The GM (General Motors)/ Chevrolet India got a great achievement in the form of Cruze. This mid-sized sedan is said to be the queen of Chevrolet in its own segment and its ruling among Indians since its launch in 2009. Also the renovated version of this sedan was launched in June 2012 which has increased its popularity as well as sale. Here is a brief about what does a Cruze has in terms of its specs and features??
Price:
Lets start with price, Chevrolet’s this model has price tag of 13.85 to 15.67 lakhs (depends upon its variants), though this price range could be more competitive if comparing to the other cars in same segment like Skoda Laura, Toyota Corolla Altis, Honda Civic etc.
Brand Value:
Well, the company has been here since 1994, but still it is known as an average car company in India. The reason behind this is said to be its outdated designs, and especially not so good after-sale services but Cruze is definitely an exceptional case here, at least in the case of its designing, look and features availability. The issue of after-sale service lies in every car in this particular brand.
Engine Details:
The Chevrolet’s sedan is equipped with 1998cc, 4-cylinder In-line VCDi Diesel engine with 6-speed manual transmission gearbox. It comes in three diesel variants i.e. LTZ AT, LTZ and LT. This VCDi Diesel engine offers an excellent power of 164bhp@ 3800rpm and a peak torque of 380Nm@2000rpm with the impressive mileage capacity of 17.3kmpl (ARAI certified).
Space:
Starting with dimensions, the Cruze is 4597mm in length, 1788mm in width and 1477mm in height; which gives the ground clearance of 165mm. This ground clearance is in one of the nice features in this segment of cars coz how much more ground clearance a car has, more secure ride can be assured on the bad roads. It is a mid-sized sedan which has seating capacity of five passengers along with the 450 liters of boot space. The minimum turning radius of this model is 5.4m and 60 liters of fuel tank capacity.
Interiors:
This mid-sized sedan has a very stylish interior design with lots of features availability like leather steering and Gear knob, front and rear reading lamps, front centre armrest with storage and sliding lid, rear seat armrest with cup holders, 3-spoke steering wheel etc., and these equipped features make its inside look like a cockpit.
But the space availability inside the Cruze is little bit narrow in comparison to other cars in same segment. Otherwise, the interior is designed with mostly all the requiring features by consumers. Automatic air conditioner with heater & clean air filter, electric power steering with tilt function, power windows, central locking are that useful arrangements which have been a general requirement now-a-days.
Also the LT variant of the car is well embellished with keyless entry, dead pedal, engine start & stop button, audio system with CD/MP3 radio and premium speakers (with much better sound quality), electric driver’s seat which can be adjusted in 6-ways, the height adjusting system is so much comfortable where we have option to move the entire seat or just the front of the seat. When it comes to the LTZ variant(which is 90000/- costlier than LT variant), then we can get many premium features likesunroof, leather upholstery, rear parking assist, automatic wipers, cruise control, bluetooth-streaming ICE, auto dimming inside mirror etc.
Though there were some useful features too in the previous version of Cruze which has been removed in the 2012 upgraded version. These are AQS (air quality sensor) button which makes the climate control automatically switch to recirculation mode, 60:40 folding rear seat etc.
Exteriors:
It is said to be the most well-built designed car in its segment, which is well equipped with body color front and rear bumpers, body color outside mirrors, chrome door handles, chrome radiator front grille, dual bezel design headlamps etc. These features give it a powerful as well as dynamic look.
Road handling & safety:
With the availability of such peak torque, the accelerator gives the feeling of more responsiveness in the city. This Cruze can easily maintain the high speed on the highways; that’s why the diesel engine remains easiest in the segment whether at high rpm or low. In the 2012 upgraded version, vibrations and engine noise are well controlled here and also the turbo lag (its the time takes for the turbo to start moving in a fast enough speed to move a lot of air into the engine) is reduced comparatively. It is a most powerful diesel sedan in its segment which gives an excellent performance of 0-100 km in just 9.8s.
The Cruze has a sporty character with the availability of a four-wheel disc brake set-up contributes excellent stopping and balanced braking capability. This mid-sized sedan is also well equipped with ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) system which gives maximum stability and improved steering ability. A gas-charged McPherson strut type front suspension, U-shaped rear suspension with torsion beams and gas charged shock absorber assures an effortless and convenient ride.
Verdict:
Overall, the Cruze gives a comfort as well as satisfaction, but still price range could be more competitive. The not so good after sale service of this Chevrolet brand is just a major issue which provokes some users to give negative reviews; otherwise users seem so much happy and satisfied with this car.
So guys, if you have taken the test drive of this royal mid-sized sedan, or have bought it yet then you are welcome too to share your views here.
Reference: http://carzoom.in/car/brands/
