
Chevrolet Cruze Review by Expert
General Motors has decided to take on its competitors in India and the first punch that they are going to blow is the all-new Chevrolet Cruze. It is here takes on Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Skoda Laura, the stars of the sedan segment of Indian automobile industry. The new Chevy baby promises to deliver a lot and yes it does so with grace. It may give shivers to some of the well established players in the segment. With the correct pricing, a powerful diesel engine and the gizmos offered with it, Chevrolet Cruze emphatically outclasses its competitors.
The equipments offered with it generally come with cars that cost some fortune. The Chevrolet Cruze is first of the 300 series from Chevrolet and named “J300” internally. GM claims that this is the first global car to launch in India. The first time your eyes will meet the Cruze, you would be stunned of its sheer exquisiteness. The Cruze certainly is the best-looking car of its class. It gives you a brawny yet a chic feeling. It looks belligerent, quick, and tight with its superb styling. Chevrolet Cruze is here to make a style statement and it does more than that. The lanky headlights, wide split grille and sharp chin give the Chevrolet Cruze an incredible presence. The striking coupe roofline with sharp raked rear windscreen gives you an amazing feeling from the side. It is a real attention grabber so you should expect people turning to look as you zip past them. The rear styling though is a bit disappointing as compared to the front. Though the twin LED-filled tail lamps and a thick chrome bar look good but don’t really live up to the sense of anticipation you get after the striking front and side styling. As you would move closer to the monster, you would be surprised to find there is no key hole. A touch sensor on the door handle locks and unlocks the car.
As the door opens, Chevrolet Cruze amazes you again with the interior that perfectly matches the exquisite exterior styling. It boasts a twin cockpit theme, which according to GM is inspired from the 1953 Corvette. The center console is V shaped looks splendid with the neon blue lighting. However, the plastics in the interior are a real disappointment as they are simply not up to the class. The keyless system or the PEPS – Passive Entry Passive Start is a delight for those who have serious key handling issues. The sunroof and alloy wheels are the strength of the Chevrolet Cruze. The safety features include a collapsible pedal box, ABS and two airbags. The absence traction control system looks strange given 33kgm of torque goes to the front wheels. In addition, the two airbags seem little with a car of this stature.
Chevrolet Cruze shows its power as soon as you start this 1991cc and 148bhp ogre, which delivers 33kgm of torque to the front wheels. It takes just 9.6 seconds to reach the 100kph mark and 21.2 to reach the 150kph mark. A little more of pressing and this beast reaches its top speed of 210kph without any huffing. Its performance makes it competitors to look for a hiding place. Chevrolet Cruze gives you petrol like performance with a great mileage of 14.1kpl. The bad news here is that there is prominent lag below 1800rpm, and that’s where you’ll be most of the time in the city. For the Indian Cruze, GM has shortened second gear to improve drivability; it has to a certain extent but it has also accentuated the gap between second and third gear ratios.
The non-linear power delivery can be a bit annoying in slow traffic but there’s that forgiving clutch and a stubby, short-throw gearshift to help you along. A six-speed ’box with closer ratios would have helped. The Chevrolet Cruze is build for the highways and that is where it gives its best. The Cruze overall is a good car to look out for. It pleases individuals rather than families with its styling. It’s a car that one wants to own rather than need to have.
Chevrolet Cruze Mileage and Fuel Efficiency
| Variants |
Mileage(City) |
Mileage(Highway) |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 LT |
13.5 Kmpl |
17.3 Kmpl |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 LTZ |
13.5 Kmpl |
17.3 Kmpl |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 LTZ AT |
10.5 Kmpl |
14.4 kmpl |
The luxury redefined, Chevrolet Cruze is simply outstanding in mileage and fuel efficiency, compensating lesser for the great displacement that it has, the two diesel versions of the sedan, LT and LTZ deliver a mileage of 13.5 Kmpl in the city and sharpen 17.3 Kmpl on the highways. The LTZ AT variant which is supportive of automatic transmission is however not much efficiency oriented with a mileage of around 10.5 Kmpl in the city and 14.4 Kmpl on the highways. Chevrolet Cruzes’ dynamic fuel efficiency and mileage is another key which gets the car into limelight.
Chevrolet Cruze Models and Features
| Variants |
Features |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 LT |
Chrome garnish on window sill, titanium dashboard and door trims, instrument cluster dimmer, monotone jet black seats with titanium stich highlights, Halogen Headlamps, Dual tone interiors, cup holders (front and rear), remote trunk/boot opener, remote fuel lid opener, central locking, front passenger airbag, driver airbag, low fuel warning light, accessory power outlet, trunk light, rear reading lamp, rear seat headrest, rear seat center arm rest with storage compartment, height adjustable front seat belts, rear AC vents, brake assist, keyless entry, engine immobilize , door ajar warning, anti-theft alarm, power door locks, multi-function steering, fabric upholstery, antiglare rear view mirror, impact proof front and rear bumpers, rear window defogger , seat lumbar support, integrated audio system with AUX/ USB support etc. |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 LTZ |
Loaded with some additional features like electric sunroof, leather upholstery, park assist, rain sensors, cruise control, programmable entry, On/ Off ignition button, Bluetooth connectivity for music and telephony that come pre-installed with the LTZ. |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 LTZ AT |
Same features as in the above variant but with the support of Automatic Transmission. |
Compare Chevrolet Cruze Models
Chevrolet Cruze Colors
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Atlantis Blue |
Summit White |
Velvet Red |
Caviar Black |
Diamond White |
Sand Drift Grey |
Switchblade Silver |
Click Here to see more Chevrolet Cruze Pictures
Chevrolet Cruze Engine, Power and Performance
As mentioned above, Chevrolet Cruze comes with only diesel variants.
2.0 VCDI Diesel Engine
The Cruzes’ powerful engine is all about solid mass and store of power. With 150 PS of power and 327Nm of torque, the Cruze is ready to wipe off all the other competitors. The engine is an excellent blend of power, fuel efficiency and low emissions. The 1991 cc engine offers tremendous power like no other and the efficiency remains unmatched. The diesel engine is powerful and refined than ever before offering a variable nozzle turbo with intercooler that enhances efficiency, torque and delivers a smoother drive. The high-performance Common Rail Direct Injection system is a key to convert the engine into a power packed asset. The engine is fully synchronized with a 5- speed manual transmission which adds up to its powerful spirit. With 4 cylinders inline, the Diesel Engine of Chevrolet Cruze is individually known for performance.
Chevrolet Cruze Pickup and Acceleration
| Engine Variant |
Max. Power (bhp/ rpm) |
Max. Torque (Nm/ rpm) |
Pickup (0- 100) (sec.) |
Top Speed (Km/ h) |
Transmission |
| 2.0 VCDI(Diesel) |
150/4000 |
327/2600 |
0 - 100 Kmph in 9.7 Seconds |
208 |
5-speed |
The bold and powerful 2.0 VCDI (Diesel) Engine of the Chevrolet Cruze churns out a massive power of 150 ps at 4000 rpm and a whopping torque of about 327 Nm at 2600 rpm. The Engine has a superb pickup reaching 0-100 within a span of 9.7 seconds and delivers a top speed of about 280 Km/h at an ease which speaks of the engine’s superior quality and power. The engine with manual 5 speed transmission produces unbeatable power which makes Cruze more dazzling.
Chevrolet Cruze Interiors and Features
The Chevrolet Cruze has an excellent piece of resemblance to the concepts of perhaps one of the best designing ever gone through in the making of this beautiful sedan. The Chevrolet Cruze has been delivered with perfection to the supreme interiors with matchless craftsmanship. The wide and extraordinary dash of the sedan seems to be unreal in nature. The designing of this dash has been kept somewhat just like the Ferrari. The three spoke steering wheel of the car is sporty and offers elegant looks. The multifunctional steering adds to the list of luxury features of the interiors of the car. The astounding curvy central console housing the stereo system and other controls looks like a delight. The charming illuminations of the scintillating ergonomics look derivative of bringing out the best in quality. The company has given deep thought to the quality of the interiors and it is truly reflected in the design. The tachometer in the center and the instrument cluster is magnificently beautiful. The interiors remind of some sheer class. The one of a kind AC vents are beautifully placed and the storage vaults make you go wider on the cunt of excellence.
The finish and lining of the dash in chrome and wooden (select variants) looks amazing and highly imperial. The finishing of the car in such a manner is a real example of dynamism and uniqueness. The soft and very adorable touch of the dash reminds of a feather. Moreover, the very depictive and enhanced view of the rear through the IRVM is very good and the sun visors make the task easy looking through the front. The gear knob, steering, hand brake and other controls have a the similar finish such that found at the dash that makes it even more elegant.
Next in the sequence of praises comes the superior seating arrangement that is extremely comfortable and relaxant with the adjustable headrests and arm rests very comfy. The cabin is quite vast and wide with more than enough space to be taken under the count of legroom. The thigh and back support of the seats are a marvel. The upholstery in superior quality fabric is phenomenal and looks ambient. The elegant ashtray, bottle and can holders add to the luxuries inside the cabin. The fascinating and enduring door trims and the large glove box with chiller further contribute to the admiration of its design. The boot space in Chevrolet Cruze is quite phenomenal again as seen in other cars from the company. Sitting and relaxing inside the beautiful interiors of this beautiful and luxurious sedan is a pleasure itself. The leisure offered by the stereo system is endless with speakers placed brilliantly throughout the doors and at the back. The accessibility features loaded on to the front dash panel are highly techy and very advanced.
Overall, the sedan is a luxurious choice and offers great style and comfort together with satisfaction.
Chevrolet Cruze Exteriors and Features
The Cruze is impeccable and very imperial in looks. The very dramatic and staring headlights of the all new Chevrolet Cruze remind that of the very close cousin, Camaro. The stunning headlights are sharp and very edgy in their design. The beautiful front chrome and carbon grille is supremely bold and muscle. The insignia of the company in the divided portion to the grille looks unique and very beautiful in design. The bumpers of the car are not just for the protection, look at them closely and they seem almost lively. The body kit accustomed to the sedan is marvelous. Everything that ranges from the body lines to the roof and down to the bonnet simply leaves you stunned at glare. The sedan has esteemed presence of style and is pretty loaded and mugged up with crowded shine. The rims and alloys give you another sight worth watching and the curves or the wheel arches are yet again glorifying.
The door handles have been given a piece of a lot of carbon but it seems pretty matched. The sedan has heavy ORVMs matching up to the gigantic look of the body. The built of the car has been kept quite sport and trendy rather than delivering a delicate and soft luxurious touch, however it doesn’t fail even a bit in grabbing attention on the streets when it passes by. The Chevrolet Cruze also has provision for sunroof in limited and select variants that adds to the style and excellence of the vehicle. The rear of the car is quite competitive to the front fascia with finely edged LED tail lights that seem pasted on to the body quite dynamically. The rear has been given a slight elevation that looks even more adorable. The window arches and rest all is just another gem to the crown. The Cruze is simply outstanding in appearance.
Safety Features of Chevrolet Cruze
The Cruze has been designed by keeping in mind anything that matches up to perfection. The same can be observed while looking at the safety of Chevrolet Cruze the car. The crystal clear headlamps of the car provide ultimate visibility. The headlamp adjustment, though usual for most of the cars of the segment is yet very superior in quality. There are not many loop holes in the designing of the car from the safety point of view. The side skirts of the car protect from scratches and unwanted damages made to the body of the car. The fog lamps are very sharp and the rear demister comes very useful in the mist.
The Immobilizer makes the security regime more suitable and strong. The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) proves to be a safeguard as it prevents the wheels from locking while braking and helps in maintaining complete steering control by the driver, especially on slump surfaces. Also the facility for the six airbags in the cabin of the sedan further adds to the safety measures .The child seat provision is an ultra-innovation as it is designed to protect children during collisions specifically and in turn, can be secured in any of the three rear seats. Moreover, the built of the sedan is heavier and bulky together with some strength that adds it to sense of safety and security.
Chevrolet Cruze Driving and Handling
Driving this stylish sedan is an experience which is rejeneuvating and when you get acquainted with the car, it appears like a roller coaster ride. The spacious seating position and high support provides a good view as well as comfortable seating position. The front has been taken care of by the McPherson Strut type Suspension with coil springs and stabilizer and the rear is supportive of Torsion beam axle with stabilizer and coil spring.
The 5 speed manual transmission is smoother than can be expected, the braking is very effective and there is no match for the super responsive power steering. Gear change is smooth and easy. Clutch is sensitive and the disc brakes are strong and firm. The car has rear disc brakes that add to its completeness. The driving and handling in the Cruze comes easy with fine alloys of the sedan that make it heavy on the roads in order to maintain sharper grip along turns and curves. The very effective Chevrolet Cruze driving and handling is all very handy and easy due to its features than make an edge over its competitors.
Chevrolet Cruze Accessories
The car can easily boast of its super stock stereo accessories. Every bit of the Cruze has something refreshing and so is its great audio system with CD/ Mp3/ AUX/ USB support making it deliver soothing acoustics to every single portion of the car and along with Bluetooth connectivity providing entertainment at your fingertips; and with a wireless remote for the passengers in the rear. The speakers embedded within the muscles of the car sound loud and deliver superb acoustics. The outstanding in innovation, the Cruze consists of not just the entertainment comes with certain premium enhancement packages as well. The Chevrolet Cruze accessories include a wide range of upholsteries to choose from. The select packages also come with standard central locking, spoiler, rims etc.
Conclusion
Chevrolet Cruze is a splendid sedan and is projected to perform well on any road, once it gets out playing. It’s interiors and comfort arena is deadly. The car brings a smile on your face every time you seek to enjoy the ride in it. It is a dream to ride, a flight to feel the drive at its best. As now the company has confirmed the new Chevrolet Cruze launch, you can get more sporty and trendy car in your garage.