2016 Chevrolet Cruze: A New, More Refined Gen
Less than 10 years ago, the idea of a Chevrolet selling well in all the world’s markets would have been unthinkable. The boys with bow ties at General Motors made a lot of good cars, but they were generally tailored for specific markets.
When the Cruze debuted in 2008, GM wasn’t shy about claiming that its latest creation had the worldwide appeal that could make it one of the most popular cars on every continent. A good many experts doubted that claim at the time. Fast-forward to 2015, and the Chevrolet Cruze is now the world’s best-selling car, with over 3.5 million sold.
Seven years after launch – the average shelf life for a new model – it was time to introduce the next generation. With data gathered from every market, Chevrolet’s stylists and engineers got to work on a second coming for their sales leader.
At first glance
At first glance, the new Cruze is immediately reminiscent of the Malibu unveiled last April at the New York International Auto Show. With its fairly similar front fascia and rakish roofline, it is not hard to see the connection between the two. Only time will tell whether the new design is a success, but the first impression is positive, even though some people present at the unveiling in Detroit’s Filmore Theatre thought it looked like the Honda Civic.
Be that as it may, the new car is visually refined, as well as being 65 mm longer overall, and 25 mm lower. The additional length provides 51 mm more knee room for the rear seat occupants. Already known for its relatively capacious interior, the new Cruze marks a further improvement in that respect.
The instrument panel shows some fine tuning in both aesthetic and economic terms. The focal point is the 7-inch main screen that controls the MyLink feature combined with either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. By the time the car goes on sale, or soon thereafter, an 8-inch screen will be released for the Apple app. The quality of the materials has also been improved.
As is expected of any new car these days, most of the electronic safety systems are standard, while the car's telematics are among the most advanced in the class.
Emphasis on fuel economy
The second-gen Cruze boasts a body structure that is more rigid, but 113 kg lighter. The new structure offers better handling, improved sound insulation and better fuel economy.
The hood conceals an engine that is new to the Cruze. This is a 1.4-litre turbo four producing 153 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes standard with a six-speed manual, and a six-speed automatic is optional. This engine is one of a new range of modular power units that gives GM more leeway in powertrain development. Also available is a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine that produces 113 horsepower, mated to a five-speed manual. It will not be offered with an automatic transmission. Needless to say, this is a fuel-economy special. In 2017, Chevrolet will be adding a 1.6-litre diesel to its engine availability.
The front suspension retains its MacPherson struts, and the engineers chose to keep the twistbeam rear suspension for the L, LS and LT models, while the Premier has a Watts Z-link, a sophisticated variant of the twistbeam arrangement.
Cruze models sold in North America will be assembled in Lordstown, Ohio. They should be in showrooms early in 2016.
