Quick and efficient
The diminutive Chevrolet Cruze decided from the very beginning not to let itself be pushed around. That’s why it comes with a small 1.4-litre turbo engine that is, well, rather stunning.
It rushes to do your bidding and proves quite capable of propelling the car forward without quaffing inordinate amounts of fuel. I remember finding this quality most appealing on that first day.
However, I don’t remember fighting so hard with the transmission to get a decent performance out of it. Far from benefiting from a judicious gear ratio, the autobox is on the contrary completely disorganized.
As soon as you insist a bit on the throttle, it upshifts at the speed of light, cycling from one gear to another without taking advantage of any of them. The rpm is thus artificially held too high, which wastes fuel – and creates an unpleasant moaning sound, as if the engine were in pain.
Thankfully, this weakness is quickly forgotten thanks to the quality of the steering system. Though a little too power assisted at times, dulling the feedback, it’s nevertheless precise and ensures flawless handling. As for the comfort-oriented suspension, it gets the job done easily and smoothly.
Only the brakes are a little problematic and the pedal requires some getting used to, so you can get the most out of the system without feeling the car hesitate.
Conclusion
In light of these findings, I believe the Chevrolet Cruze is a car that deserves all the attention it’s getting. GM could of course improve some details here and there, but other than the transmission that decidedly detracts from the driving enjoyment, they’re just that – details.
And considering its rather impressive fuel efficiency despite said transmission, the Chevrolet Cruze is one family car you’ll definitely want to consider.
The diminutive Chevrolet Cruze decided from the very beginning not to let itself be pushed around. That’s why it comes with a small 1.4-litre turbo engine that is, well, rather stunning.
It rushes to do your bidding and proves quite capable of propelling the car forward without quaffing inordinate amounts of fuel. I remember finding this quality most appealing on that first day.
However, I don’t remember fighting so hard with the transmission to get a decent performance out of it. Far from benefiting from a judicious gear ratio, the autobox is on the contrary completely disorganized.
As soon as you insist a bit on the throttle, it upshifts at the speed of light, cycling from one gear to another without taking advantage of any of them. The rpm is thus artificially held too high, which wastes fuel – and creates an unpleasant moaning sound, as if the engine were in pain.
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| It comes with a small 1.4-litre turbo engine that is, well, rather stunning. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Thankfully, this weakness is quickly forgotten thanks to the quality of the steering system. Though a little too power assisted at times, dulling the feedback, it’s nevertheless precise and ensures flawless handling. As for the comfort-oriented suspension, it gets the job done easily and smoothly.
Only the brakes are a little problematic and the pedal requires some getting used to, so you can get the most out of the system without feeling the car hesitate.
Conclusion
In light of these findings, I believe the Chevrolet Cruze is a car that deserves all the attention it’s getting. GM could of course improve some details here and there, but other than the transmission that decidedly detracts from the driving enjoyment, they’re just that – details.
And considering its rather impressive fuel efficiency despite said transmission, the Chevrolet Cruze is one family car you’ll definitely want to consider.
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