Drove a Chevy Cruze this weekend

[satyajitmenon]

I was pleasantly surprised. I think Chevy actually has a winner on it's hands...

It was a 1LT, which has a 1.4 ltr turbo. Even though it was only 130 something bhp, it was pretty peppy low down, and had no issues in the mid-range when trying to overtake at 70+ mph on the freeway.

Quality of interior is on par for that segment. What really surprised me was handling. It felt heavy/solid/stable at speed, and yet it was actually fun to throw into corners.

Might seriously consider buying a used one for a daily runabout next year.

 

[c3p0]

I haven't driven a Cruze yet and probably won't. Can't afford a new car at the moment. But I do like the way it looks. I think Chevy is on the right track with this vehicle.:thumbsup:

c3p0

 

[cyclistca]

I'm impressed by what I've seen so far. It hard to believe how far GM and the American car companies in general have come in the past few years. I use to be a Japanese only guy but now two of the cars I'm look at are American.

I was looking at buy a use Audi but now I might wait around to see what the high performance versions of the Cruze and Regal look like.

 

[quest55720]

I also test drove the same model. I liked the car a lot but I could not pay that kind of money for that engine. If it had a 170-180 hp engine at the same price range I would of seriously considered it. Maybe if it was a year from now when I was shopping and there were rebates and special financing I might of went for it. I thought the kia forte was a over all better package for the money. BTW I was totally unimpressed with the toyota corolla.

 

[Zap]

It hard to believe how far GM and the American car companies in general have come in the past few years.

Probably because there was a lot to improve upon.

 

[Tristicus]

I've been talking to my mom about them but there aren't any around here...not sure when they release.

 

[Vette73]

I also test drove the same model. I liked the car a lot but I could not pay that kind of money for that engine. If it had a 170-180 hp engine at the same price range I would of seriously considered it. Maybe if it was a year from now when I was shopping and there were rebates and special financing I might of went for it. I thought the kia forte was a over all better package for the money. BTW I was totally unimpressed with the toyota corolla.

Well this is the first year. So basic motors and getting it off the ground is the big thing now. 2nd year or later I am sure there will be a "SS" type with a bigger motor and Turbo.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, it's a Daewoo/Opel, which makes the improvement impressive.

 

[ElFenix]

cruze v. focus is going to be an interesting fight. from what i can tell the cruze is the more cushy of the two, and the focus will have the lauded dynamics.


new corolla is supposed to be around in about a year, but toyota has been delaying the US launch for nearly 2 years behind the japanese launch. i wonder if such competitive offerings from ford and gm will push toyota up or what? the civic is also due for an update in late 2011.

 

[MikeMike]

Well, it's a Daewoo/Opel, which makes the improvement impressive.

HUH?

how does it make it more impressive?

Opel did the engineering, Daewoo did some design... its a GLOBALLY designed vehicle...

 

[Pocatello]

This car is nice, extremely quiet at cruising speed at 75MPH, can't say that about a Honda Civic.

 

[LTC8K6]

HUH?

how does it make it more impressive?

Opel did the engineering, Daewoo did some design... its a GLOBALLY designed vehicle...

AFAIK, Daewoo did all of the design of the car.

Last Daewoo I saw was distinctly unimpressive.

From Wiki:

Underpinned by the front-wheel drive GM Delta II platform, GM said the Cruze was "developed by a global design and engineering team". Most of the design work was conducted by GM Daewoo, with Opel responsible for most of the engineering.

Holden in Australia were responsible for the design and development of the hatchback body variant.

 

[CraigRT]

I think the Cruze looks great too.
Certainly better than the current generation eyesore Focus, and of course nothing whatsoever from Chryco.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

If you bought this without driving the 2012 Focus first you are doing yourself an injustice. Both need to be driven back to back.

 

[Bignate603]

If you bought this without driving the 2012 Focus first you are doing yourself an injustice. Both need to be driven back to back.

I think they're going to be attractive to slightly different markets. Just by appearance alone the Focus is significantly more flashy while the Cruze is more subdued.

 

[Tristicus]

If you bought this without driving the 2012 Focus first you are doing yourself an injustice. Both need to be driven back to back.

The Chevy name is enough to warrant the choice of the Cruze.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The Chevy name is enough to warrant the choice of the Cruze.

I severely beg to differ on that.

 

[Sukhoi]

cruze v. focus is going to be an interesting fight. from what i can tell the cruze is the more cushy of the two, and the focus will have the lauded dynamics.


new corolla is supposed to be around in about a year, but toyota has been delaying the US launch for nearly 2 years behind the japanese launch. i wonder if such competitive offerings from ford and gm will push toyota up or what? the civic is also due for an update in late 2011.

New Corolla isn't going to be any time soon. It just launched in Jan 2008. Will see a slight redo, but it's not going to be a full model change.

 

[rcpratt]

The Chevy name is enough to warrant the choice of the Cruze.

Wait, you're serious?

 

[Tristicus]

Wait, you're serious?

No, but I like pissing the resident GM hater off.

I drive a Mustang.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

No, but I like pissing the resident GM hater off.

I drive a Mustang.

I have a 2002 Tahoe

Its been the most reliable vehicle we've ever owned, more so than our old Accord, I30, GTI.

Chevy makes good trucks and always has, their sedans have been mediocre until recently.

 

[Tristicus]

I have a 2002 Tahoe

Its been the most reliable vehicle we've ever owned, more so than our old Accord, I30, GTI.

Chevy makes good trucks and always has, their sedans have been mediocre until recently.

Eh, I've always had it against Ford, and don't know why. Only car I've ever liked is the Stang. I'm not sure why. But I'd easily take a Chevy truck without driving a Ford one if I had the chance. Cars, I don't care as I'm not a car person..but a Stang over a Camaro.

I've always gotten the vibe from you that you hate GM as a whole, as I don't see you rail against anyone like you do them.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Eh, I've always had it against Ford, and don't know why. Only car I've ever liked is the Stang. I'm not sure why. But I'd easily take a Chevy truck without driving a Ford one if I had the chance. Cars, I don't care as I'm not a car person..but a Stang over a Camaro.

I've always gotten the vibe from you that you hate GM as a whole, as I don't see you rail against anyone like you do them.

I hate chevy for making the POS that was my old cobalt and not doing anything other than throwing parts at it every few weeks. I prefer Ford design to GM though.

The GM of 2005 is not the GM of today, I'd take a CTS over anything from Acura/Lexus/Lincoln (lots of room for improvement here on Ford's end).

I hate Toyota as well, but mainly because theres not a single attractive car in their line up and they market their cars on being A to B movers. I would never buy one but I'm not their market.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Eh, I've always had it against Ford, and don't know why. Only car I've ever liked is the Stang. I'm not sure why. But I'd easily take a Chevy truck without driving a Ford one if I had the chance. Cars, I don't care as I'm not a car person..but a Stang over a Camaro.

I've always gotten the vibe from you that you hate GM as a whole, as I don't see you rail against anyone like you do them.

Burn him!

 

[Tristicus]

Burn him!

If you can honestly say you'd take a new Camaro over a Mustang then you....you...have an opinion and I don't like it.

But holy hell, the 1993-2002 style was goddamn ugly.
(Watch, I'll probably be driving one this time next year)

Almost as bad as the box Mustangs.