Chevrolet Cruze HB5 test drive since 2011 hatchback

Test drive of the new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback: Some love hotter

The Kolesa.ru portal experienced a new five -door Chevrolet Cruise, admiring the engine inaccessible to Russia, an extraordinary solution of the design of the salon and surprised at the unexpected step of the Chevrolet in pricing policy.

They say correctly: you hasten people laugh. Well, if you don’t make fun, then you will involuntarily mislead. This fully refers to the premiere test drive of the new Chevrolet Cruze, which was held in Frankfurt simultaneously with the new Aveo.

One of the discussions that tormented our friendly journalistic team on the way from Germany to Moscow was the price of a car that will be available in Russia with a hatchback body since February. Namely: according to preliminary information, short Cruise was supposed to cost 10 thousand (rubles) more expensive. There were many excuses. Us. This is more metal for greater body rigidity, for example. Or here's more: Hatchback possession is more prestigious, but you have to pay for prestige.

The updated information came only a week after the test: according to the Russian representative office of GM, the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback will cost as much as the sedan. Or even cheaper. What actually cannot but rejoice. Because I liked the car. And, we believe, it will be accepted with a bang by all fans of Cruise. After all, when this very stylish sedan appeared on the Russian market, he simply could not help but attract so many iron for only 540 thousand rubles! Although, of course, versions with a more powerful engine, automatic transmission and other amenities cost 250 thousand more expensive

Cruze himself was created under the leadership of Tevan Kim. This is an example when the competition and 11 groups participated in it were won by the Korean. As Kim himself stated, creating a car sketches, the designer drew inspiration in nature. Although some analysts tend to look for signs of other brands and models from BMW to Cadillac CTS in the guise of Chevrolet Cruz. One thing is clear: the design turned out. It already has no uncertainty Lacetti (Cruze was created for a replacement), nor Epica's incompleteness. I myself caught myself on the fact that after Cruise I wanted to turn around. Especially now, when the back of the body has become completely different.

But we were distracted. So, back to the story of the new Chevrolet Cruze. It is based on the Global Delta II platform (a new Opel Astra is also built on it). In the Korean market, the model appeared as Daewoo Lacetti Premiere in 2008. In Russian in the second half of 2009. Of course, from the very beginning the thoughts were suggested that the hatchback should appear after the sedan, but the crisis that struck the American auto industry made its own adjustments. So the new Cruise body was shown only in March this year in Geneva, the test took place in August. And sales will begin in February 2012. So take the opportunity to weigh the pros and cons.

The test was very large -scale. And there were several times more people who wanted to test than cars, which judging by numbers were assembled at all dealerships of Europe. Participants fought for the color of the body, the type of transmission, engine volume. But, while there were disputes, the author of these lines calmly went around the car around.

There are no changes in front, and this is quite natural. Everything is new from behind. Probably, we can say that, having received the fifth door, Cruise has become like Astra. But the same can be said about most hatchbacks. A rather massive bumper, a very expressive back lighting technology, the rear spoiler and stamping on the back door form the sporty character of the hatchback, which, without a doubt, will appeal to those who love the hotter. However, you still need to check the hatch on the road!

Under the hood to choose a 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 123 hp, 1.8-liter, with a capacity of 141 hp. and a two -liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 163 hp. Excellent! But as a cold shower of all of the above, only a 1.8-liter gasoline engine will be available to us. No, of course, we will also have 1.6, but with a capacity of only 109 hp. But there will be no turbodiesel at all, although the car with it is a real lighter. About which, however, a little lower. A car with such a power unit for a Russian buyer will be too expensive. It's a pity

But here I am in the cabin and the first shock: the front panel is covered with tweed! A kind of solid costume. Such a fabric should attract a lot of dust. However, representatives of Chevrolet are reassuring: in the test park there is a Cruze-Sedan with the same panel. And everything is in order. Tevan Kim himself said that he was just tired of his skin and plastic in front of his eyes. Well, let it be fabric, it will very stylishly tighten all the protrusions on the panel. And does not affect running qualities.

The steering wheel is leather. Interesting, multifunctional, three -spokes. Behind him are three wells of devices. A little lower than the left of the light control unit. On the right is the central console. I would like her to be richer, or something. Everything is very simple, but functional from that. The keys, the temperature and power of the blowing of Verners know the climate control. Above the radio control unit and, possibly, a navigation system, if one is on top versions. The seats are so convenient that they did not even have to be adjusted after the previous rider. The beauty! Yes, and not close at the back: a tall person with a certain share of comfort here will be placed provided that there will be only two passengers. The creators of the car are especially resting on the fact that the spaces above the head of the rear passengers increased. I probably can’t say I prefer the front seat. Left.

The rear seats are natural! They add up to 40:60. Now without it nowhere. And followed by 413 liters of the luggage compartment, which is very, very cool for the hatchback. The trunk seems deep due to the fact that under the rug there is only a set for repairing punctures. In Russia at this place there will be a dock. If you fold the backs of the rear seats, the floor is even, alas, it will not work, the trunk volume will grow to 883 liters. As they say, there would be something to put, but there is a place. It is convenient to close the door: on the lower side, the excavation under the straight grip.

After an introductory walk behind the wheel.

In the city, of course, you won’t accelerate, the benefit that to the highway is a little more than two kilometers along the paving stones and through the tram tracks. The suspension is comfortable. However, it is the same as on the sedan. But to second it did not work. 1.6 that with mechanics, that with an automatic machine, you can’t call it especially nimble: acceleration to a hundred at least 12 seconds even with mechanics, and the machine gun is slower for almost a second. There are no speed restrictions on the highway, and if according to the passport, Chevrolet Cruze can be cut off to 185 km/h at least (for a machine gun). But after 160, it seems that someone put a pillow under the pedal: there is almost no reaction to pressing.

And 1.8 is not a sprinter. Although 10 seconds for overclocking to a hundred (here the mechanic and the machine differ in tenths of seconds in dynamics) for a car of such a class very, very good, the lighter is not it here. And the same hatchback with a 2-liter turbodiesel. Still, 163 forces from one press on the pedal throw you back, and the car is forward. 8.5 seconds to hundreds with mechanics and 9.8 with an automaton. Gorgeous! Especially with a machine gun - I would recommend this version to everyone who wants passion on the road. But alas, we liked this silver-gray hatch so much that we decided to just ride it. Although before leaving for the airport there was a little more than an hour. I wanted to leave him on winding lanes.

In general, for such roads this option is what is needed. Cruze 2011 tenaciously holds asphalt, confidently accelerates even with low speeds in high gears, gently swallows rare potholes. By the way, fuel consumption in a mixed cycle is lower than 1.8 in a gasoline version! So we rode, rode, rejoicing that the indicator of the fuel level was almost stuck in a certain position. Having decided to check the consumption in urban conditions, we stopped in Nahau. And got lost! There is no navigator. There are signs, but everyone shows the wrong way. Before leaving for the airport for 20 minutes. Things rushed along the roads of the town for about 10 minutes, until, finally, they went to the highway but not in that direction. This is where the high-speed and running qualities of the new Cruze with a turbodiesel came in handy! The hatchback literally flew over a road 10 kilometers to a turn and about three times further before entering Frankfurt. 190-195 kilometers per hour on a speedometer is the indicator that was achieved in the conditions of traffic very compacted by evening. It felt 10 kilometers in stock. And this feeling is confirmed by passport data 209 kilometers per hour, four more than with mechanics.

So the sad moment of parting came: when we arrived, the service staff already removed all the presentation causals, and the crooks with Austrian numbers were driven to the car carrier. Only our Chevrolet Cruze 2011 was also waiting for us from Austria.

What remains to tell? The price of the issue? Since the company's position has changed, and cars will appear on sale only six months later, while we are talking about the amounts of approximate ones. Namely: prices start with 553 thousand rubles for standard equipment without air conditioning (but already with music and four airbags) and with a 1.6 -liter engine with a capacity of 109 hp. With condea - about 590 thousand (plus heating the seats). Well, the top 1.8 with an automaton will cost 753 thousand rubles. You can choose a decent option for acceptable funds.

Competitors Chevrolet Cruze in the Russian market:
Opel Astra
Kia Cee'D

Test drive of the new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback: some love to get used to the new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback: some love a hotter

Author: Dmitry Semenov
Photo: GM, Dmitry Semenov


 

Source: Wheel magazine [September 2011]