In Brief
Ever since it got launched in India in 2009, the Chevrolet Cruze has been one of the most aspired for D-segment sedans on sale, and with good reason. The muscular shape and size of the car look fantastic. And then there are those big wheel arches and the massive honeycomb front grille. The Cruze is not just a great looking car but has a great heart to go with it as well. The 2.0-litre VCDI mill is brilliant in terms of performance and output. Yes it had a rather annoying turbo lag below 2,000rpm but Chevrolet attended to this problem when it launched the facelifted one in 2012. The refreshed Cruze then pumped 166PS instead of 150PS and 380Nm as opposed to the 327Nm in its predecessor.
On Road
Available with just the diesel engine option, the Chevrolet Cruze is a delight for anyone who loves to drive. The engine is energetic and the driving dynamics well sorted to give you that much sought after driving pleasure. Throttle response is good and the car doesn't demand too many shifts as the torque is available throughout the rev range. And then for the few who still want more, its design still doesn't feel dated even after five years.
Moving In
On the inside, the Chevrolet Cruze is sportier than any other car in its class. While most manufacturers have focused on luxury, Chevrolet has gone on to think out of the box and give its interiors a youthful appeal. There is enough space too, especially in this updated model. The suspension was stiffened up in the refreshed model but it doesn't quite have a negative effect on the handling mainly due to the increased weight of the engine. That said, this same attribute does inspire confidence when attacking a series of bends.
Efficiency
The Chevrolet Cruze has not earned a name for itself due to its efficiency but doesn't mean that it is an absolute slacker when it comes to it. Expect the 6-speed manual transmission variant to return an overall efficiency of around 12-13kmpl. The automatic will return a slightly lesser figure.
Buying used
Till about a few years ago, a Cruze would have been quite an expensive proposition to buy even in the used market but thanks to the launch of cars like the 2013 Skoda Octavia and the Hyundai Elantra, it is now a lot easier to buy one. That said, while the Chevrolet Cruze is a fantastic looking car that is equally fun to drive, it might not be the best when it comes to maintenance. Spares and running costs are expensive, especially when compared to the other cars in its class.
So before you actually write that cheque, drive the car around to get a feel of the immediate maintenance that the car demands. Shift between gears to check the condition of the clutch, as it can be quite an expensive part to replace. And while you are at it, you can also check the brakes and electricals.
Money-wise
Despite the fact that the Chevrolet Cruze is a car that is expensive to maintain, it hasn't been one of those models that depreciates very quickly. Even today the 2009/2010 pre-facelift Chevrolet Cruze will come in the range of around Rs 7-7.5 lakh and consider Rs 1-1.5 lakh more approximately for every year younger car.
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