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Cruze into Chevy
11May
The electric car with a gasoline-fueled generator — scheduled to arrive at the end of 2010 — holds the automotive record for the longest launch in history. But the Volt will not have nearly the immediate impact on the environment or Chevrolet’s bottom line as the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will.
And, after a first drive of the car’s different powertrains, it looks like the people at Chevy are just as serious about this compact as they are about the Volt.
Spacious and comfortable
The new Cruze interior is spacious and comfortable. It’s bigger than a typical compact and it feels that way. The drive was designed to get a feel for Chevy’s new little Ecotec engines and the car’s ride. When the Cruze arrives, it will come with either a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine or a 1.4-liter turbocharged I-4.
The smaller of the two is designed to provide maximum mileage and Chevy promises 40 while still producing 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. (Chevy has not announced the city mileage for the Cruze Eco; however, some of its press material stated a city mileage of 27 mpg, though engineers said that number could improve.) miles per gallon. The engine feels very competent while accelerating or cruising at highway speeds. The 1.8-liter engine, which is the base engine for the Cruze, is nearly as good. It creates 136 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque.
Confident, quick and quiet
No matter which engine the Cruze comes with, it will have a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Both were very responsive, never rushing to sixth gear in hopes of stretching out a few more feet with a gallon of gas. And while engineers will continue to tinker with the calibrations, its overall feel was confident, quick and quiet. Chevy even has a patent to show for its work on the rear suspensions, which it calls a Z link. This allows the rear axle to react independently to each wheel input. The car, while not a racer, can certainly handle tight cornering. Even the rack-mounted electric power steering provided nice resistance and a good return to center.
All of these suspension improvements become especially noticeable when you realize how quiet the car is on the road. The 17-inch wheels on the Eco Cruze (they are the same wheels used on the Volt) do allow more road noise into the cabin than the bigger 18-inch wheels, but, in both cases, the noise levels are very low. It’s easy to hold a conversation with someone in the second row without ever raising your voice.
In comparisons with the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, the Cruze was considerably quieter on the same route.
Luxury technology
The Cruze also uses luxury car technology to quiet the ride of this common man compact. Things like a laminated windshield, acoustic material in the headliner, well-sealed doors and hydraulic engine mounts all chip away at those little things that add noise inside the cabin. The Eco model includes air shutters that can open or close part of the grille to improve the car’s aerodynamics. It also has a lighter carpet throughout the cabin.
One of the battles all compact cars face is the safety concerns, a worry for many consumers. The Cruze is engineered for a five-star rating, though it has not been tested. Overseas, where it’s already sold, the Cruze has achieved a top safety rating on three continents. The U.S. model will include 10 standard airbags, including front-seat knee bags and second-row side air bags. Like many other compacts, a lot of thought and design has been placed on channeling energy around the cabin during an accident and to make the vehicle as safe as possible.
The modern compact customer expects Bluetooth, USB connections, navigation screens and leather. The chunky styling of the Cruze that gives it a much more muscular look than some of the competition. The lines are crisp and distinct and that should hold up well through the years.
Inside and out, this car shows how serious Chevy has become with its compact. The Volt may be Mr. Right for the future, but the Cruze is Mr. Right Now.
Look for the Cruze to come out in 2011 at your Hall Chevrolet, Western Branch dealership.