Chevie Cruze sets new safety standards

Scores the highest

And not only did the Cruze score the highest score ever in frontal and side collision tests in EuroNCAP history (making it one of the safest models in the passenger car class), but prior to that it also received best-in-class, five-star crash safety ratings in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) testing in Australia

Safety was made a prime feature of the Cruze.

The model's excellent safety features, plus its bold styling, comfort, space, ride quality and competitive pricing have elevated this new family saloon into the company of the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Suzuki Alto, Volvo XC60, Toyota Prius, Audi Q5, Volkswagen Golf and, Hyundai i20, all competing for the prestigious title of the 2010 South African Car of the Year.

There are four Cruze models available locally, ranging in price from R174 192 for the entry level 1,6-litre LS to R244 440 for the top of the range 1,8-litre LT Automatic.

Exceptionally well received

The model nominated for the SA Car of the Year title is the 1.8-litre LS which I drove, along with the 1,8-litre automatic, when it was launched in South Africa in the third quarter of last year.

Angular, muscular with a touch of sporty elegance.

The Cruze was exceptionally well received by local motoring journalists at the time, with the only major criticism being the flagship model's rather irritating hunt-and-seek automatic shift and it's rather sluggish performance.

I spent the last two weeks of 2009 and the first week of 2010 holiday cruising in a 1,6-litre LS and Her Majesty and I both gave the Cruze a pat on the roof for its looks, spacious boot, neat and classy interior (way better than previous GM products), comfortable ride and lack of fuel thirst (we averaged 7,9 litres per 100 kilometres which, for a car of its size, is impressive.

The Cruze got a pat on the roof for its looks, spacious boot, neat and classy interior.

The five-speed manual shift is as smooth as Christmas trifle and the car sits confidently on the road. The ride is quiet on smooth roads although when the road surface deteriorates suspension noises are quite noticeable.

There is ample leg, bottom and shoulder room for four tall ones and the cabin is bright and cheery. The finish is undoubtedly the most attractive, highest quality yet of any model to don the golden bowtie.

It's got the looks

But to me the most outstanding and attractive feature of the Cruze is its looks… angular, muscular with a touch of sporty elegance which is not generally a trademark of the compact sedan C segment of the South African market (think car rental fleets, VW and Toyota).

The car's cool looks raises hopes of nippy performance which, unfortunately, the Cruze doesn't quite deliver.

There is ample leg, bottom and shoulder room for four tall ones and the cabin is bright and cheery.

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The 1,6-litre engine produces 80 Kw and 150 Nm, but it needs to spin quite high to achieve this, with maximum torque kicking in at 4200 rpm and for the 80 Kw to be felt it needs all of 6400 rpm.

Little wonder then that it takes nearly 12 seconds to get from standstill to 100 km/h.

But although the Cruze is no tar scorcher it more than makes up for it in all other departments with a fancy specification list than includes six airbags, ABS brakes, central locking, power steering aircon, fully adjustable steering wheel, aircon and a high quality sound system.

What does the future hold?

The 1,8-litre Cruze competitors are the likes of the Ford Focus and Honda Civic, while the smaller-engined Cruze takes on the five-model 1,6-litre Ford Fiesta range (R169 000 to R182 900), Toyota Auris (two models, R205 600 and R220 100), three 1,6 Toyota Corollas (R198 200 to R223 900) and the Korean Accent and Elantra ranges (R146 900 to R199 000).

The Cruze comes with huge corporate GM responsibility, particularly in South Africa where its destiny lies in taking over the brand leadership from Opel.

Whether it is truly a car the whole world wants and will like remains to be seen. Certainly its pedigree is international enough, having been created in Korea by American, Australian, German and Korean engineers and designers.

Fact is, even though it might not have the local gravitas of VW and Toyota it is certainly stylish, bold, new, impressively equipped and very appealingly priced at R186 126 for the 1,6-litre LS.

As a trendy, safe, four-door family saloon the Cruze is cruzing full steam ahead of the rest of the field…