Insurance Group: 22
MPG: 52.3
CO2: 141
0-62 Mph: 8.5 secs
BHP: 161 BHP
Range: 690 miles
PROS: For its price, it is well equipped. It has handsome and sporty looks with a spacious and classy interior. The Cruze is competent on the road and is quite a nice drive.
CONS: The Chevrolet has a low brand image in the UK, translating to a modest network of dealers and service centres. Though the cabin has a general ambiance of class, some materials used are not on par. The running cost of this car is average and since it is a saloon, it’s not as versatile as a hatchback.
The Cruze 2.0 VCDi LTZ is the first car designed by Chevrolet targeted especially for the European market. This compact saloon has an mpg of 52.4 thus qualifying it as good enough for both town and out-of-town driving. It has a 6-speed manual transmission mated with a 1998cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve diesel engine that produces 163 bhp at 4000rpm and a torque of 265 lb-ft at 2000 rpm. It has a top speed of 127 mph and reaches 62 mph in 8.5s.
The engine is not that powerful unless you rev up and on inclines the car probably would perform better if you downshift. The ride is not so smooth as it has a wiggly quality and potholes are easily felt. Handling of the car is fairly good and body roll on bends is acceptable although road grip is not that strong. The steering is quick and light and the ride is pretty well refined. Visibility is very good.
The Chevrolet Cruze’s design is modern and sophisticated. The roofline that is akin to a coupe and its twin-port grille give the Cruze a sporty look. The interior is classy and well-proportioned. The seats are sculptured and offer great support. As a 4-door , 60/40 split rear seat, 5-seater saloon, the cabin is spacious for 4 adults whereas the 5th adult passenger could be a tad cramped in the middle rear seat.
The car’s dashboard is well-laid out with all the controls and instrumentation simple to use. The switches and knobs are bold and attractive and the general interior is aesthetically pleasing. Included as standard fits are alloy wheels, air-conditioning, CD player, electric front windows, remote central locking, front foglights, automatic headlights and wipers, electrically-adjustable heated door mirrors , climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, sat nav, leather seats and metallic paint.
The Cruze 2.0 VCDi LTZ has a more than acceptable front and rear space. The boot can hold about 450 litres which is enough for a decent amount of luggage. The cabin has small pockets of storage which are really useful for storing knick-knacks. This car has a perfect Euro NCAP occupant rating of 5 which is predictable as this version is fitted with six airbags, TCS (traction control system), ESC (electronic stability control), EBD (electronic brake distribution) and ABS.
The Cruze is on par with its rivals in the security department. Aside from the standard remote central locking and engine immobilizer it has deadlocks and key left in ignition audible warning.
Reliability should not be an issue as Chevrolet is a well-respected brand. With its 5-year 100,000 miles warranty, owning a Cruze should be problem-free. CO2 emissions for the Cruze are 141g/km.
Priced at £ 19,695, the Chevrolet Cruze still undercuts some of its rivals. It has an mpg of 52.4 and is relatively inexpensive to run.
The Chevrolet Cruze represents good value for money. The equipment fitted on this version, its sporty exterior, elegant interior and overall quality of finish befit a more expensive car. The model falls under insurance group 22 and Road Tax Band F.
However, resale values will not be great, so it may be worth considering how long you are planning to keep the Cruze before you purchase one.
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You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Chevrolet Cruze. Here are some popular Chevrolet Cruze alternatives:
