Chevrolet Cruze Review

Chevrolet Cruze photos

The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors (GM) automobile produced since 2001, spanning two generations and two unrelated vehicles. The first generation, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan under joint venture with GM.

For the second generation 2008 onwards model, the "Cruze" moniker has been applied to a globally-developed compact sedan, designed, manufactured and retailed entirely within GM. Compared to the original, the second series is related only in name, and does not serve as its successor. Instead, the new car replaces two unrelated cars—the Chevrolet Cobalt and Daewoo Lacetti. Badged as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere, the South Korean-market Cruze entered production in 2008, partially replacing the Daewoo Lacetti sold since 2002. This previous Lacetti was sold internationally as either a Buick, Chevrolet, Daewoo, Holden or Suzuki, but for the Cruze, GM have retained the "Chevrolet Cruze" name for most markets. Besides the South Korean Daewoo branding, Australasian-specification cars are badged Holden Cruze, with Holden set to commence local production from 2010. The North American Chevrolet Cobalt will also be phased out in 2010, replaced by the Chevrolet Cruze. Production of the Cobalt's twin, the Pontiac G5 will also cease, coinciding with the Pontiac brand's discontinuation after 2010.

Chevrolet Cruze First generation (2001–2008)

Revealed as the Chevrolet YGM1 concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1999, the original Cruze derived from the subcompact Suzuki Ignis (known the Suzuki Swift in Japan). The development of the Cruze departed from the original five-door hatchback Suzuki as a sport utility vehicle (SUV), using either the front- or four-wheel drive layout. Despite the Chevrolet branding, the YGM1, like the production car, was the work of GM's Australian arm, Holden. Along with the styling, Holden also executed most of the engineering work and were responsible for devising the "Cruze" nameplate.

GM revealed the production Cruze in October 2001, with Japanese sales commencing the following month. Manufactured by Suzuki in Japan, the Cruze was also sold in Australasia from 2002 through to 2006 as the Holden Cruze. From 2003, Suzuki of Europe began manufacturing the Cruze as the Suzuki Ignis—representing a facelift of the original Ignis. In the same year, Subaru adopted the car as the Subaru G3X Justy, also exclusive to Europe.

Chevrolet Cruze Second generation (J300; 2008–present)

Manufacturer	General Motors
Also called	Daewoo Lacetti Premiere (South Korea) Holden Cruze (JG)
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea Elizabeth, South Australia, Australia (from 2010) Halol, India Lordstown, Ohio, United States (from 2010) Shenyang, China Saint Petersburg, Russia Rayong, Thailand (from 2010)
Predecessor	Chevrolet Cobalt Daewoo Lacetti
Class	Compact car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	GM Delta II platform
Wheelbase	2,685 mm (105.7 in)
Length	4,597 mm (181.0 in)
Width	1,788 mm (70.4 in)
Height	1,477 mm (58.1 in)
Related	Opel Astra (J)

GM in 2008 introduced the second generation Cruze, designated J300. This second iteration serves as a replacement for the Chevrolet Cobalt and Daewoo Lacetti—both unrelated cars. The first renderings of the Cruze were revealed by GM at a press conference on July 15, 2008, with the first official images released on August 21, 2008.

To manufacture the Cruze, GM have extensively upgraded existing plant facilities. At the U.S. facility in Lordstown, Ohio, GM is investing more than US$350 million. Other production sites comprise of Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea; Saint Petersburg, Russia; Shenyang, China and Halol, India. Holden's localized hatchback version of the Cruze to be built at the Elizabeth, South Australia factory from 2010 (see below) will be accompanied by Australian manufacture of the Cruze sedan. From this point, Cruze imports from South Korea to Australia will be suspended.

Chevrolet Cruze History of development

Underpinned by the front-wheel drive GM Delta II platform, GM said the Cruze was "developed by a global design and engineering team." This development program spanned over 27 months at a cost of US$4 billion. During this time, 221 GM-built prototypes were tested in Australia (by Holden), Canada, China, South Korea (by GM Daewoo), Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

According to GM, the Cruze's body structure is 65 percent high-strength steel. MacPherson struts are utilized in the front suspension with a solid torsion beam axle for the rear, avoiding the costly multi-link independent rear suspension used by some more expensive rivals. However, for the North American market, the Cruze to be produced there from 2010 will utilize the more advanced Watts Z-link rear suspension from the Opel Astra (J).

Hydraulically-assisted rack and pinion steering gives for a 10.9-metre (36 ft) turning circle. Braking-wise, ventilated front, and solid rear disc brakes are employed, both using piston steel calipers. To counteract noise, vibration, and harshness, engineers have designed the Cruze with an isolated four-point engine mount and implemented sound damping material in areas including the front-of-dashboard panel, luggage compartment, decklid internals, doors, carpet and headlining. Further noise suppression through the use of a triple-layer sealing system in the doors has also been exercised.

Safety

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) announced in May 2009 that it has awarded the Cruze a full five stars in their independent crash safety test, with 35.04 out of a possible 37 points. The following July, the China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) awarded the Cruze a maximum five stars in their independent crash safety test. The Cruze SE 1.6 litre tested scored a maximum of 16 points in side-impact collision, 14.44 in front-end collision, and 15.73 in the 40 percent frontal offset collision. Euro NCAP released its rating in November, with the Chevrolet Cruze again receiving the full five-star grading. While the Cruze scored 96 percent for adult protection, and 84 percent for child occupant protection, Euro NCAP's figure for pedestrian protection is quoted at significantly lower 34 percent. In December 2009, the South Korean-specification Cruze—the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere—received the top rating of five stars from the Korean New Car Assessment Program (KNCAP). According to KNCAP, the Lacetti Premiere received the five-star rating in the frontal, offset frontal, side, and whiplash tests.

Chevrolet Cruze Powertrains

Powertrains fitted to the Cruze are the 1.6 litre Family 1 four-cylinder, a 1.8 litre version of the same and a 2.0 litre VM Motori RA 420 SOHC turbocharged common rail diesel. All three engines are coupled to a five-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission featuring Active Select. From 2010, a new turbocharged 1.4 litre Family 0 engine with gasoline direct-injection will be introduced.

Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission
1.4 L Ecotec I4 T	104 kW (139 hp) (estimated)	200 N·m (150 lb·ft) (estimated)	6-speed manual 6-speed GM 6T40 automatic
1,598 cc (1.598 L; 97.5 cu in) Ecotec I4	83 kW (111 hp) @ 6400 rpm	153 N·m (113 lb·ft) @ 4200 rpm
1,796 cc (1.796 L; 109.6 cu in) Ecotec I4	104 kW (139 hp) @ 6200 rpm	176 N·m (130 lb·ft) @ 3800 rpm
1,991 cc (1.991 L; 121.5 cu in) RA 420 SOHC I4 TD	110 kW (150 hp) @ 4000 rpm	320 N·m (240 lb·ft) @ 2000 rpm	5-speed manual 6-speed GM 6T45 automatic

Chevrolet Cruze Market

Chevrolet Cruze Africa: The Chevrolet Cruze was launched in the Egyptian market during mid-2009. South African sales of the Cruze commenced in September 2009.

Chevrolet Cruze Asia: The Chevrolet Cruze was launched in the Chinese market on April 18, 2009. Manufactured at GM India's Halol factory, the Chevrolet Cruze was released in India on 12 October 2009. It is offered only two versions: LT and LTZ in diesel form only (VCDi). During the course of 2009, there were reports that the Cruze was to become available in Malaysia with the 1.6 and a 1.8. litre engines. However, a breakdown of relationship between GM and the local distributor (formerly Sime Darby) means that the future of Chevrolet in Malaysia is pending until the local Naza automotive group enters into a partnership with GM to distribute Chevrolets in Malaysia. Naza has announced that it's expecting to launch the Cruze in the Malaysian market for the first time in the second quarter and they are expecting to sell 1,200 to 1,500 units in 2010.

Chevrolet Cruze Europe: 1.6 and 1.8 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel engines are currently offered in the European-specification Cruzes. Exports from the South Korean factory began on February 24, 2009.

Chevrolet Cruze North America: Mexico became the first North American country to receive the car, going on sale as a 2010 model in late 2009. Imported from South Korea, the Cruze in Mexico replaces both the Astra (last sold in 2008) and Optra as the compact offering there. The U.S. version of the Chevrolet Cruze is scheduled to enter production in the third quarter of 2010 as a 2011 model, replacing the Chevrolet Cobalt. It will be offered in LS, LT, and LTZ trim lines. Both the 1.8 litre and the turbocharged 1.4 litre engines will be offered, coupled with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Safety equipment includes electronic stability control and ten standard airbags, including side rear-seat and front knee airbags not fitted on models produced in the original South Korea facility. North American versions also feature a redesigned rear suspension setup (see above). The Cobalt's badge engineered twin, the Pontiac G5, will not be replaced by a Cruze-based equivalent, due the Pontiac brand being phased out by 2010. The Cruze will be built on the production lines currently used to build the Cobalt and Pontiac G5 in Lordstown, Ohio.