…
but without any reason explain, chevy malaysia just postpone the launching date…
i talk to the chevy HQ malaysia before… is not going to launch till next year…
when? no one knows.. if they want make money.. better launch it before CNY and can have the car deliver by then…
if they are not keen for money… then just wait lo.. till Kia Forte and PUG 308 all the road only launch.. wait bankruptcy…
stupid…
Somehow Chevy had a weak presence here with the only best selling model is Captiva. SUV is not really a preferred choice of cars here.
cannot for 2010!!! so many choices!!! cruze,forte,waja replacement,persona facelift,and perodua sedan maybe??? 2010…..2010…..2010…..
Chevys are kinda on a slum now in Mysia. Thought they will be revived by new mgmt from one lady from Thailand and then she gone. Then replaced by one big fat indian but that guy has silenced as well.
Despite the chevy cruze is a better car compared to most japanese b and c sgement cars, i found it hard to recommend to ppl here due to the unstablity from the local distributors here. The chevy aveo sedan which supposed to fight off the vios/city has flopped badly, the only saving grace for them is the captiva.
Everythings are loosely connected, like proton??? Scary. If nicely fitted, then the interior is nice with that kind of colour. 85 000 should be ok for 1.4L Turbo. Next year, we may not enjoy current petrol subsidy, better buy 1.4L turbo to enjoy 100% subsidy. Very-good-cam-pu-lut for those stupid Hilux/Ninja/Harrier owners, many of you drive as if the roads are yours, now no more subsidy for you!
4G63tDSM said,
Would be nice to have this go head to head with the other 2 Koreans….the Forte and Elantra
The Elantra is a little to oldie but this would go wall to steal some thunder from Naza KIA.
Now, if only either KIA or Daewoo would come out with the equivalent station wagons…..
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Just want to add: The Kiasuland editor of Torque of (not sure October or November issue) had already done the comparison of these three Korean models and the topic was titled Korean War. Should read up, very interesting.
Transmission wise, this six-speeder anytime can beat the other two in terms of fuel efficiency.
If we're getting, it will be made in Thailand izzit?
Got rear aircond or not? cannot see from the picture laa . . .
still lose to vios ? lol
boring
Interior looks nice actually, only exterior looks like Accord already did it first
This is the car that I'm waiting for…. So, when it coming here? Going to be nice to be couple with my 2.0 KIA (NAZA) Forte…
its nice, when compared to the usual boring cars. otherwise its rather ugly.
No mention of the price bracket this thing is in? Imo contis are built to last but whats with Chevy and goofy nosejobs.
That's nicer than any Proton.
for once, they are building something that would give the japanese a run.
kia forte, hyundai x20, chevrolet cruze…
soon, china cars…
some cars were built to last, but some cars, you don't want it to last that long….as technology grows…more refined cars will appear.
to survive the next decade, it all depends on how far non-fossil cars will appear.
if the gov eyes the correct growth, they should start embracing "almost" infinite power plants and connecting cleaner energy projects.
That's the direction on 201x ….
or nobody really cares becoz 2012 is coming?…ahahahhah…
Why the fog lights has been taken away?!
i for one would suggest Hicom-Chevy to get it right before launching it… look at aveo sedan, wrong specs, wrong price, wrong marketing target segment… hope they dont flop the Cruze this time… just look at how Forte blow the competition and make market awareness… u just gotta deliver same/more specs with under-cut RM5-10k against other Jap competitors to make ppl aware of ur brand and states the intention that u are staying in the market…
Malaysia is getting a 2.0 version. Meanwhile a 1.4 Turbo is enough to move this thing?
jolly_idiot said,
December 3, 2009 @ 12:03 am
Malaysia is getting a 2.0 version. Meanwhile a 1.4 Turbo is enough to move this thing?
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they learn from P1….how come 1.6 could move godzilla exora?
it about how much money customer willing to pay….
GM in Malaysia have a bland menu of models. It does not excite senses. It does not raise eyebrows. There is simply no compelling reason for anybody to buy one. Its a dead fish. Its blandness is because they can only sell a Thai made unit, coz it makes financial sense. Its a classic case of selling what accountants made.
Almost everybody who wants to sell high volume units, will also offer one sporty top end unit. Just to garner interest from the paying public. They won't get much in terms of numbers selling the top end. Just forget it. Its there only for a gimmick. They'll go for the something down that menu. What does GM have in its parts bin that is Right hand drive, weighs less than 2 metric tonnes, made out of pheromones, has visceral appeal and NOT a Malibu? I can't think of one. Coz whatever that is, it needs to be in a local showroom. Overlooking a main street. Where people can see.
Otherwise, the Vette should work.
I feel the civic looks super high tech when it came out, however, it signifies of what can be achieved at that time, so now it looks dated (the interior's plastics in malaysian ones are a bit too gray)… few cars can be called 'handsome' and could stood the test of time…, I feel this is one of them, cuz it has very strong svelt muscular lines and u can't go wrong with a name like cruze… , A little interior tweaking (compartments) and a 40:60 split folding rear bench will prolly give it a bit more edge above the competition, Malaysians dont use it much, but we'd like to know that its there.. a car with everything. Priced competitively + warranty to boot, it should prove a success since civic is ageing, mazda a bit "look at me! and expensive" , sylphy is just for people with no taste , toyota corolla is for old people…
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsDesi…
QUOTE:
just remember not to traffic light drag with the bodykitted Vios beside you!
HAHA! who hasn't really traffic light drag bodykitted vios. Those bunch are really a nuisance.
They are well screwed together and last longer than a Vios or City. Go an see around and compare similar age vehicles. Don't just talk for the sake of it.
i think the 1.4l version is better than the 1.6 or almost as good as the 1.8 in terms of power and FC. wonder why they are not bringing over! Shud be the best model in the cruze range..