Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is the firm's rival to the VW Golf and Ford Focus. Available in a saloon bodystyle, as well as a more practical hatchback, the Cruze looks stylish on the outside, and the interior is a big step forward in both design and quality from the older Chevrolets in the range. The Cruze drives well, although the petrol engines are underpowered and the diesel is noisy. All Cruzes get height-adjustable driver's seats, air conditioning and MP3-compatible stereos, and all benefit from a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
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Pros:
- Spacious interior
- Value for money
- Powerful diesel engine option
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Cons:
- Looks not to everyone’s taste
- Average build quality
- Noisy petrol engines
The hatchback version of the Chevrolet Cruze is a lot more practical than the saloon - it's a wonder Chevy didn't introduce it sooner. Apart from that wide-opening tailgate, the Cruze hatchback is identical to the saloon, so you get the same range of efficient - if rather noisy - diesel engines, and plenty of standard equipment for a price tag that undercuts rivals such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.
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Pros:
- Lots of space
- Generous standard equipment
- Efficient 1.7-litre VCDi engine
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Cons:
- Petrol models feel slow
- Not fun in the corners
- Suspension is sometimes uncomfortable
The Chevrolet Cruze SW isn’t the most obvious choice for those looking for a family estate car, but there are definitely reasons you should look in to it. For example, it's better value than rivals like the Volkswagen Golf Estate – despite being not quite as spacious – and it's good-looking, too. The engine range isn’t great but stick with the 1.7-litre VCDi diesel and you can’t go too far wrong.
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Pros:
- Lots of space and equipment
- Bargain price tag
- Not bad to look at
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Cons:
- Petrol engines lack performance
- Not very exciting to drive
- Lacks the practicality of a hatchback
The four-door Cruze saloon is based on the upcoming new Vauxhall Astra, and sets out to offer a big car feel at a small car price. The line-up kicks off at £13,395 – and it boasts lots of space and equipment for the money too. However, it's not much fun or very comfortable to drive and while the diesel engines are quick, the petrols are slow and noisy.
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