CHEVROLET is General Motors’ largest global brand with annual sales of more than four million vehicles in more than 140 countries. It’s the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing names in the world.
The Cruze Station Wagon is the latest addition to the Chevy family. It builds further on the strengths of the already available Cruze models, and adds greater practicality with its 1,478 litre load space capability. The boot area is very square, flat and wide, so this car will definitely be a motor you’ll appreciate if buying flat-pack furniture from a certain Swedish furniture outlet is your weekend hobby.
In my opinion it’s not the prettiest motor on the block, but it’s a comfortable and nippy number. Don’t get me wrong, the Chevrolet is by no means ugly; it’s just like a lot of estate cars – a little bland at first glance. But, behind the wheel, things brighten up. The Station Wagon is surprisingly responsive – the 1.7 oil-burner feels more like a 2.0 litre turbo diesel. The steering is direct and road holding is good – almost sportily so – and the manual gearshift is smooth and precise. In addition, the driver’s seat is particularly supportive, making commuting seem less of a chore.
The cabin is generally well screwed together and standard features such as the leather clad steering wheel and gear knob give the car a quality feel. The dodgy looking cloth covered dash lets the side down a bit though, and the noisy central locking mechanism sounds cheap, but in many ways the Cruze is excellent value. You see, the Station Wagon 1.7 VCDi, under review here, emits just 119 g/km and it can return over 62 mpg. This makes it an attractive option for fleet customers and drivers alike.
The Cruze Station Wagon is available now in three trim levels and a range of engines. With prices starting from as little as £15,375, this fresh model from Chevrolet delivers genuinely affordable, versatile, motoring.
PROS ‘N’ CONS
- Comfortable √
- Spacious √
- Responsive √
- Economical √
- Noisy central locking X
- Cloth covered dash X
FAST FACTS
- Max speed: 124 mph
- 0-60 mph: 10 secs
- Combined mpg: 62.7
- Engine: 1686 cc 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo diesel
- Max. power (bhp): 128 at 4000 rpm
- Max. torque (lb/ft): 221 at 2000-2500 rpm
- CO2: 119 g/km
- Price: £19,785 on the road
To read a published review, follow the link below:
Lincolnshire Life, January 2013
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