Chevrolet Cruze 1.6 LS (From York Press)

Chevrolet Cruze 1.6 LS

11:34am Friday 30th October 2009

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I SOMETIMES defer to my other half, or even her mother, for an honest initial assessment of a car.

Like many men, I find it all too easy to get wrapped up in the shiny, gadget-laden nature of the latest models, to marvel at the flowing lines and relish the thrum of the engine.

Whereas my other half is, generally speaking, singularly unimpressed by anything sporty or flashy. You would be gob-smacked at the roll call of sports cars she’s been in that have left her feeling unmoved and desperate to get back in her garden.

On more than one occasion I have re-styled my mother-in-law’s hair-do by taking her for a spin in a fast convertible that she took five minutes to get into and then needed spooning out of its hugging seats. She seemed more interested in putting the kettle on than analysing the car’s performance.

But when they both viewed the Chevrolet Cruze with a sizeable grin, I knew Chevrolet had got it right. Not least because I’d reached the same conclusion myself. It really is a surprisingly “nice” car.

Chevrolet – part of General Motors – is in the process of replacing and improving its line-up.

You’ve probably already seen the Captiva, the firm’s foray into the SUV market. And now we have the Cruze, a compact four-door saloon.

A four-door saloon? Granted, we’re not exactly tripping over such cars in this part of the world. The trend in large parts of Europe is for five-door hatchbacks. So why is Chevrolet offering something with four doors first? The reason is that there’s more to life than Western Europe for General Motor’s global brand. Eastern Europe, Russia, the Far East and South America are all important markets – and they like their compact saloons.

It is, however, more than just a bonus that we also get the Cruze, because it spearheads the company’s new design theme and, most importantly, is a departure from the older car lines inherited from the days of Daewoo.

What we have here is a bold-looking car with a more streamlined shape than anything before from the Chevrolet stable. Fussy details are out in favour of smooth lines and a distinctive family face, aligning it closer to the larger Captiva SUV.

And while the Cruze, on paper at least, offers a conventional four-door experience, its styling couldn’t be further from the traditional competition. To describe its profile as something closer to a coupé than a middle-of-the-road saloon is not hype but an accurate observation.

But let’s not get carried away here. At the end of the day, the Cruze has to deliver on the road. Thankfully it does, through a combination of sound handling and impressive refinement.

For a car positioned at the more affordable end of the scale, its interior is a superb mix of good quality materials and sound ergonomics. It will also accommodate four adults in comfort.

A quick look around the cabin and it’s clear that lessons have been learned from the old Daewoo days. Fit and finish is much improved and there’s a reassuring weighty feel to the various controls – steering, gearshift, brakes and switchgear.

This rounded and mature experience continues when you’re on the move. With the option of a 1.6 (113 horsepower) and 1.8 petrol (141 horsepower) plus a 2.0-litre diesel (125 and 150 horsepower), there’s no shortage of choice.

Private buyers will likely be drawn to the petrol units – both work well, with the 1.8 delivering an extra slug of power to make motorway cruising more relaxing. If you’re interested in diesel and have one eye on the company car tax regulations, the 125 horsepower should do the trick. If the flagship 150 horse unit is anything to go by, refinement and flexibility shouldn’t be an issue.

The three-model range (S, LS, LT) offers an interesting spread of equipment. The latter is reserved for the flagship diesel and an auto gearbox variant of the 1.8 petrol Cruze, and gets you cruise control, an upgraded stereo, climate control, electric rear windows, 17-inch alloy wheels and access to an optional sat-nav unit.

More conservative buyers can choose from the S spec, with its remote central locking, radio/CD unit, the generous inclusion of follow-me-home-headlights, six airbags and electronic stability control. A sub-model of the S spec adds air-conditioning.

The predicted best seller is the LS, with this offering the likes of standard fit air-con, alloy wheels, chrome-edged front grille and the surprising and welcome rear parking sensors. Auto gearbox models aside (both 1.6 and 1.8 petrols qualify), all cars come with a five-speed manual transmission.

Chevrolet’s Cruze might be a slightly left of field – four instead of five doors being the obvious departure – but for some it will provide a welcome diversion. Anyone keen to stick to a budget and downsizing from a larger saloon or seeking a compact car with a more class than a bog standard hatchback will likely find the compact Chevrolet a tempting proposition.

Chevrolet Cruze 1.6 LS

Price: From £12,595.

Engine: 1.6-litre petrol unit developing 113bhp.

Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels.

Performance: Maximum speed 115mph, 0-62mph 12.5 seconds.

Economy: 41.5mpg.

CO2 Rating: 159g/km.

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