Cruze given extra dollop of power

The 1.8-litre LS sedan... Lazy no more. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The extra power of the 1.8-litre LS sedan we had on test recently was immediately evident. The bigger engine produces a healthy 104kW and 176Nm compared to the 91kW/155Nm the smaller car and it has enough vroom-vroom to do the 0-100km/h dash two-and-a-half seconds faster than the sixteen hundred.

This doesn't mean that it's a tar scorcher by any means; the engine is just so much more suited to this comfortable and spacious mid-range family sedan. As an overall price and quality package it now poses an even stronger alternative to the likes of Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla.

Fancy a bit of this?

In terms of fancy kit and safety the LS sedan is hardly shy and boasts features such as front, side and curtain airbags, ABS anti-locking brakes, traction control, an electronic stability programme, six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth music streaming and a comprehensive graphic information display, on board computer, cruise control, a headlamp levelling system, fully adjustable steering column and aux input for iPod or MPS player as well as sports style front seats, power windows and mirrors plus aircon.

It’s up front where it really shines with neatly shaped, tucked in lights, a bold grille, large Chevrolet emblem and a shapely low front bumper.

Out on the road the Cruze gallops comfortably at legal cruising pace although when the revs start moving into the maximum power bracket the engine noise does become a bit intrusive. Steering is not exactly razor sharp and lacks feedback but driven in the way that most family sedan owners would drive it the Chevrolet does a good job with a ride that leans more to comfort than performance.

The cabin is airy and spacious enough to accommodate four grown-ups in comfort and the boot is big enough to swallow a golf bag as well as a few pieces of luggage.

Neat, but...

The dials and gauges are neat and fairly user friendly but the slanting design of the windscreen means that the shining plastic top of the console reflects irritatingly, particularly on bright sunny days. At night, the glow from the information screen is also reflected in the windscreen, which can be distracting.

The dials and gauges are neat and fairly user friendly but those darned reflections can cause problems.

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In terms of eye-candy, the Cruze appeals with looks that set it a little apart from the Average Joe cars in this class. The roof is handsomely slanted and the boot lid has an attractive cheeky edge to it. But it's up front where it really shines with neatly shaped, tucked in lights, a bold grille, large Chevrolet emblem and a shapely low front bumper. The alloys wheels also add a pleasant sporty look to the car.

Park Assist would be nice

Unfortunately, due to the driver's seat position and the high bonnet, the front end of the car is not visible, which makes parking a bit tricky. As it is, we managed to scrape the lower rim of the bumper against a parking bay kerb. Park Assist would be an appreciated feature, even as an optional extra.

The LS carries a price tag of R227,800 which includes a five-year/120,000km warranty and a three-year/60,000km service plan. Bundled with the Cruze's added power, nifty looks, low fuel consumption and emission levels, and comfortable ride, it has grown into a serious alternative to the rest of the mid-range family transporters.

Specifications

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