Test Drive Chevrolet Cruze since 2009 Sedan

Chevrolet Cruze 1.8.

Chevrolet Cruze is a rattling mixture of Korean-German know-how, global design and Russian assembly. It is enough to sue successful competitors.
On most markets, Chevrolet Cruze comes to replace the Lacetti middle manner, but to call a new car by the successor to Korean, especially its new generation, the language does not turn. Signs of kinship with the heir to Daewoo almost erased. Cruze today is much closer to Opel products and in designer, and in the technological sense. In the marketing plan Cruze is an application for a higher position in the segment. It is not surprising that the car demonstrates its commercial significance by all means. The very name is already spectacularly - it seems to be nothing significant, but causing strong positive associations. The city and the island of Santa Cruz (in Spanish - the Holy Cross), the movie star Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz, even Robinson Cruzo. In Australia, by the way, until 2006 was sold to the Jeem's relative of the new sedan - Holden Cruze hatchback. So it is not strange that the name Cruze is heard.
The appearance of the sedan is designed to excite customer demand no less strongly. Cruze is not just provocative effect. It is a carrier of a new design style and at the same time a declaration of the intentions of Chevrolet. Representatives of the company recognize that all new models will be solved in similar stylistics. In this sense, Cruze is the first swallow reporting on the update of the model range.
Heir to Roda
Some elements in the exterior and interior Cruze are real finds. Take, for example, a powerful facade, a merchant roof and a superbound line of lateral glazing, even with a plastic insert in the rear rack area. Or the formidable headlamps are very non-bank shape. True, the fact that in some details the design echoes with the solutions of the latest Opel new products. Specifically, with the schemes of the flagship model of Insignia and the NEW ASTRA Credorform Cruze. But these parallels, again, for the benefit of Chevrolet, as clearly raise the status of a new model. On the other hand, these correlates of the brand designers still mask. Take a look at least on the Falseradiator grille Cruze. It is the same shape as Insignia, but if the longitudinal strip is crossed into the body color. A big yellow cross is sitting on this rider. The grille itself is also massive - nor give a shield of the Crusader.
In the cabin - the same story. As if embracing saddles, the front panel, the energetic slope of the central console, the scatter of rectangular buttons and round togglers, chopped forms of the three-spoke steering wheel - these solutions to pain in the Opolev flagship. Looking similarity and parallels, however, the case is ungrateful. We only note that in the development of Cruze design at the initial stage, all 11 design departments GM participated, on the finish line, the sedan was given to the Korean Studio.
If you find fault, there are flaws in the interior decoration. For example, the gap between the edges of the front and door panels is too big - a finger will slide in the gap. Soft plastic in simple equipment is missing as a class. The only undestful place is rubberized inserts in the longitudinal hub of the steering wheel. The instrument panel glances. On polished plastic, the central console remains fingerprints. But surprising: Interior Cruze leaves an exceptionally positive impression. Even in the most Spartan standard modifications is the place of delights. GM stylists - as experienced reflexotherapists: tool with their design needles at the right points. Steering wheel, IPP lever and hand brakes - real energy centers. They are tactile and visually pleasant, as well as ergonomically recovered. Just like the rugs-tamblers growing from the central console. Their steel bezel and comfortable grip - as an expensive tie, feeding a good light, but a non-oil suit. Budget schemes, however, less less in top modifications. Sparkling fabric inserts on the front panel, the piano of the central console and the multifuncourse steering wheel give the salon much more solid and elegant look.
Astra's harbinger
The car is built at the ultra-modern GM platform - Delta II. It also uses the new generation Opel Astra. Cruze wheel base - 2685 mm, not very little for golf class. The increase compared to Chevrolet Lacetti, which a beginner will change on the conveyor of most GM plants, is 85 mm. Poster in length - 82 mm, in width - 63 mm. However, in the salon additional centimeters are not striking. It seems that space ordered the benefit of the front sediments. Places for their feet in abundance even with symbolically shifted seats. High passengers will be in the back row if not closely, it is definitely not enough.
And what about the technical part? The main victim of intradzhiem unification is the rear suspension. It is now half-dependent, with a twisting beam - the same as on the Astra 2010 model year. On the Lacetti, we will remind, a multi-dimensione was used. Body rigidity compared to Lacetti increased by 140%, in the database there are now disk brakes and a system of dynamic stabilization for all modifications. The Russian engine line was inherited from the outgoing Opel Astra and Chevrolet Lacetti. The first shared a 1.8-liter motor, the second - 1.6-liter. Both aggregates are known to a large number of Russian drivers, but under the hood Cruze engines live their unique life. Mainly due to their linking with new transmissions. More precisely, the new alliance of the 1.8-liter ASTRA motor and 5-speed MCP, previously used in Lacetti. The six-band automatic machine is well known according to the Epica model. Looking ahead, let's say that we managed to test both transmissions on versions with a 1.8-liter engine, from which engineers removed 141 hp. In the question of expanding the line of engines for Russian Cruze clarity yet. With a favorable scenario, the motor range will be replenished with a 2-liter diesel engine and a 1.4-liter turbo engine, which are equipped with ASTRA of the new generation.
Crusader in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Sestroretsk, Kronstadt and nearby settlements - Test Drive route is quite indicative to check Cruze with Russian pedigree: Test machines are collected on the St. Petersburg Plant in Shushary, which we visited before the riding presentation. Cars, of course, commercially available - from the moment of departure from the conveyor, followed days.
The first minutes behind the wheel of the sedan - and the character of Cruze begins to emerge. The car resembles a respectable phlegmatics, which, however, is always ready to show character. It seems that the 1.8-liter engine, a familiar to Astra and Vectra, does not allow the transmission to be raised. In modifications with a 5-speed MCP, the active ride begins with 3,700 rpm. At lower motor turnover about active acceleration, you can simply forget. But if you switch around 4000 rpm, riding becomes fun. On the passport consumption of fuel with such a manner, of course, you can not count. Overclocking from 60 km / h on the third and from 120 km / h on the fifth gear is lethargic, it is better to fall at the stage below. Irry the GPA lever on Cruze nice: the moves are small, switching clear and not requiring effort.
With the 6-range Cruze ACP is even more imposed, but at the same time predictable and comfortable. Manual automatic mode The calm nature of the car does not change. But the kikdown function is quite effective - it allows you to predict and make rapid rebuildings in the stream. Another advantage of Cruze with ACP - non-shifting gear jerks. In addition, the transmission moves them only with barely tangible delays.
Chassis Cruze is configured by American, with a focus on comfortable movement in space. Currency stability canceled. Cruze is not afraid of high speeds and flaws of the road, which means it is ideal for protracted marches of the Russian outback. On Ughab and Pits, the car grieves the noise from the Korean tires rather (the tires of Kumho and Hankook were installed on the test machines), rather than shaking and jerks emanating from the suspension.
Nevertheless, fast maneuvers, nervous rebuildings and screwing into steep turns is not the element of Cruze. Rolls and returned with return to the trajectory after the so-called enea test. With a sharp turn of the steering wheel in a steep, the sedan is nervously twisted with the feed, but this behavior of the car is easily controlled by the addition of gas and the branch of the beam.
By the way, the settings of the steering wheel in Cruze are very unusual. In the incomplete zone, he is informative and sharply, however, with further his twisting information about the road goes somewhere. To such a scheme, however, you quickly get used to and do not feel inconvenience.
I liked the brakes very much - sensitive, efficient and at the same time with excellent dosage of effort.
Focus with price
At the presentation of the model in Shushary, there was a lot about the price correlation with one of the main best-selling competitors - Ford Focus (also Russian assembly). Chevrolet Sales and Marketing Director, Russia Beata Stump, assures that Cruze will be more affordable in comparable equipment. To find the truth, armed with a calculator, however, is unlikely to succeed, especially with temporary, but regular discounts that Ford Motor practices. In our opinion, there is a price parity between the Peters, which once again emphasizes the ruthless struggle for the market. Be that as it may, Cruze as standard with a 1.6-liter motor and a manual transmission will cost 540 thousand rubles, the top version with a 1.8-liter engine and ACP - 748 thousand. Many this or a little - will show The first months of sales.

Specifications Chevrolet Cruze 1.8
Dimensions, mm 4597x1788x1477
Wheel base, mm 2685
Trunk volume, l 450
Curb weight, kg 1290
Engine type gasoline L4
Working volume, cube. CM 1796.
Max. Power, hp / rpm 141/6200
Max. Moment, nm / rpm 176/3800
Transmission mechanical 5-speed
Drive front
Max. Speed, km / h 200
Access time is 0-100 km, from 10.0
Fuel consumption (medium), l / 100 km 6.8
Tank volume, l 60

Vasily Sergeev
Photo by the author
 
 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"