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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Test Track - Motor Trend
Chevy invites Motor Trend to test the three versions of the Chevy Cruze against competing brands. The three Cruze models were the Eco fuel efficiency model, the LTZ sporty/luxuary model, and the LT which Chevy thinks will be the volume model. The writer said he feels the LT is the sweet spot for the tire/suspension package. Though there were no instrumented testing, the feel was that the acceleration was on par with the competition though the seat of the pants feel was that the Civic would squeek by in the 0-60 test. I look at the car's complete package and I don't see it as a competitor to the Civic. It looks like it's aimed directly at the Toyota Corolla. The Eco model is slightly more noisy thanks to weight reduction by removing some sound deadening material and low rolling resistance tires.
I like this car. It sounds like a pretty sweet package, I think pricing will be key to its success.
I think it'd be a mistake if they try to make it an SS with lots of bolt on plastic pieces. They really need to get away from that kind of stuff. I wish they'd make the 1.4L turbo the base engine and GM's 2.4L engine found in the current Malibu as the LTZ option. The increased torque and smoother and slightly quicker acceleration would give it small V6 like feel for the LTZ, which is the fully loaded package. The Corolla has been a big seller for decades and the past few decades it's done so being a solid, dependable, and modest package. If the platform is good for performance tuning, the tuner crowd will find out ways to boost performance on their own. However, with the down turn in the economy, I wonder how many tuners are still spending small fortunes to upgrade their cars.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Test Track - Motor Trend
Chevy invites Motor Trend to test the three versions of the Chevy Cruze against competing brands. The three Cruze models were the Eco fuel efficiency model, the LTZ sporty/luxuary model, and the LT which Chevy thinks will be the volume model. The writer said he feels the LT is the sweet spot for the tire/suspension package. Though there were no instrumented testing, the feel was that the acceleration was on par with the competition though the seat of the pants feel was that the Civic would squeek by in the 0-60 test. I look at the car's complete package and I don't see it as a competitor to the Civic. It looks like it's aimed directly at the Toyota Corolla. The Eco model is slightly more noisy thanks to weight reduction by removing some sound deadening material and low rolling resistance tires.
Being that this is a turbo, all you would have to do is get a superchips power programmer for around $300 to raise the boost pressure, and it would give it an additional 40+ horsepower. It would then no doubt outperform all but the SI civic.
If I was going for an econobox, taking reliability out of the equation (as we don't know yet), I would pick this over the Civic/Corolla. It is much more attractive and the only reason for getting a Civic would be to get the Si which I would agree is a superior package in terms of performance.
I've been trying to kill mine (not really, just been having fun as I'm about ready for a new car and book value is under 1k) for the last 59,000 miles, near flooring it every chance I get. The mated 5 speed can't be busted either.
Also, Civic Si makes me lol. Get a Cobalt SS, cheaper, faster in the straights and turns, better fuel economy, etc. etc. etc.
This is the most important GM product of the past forty years, and it had better be flawless.
In a segment (compact) where they've had a nonstop streak of bland and/or just terrible autos (Corvair/CitationCavalier/Cobalt) since the sixties, I'm not holding my breat that this ill challenge either the Hyundai Elantra or the Civic, which has owned this category since the early eighties.
This is the most important GM product of the past forty years, and it had better be flawless.
In a segment (compact) where they've had a nonstop streak of bland and/or just terrible autos (Corvair/CitationCavalier/Cobalt) since the sixties, I'm not holding my breat that this ill challenge either the Hyundai Elantra or the Civic, which has owned this category since the early eighties.
I think this segment for Chevy started with the Vega, good styling in it's time but horrible choice for engine. Some Vega owners swapped out the engine with a Chevy V-8 and kicked butt. Because of the engine problems, the Vega was replaced with the Monza. Came out at a good time to compete with the horrible excuse for a Mustang. Though the Mustang II was faster, the Monza was cheaper. Didn't compare at all to the Civic and Corolla in fuel economy. Then came the Cavalier, the first FWD of this segment for GM. "Shake, Rattle, & Roll" best described this car when it first came out. They ruined any chance for this car by spending money on badge engineering instead of refinement of the model. Why pay a Cadillac price for a Chevy Cavalier? Even Buick and Oldsmobile had a model. They could have kept it down to Chevy/Pontiac and invest in refinement of the model, but of course they didn't. Then came the Cobalt. Better engine, performance, and OK fuel economy with less shake, rattle, and roll. Bland exterior and cheap interior compared to it's competition.
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