CREVROLET CRUZE test drive since 2009 sedan

The subtleties of evolution

It is believed that over time, any car becomes Olesham. For a Daewoo car, this is a step forward. The new Chevrolet Cruze will become a confirmation of this fall when it appears on the Russian market.
Like surgeons, GM specialists in marketing and PR cut out organs infected with the image of Daewoo from the Chevrolet body. Perhaps that is why Lacetti was no longer there, the replacement of which was recently presented to European journalists. Ideologically, she was still Daewoo. The novelty is more like Opel. All: appearance, technology, interior
The Koreans were the first to see the model: Cruze, known there as Daewoo Lacetti, has been sold since last year. In the same country of morning freshness, people responsible for the design of the car work. 11 GM studios worked above the project, the best of which was recognized Korean.
As he said at a press conference on the release of the novelty, Taevan Kim chief designer of the Cruze project, the artists drew inspiration in the old American Chevrolet models.
In particular, Mr. Kim noted that the advantage of the sedan is that it looks like a compartment. Due to the roof line flowing into the outline of the rear lamp, thanks to the high trunk shelf and low hood. The non-original rear optics reminded the elements of some familiar sedans like Honda Civic or BMW 7-Series.
The resemblance to the latest Taevan Kim was indicated at the same press conference as he agreed with, adding that by the time the BMW Cruze flagship was already sold in Korea, the BMW Cruze flagship
Chevrolet Cruze is equipped with two engines already familiar to Russians: 1.6 and 1.8 liters. The first rudiment, which remained from the previous generation of Lacetti, and the second pride of the outgoing generation Opel Astra. During the presentation, I also managed to try the third engine: a two -liter turbodiesel unit with a capacity of 150 liters. with.
If you regret that he will not get to Russia, then only because of the stunning economy of the motor. This was noticeable even in the version with an automatic rifle of the fuel level and after 100 km of run, it seemed, I did not think to change the situation. In the city, such a motor requires only 7 liters of diesel fuel! Otherwise, the engine is noisy, not as elastic as 1.8 gasoline, and vibrates significantly stronger. Maybe it is for the better

The most powerful of the gasoline 1.8-liter 141-horsepower engine with a mechanical checkpoint seriously increased in my eyes the overall level of impressions from Cruze. This is the best option for dynamic movement in space and, at the same time, for the control of the consumed fuel. The power plant requires 9.3 of the declared liters per 100 km in the city against 11.3 liters at the version with an automaton.
The interior of Cruze has practically no changes from the time of the concept of the concept. It looks impressive, but to the touch his plastic in places takes passengers to the Lacetti salon. And the steering wheel switches, the windows control panel and the on-board computer display on the dashboard is exactly the same, as in the Opel cuts and hatchbacks.
The range of longitudinal adjustment of the seat will not be enough for a person tall above 180 cm. But with the height of the landing and adjustment of the steering wheel, I personally had no problems. The chairs are very cool; I especially liked the side support.
On the road, Cruze behaves like the former Astra, and, apparently, as a new Astra will lead. The platform is still one, and set it up in Russelhaim. At a zero point, the steering is lacking of severity, but in the process of rotation the accuracy is restored. The course of pendants is moderately smooth; There are rolls, but the test with Spanish serpentines is perfectly: Cruze as a glove stands on the asphalt in corners of various complexity.

Cruze is very foggy Russian prospects. In many ways: yet prices and configurations will not be determined. As for equipment, design and characteristics, the future of Cruze seems bright. Moreover, the chivrolet golf class will be produced very close in Shushara. This means that the price will become a little closer to the people, and the new round of evolution Lacetti will be able to repeat the success of the predecessor: to become the most popular foreign car in Russia.
Author: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Alexander Korobchenko
We thank General Motors for help in organizing the test.

 
 

 

A source: Wheel magazine [March 2009]