Chevrolet Cruze

TheGunner, I've heard of this from the mouth of the devil himself ( some call him the chevy salesman who offered me the test ride session).


Thanks Jayraptor, i understand the difference between CKD and CBU from the angle you're on , i'm just damn interested to find out if anyone here's available to comment on the difference in terms of price point of view.

cheers

Badges too.

Hi everybody,
I have took delivery of my Cruze.
As I have mentioned that the Cruze is a heavy car & the FC cannot compare to H or T brand which have much lighter body.
I have noted from the manual that the Cruze with full accessories is actual weighs close to 1.4 ton.
I have recorded the FC for reference.
Odometer Reading / Litre added
36km / 59 lit (pumped when took delivery)
452km / 45.94 lit = 9.839 km/L (90% City)
844km / 44.87 lit = 8.736 km/L (90% City)
1027km / 21.62 lit = 8.464 km/L (100% City)
1531 km / 49.19 lit = 10.246 km/L (30 Hi-Way/70% City)

The ride & NVH are superb compare to my previous M/Lanxx & T/Alxx.
I was standing beside my car & not realised that the car engine is still running but no air-cond on.
The Cruze is meant for drivers to have easy riding with safety at heart.
If step on throttler, the car can actually sprint.
Some said the Cruze roars loudly during accelerate, but which car does not?

I have compared K/Forte, N/Slyphy, H/Civic & F/Focus Sedan.
But I still choose Cruze being.....
K/Forte - Executive outlook is more for youngster. Interior not my taste.
N/Slyphy - Braking system is too weak for lts size/power-for me. CKD. Car front grille look too Japs.
H/Civic - All friends asked me not to buy. Hi-tech car but maintenance is 5K/service?? Wonder Y.
F/Focus - nice car, good safety rating compare to Japs but old tech/interior. Model changing so, I guessed.
All the comments are of my own opinion. bear in mind that all car models have pros & cons. All depending on your criterion.
Have a good day.

Hi chevy9231,

Thanks for the FC reading. What is your usual engine speed? Do you usually rev higher than 2500 or 3000rpm? If its engine is tuned high enough, you don't have to rev it higher than 2500rpm to get to 90km/h in normal city driving. The Cruze actually has highest build quality (exterior parts) in its class. You can tell its solid. Post few more FC readings if you are not driving below 2500rpm (below 3000rpm when overtaking only).

My comparison:
K/Forte - Value for money, good in overall, handling is behind Cruze a little.
N/Slyphy - B-segment limo with cheap build quality and parts, handling failed and can't sit 3 adults behind.
H/Civic - Maintenance is 5K/service due to low durability, early wear & tear. legroom & headroom poor.
F/Focus - waiting for the new 2011 Focus with dual VVT. The diesel powered is superb but not available in sedan

Hi Gunner,

Thanks for reminding, forgot about the badges coz they can be easily replaced with original KIA badges again.

Lots of people like to comment that Cruze tail lamp copied from Civic.
Even car mag editor made the similar comment. However, I dun really agreed to it.
I have attached a photo here & it shows that Cruze tail lamp design sits between
BMW-7 & Civic.

Guess some1 have to do more research to comment on any issue not just thru 'NATO'.
My1CentComment

Hi jayraptor,
I dun really look at the rpm reading unless on hiway.
But I will try to be light footed.
If I am right..the rpm reading on hiway 90kmh @ 1500rpm & 110kmh @ 2000rpm.

Hi chevy9231,

"Lots of people like to comment that Cruze tail lamp copied from Civic. "
Their mindset only have Civic in their heads. Current BMW 7-series was designed and came out long after Cruze prototype was introduced to public. I can say the current BMW 7series rear lights resembles Cruze's rear which is quite Korean design.

So are they going to say BMW copies Chevy? If yes, that is something to be proud of for Chevy. When looked deep into Cruze's rear lights, it has high built quality with sparkling reflective reds and whites compared to Civic's that look like made in Taiwan ugly rear lights alternatives on sale at Brothers' Emporium for Iswara owners.

Since the Cruze's engine could reach 176nm at just 3800rpm, that means with 2000rpm, you could get to 90 or 100kmh/h at ease. Try to drive it like at 2 litre car when I tested, it has lots of pulling power in it, more strength than Altis, Civic & Sylphy. Try to get new reading and post here, thanks.

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Now to share with every1 about Autocar magazine September 2010 issue, (this month still available on shelves).

Just read about its review on Cruze vs Altis vs Sylphy. Seems to have much bias and 1 sided, seems to be bringing up Sylphy instead without proper test results.
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Fuel Consumption >> The author did not even conduct fuel consumption test by driving till out of fuel in city yet dare to claimed that Sylphy has best FC.
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Output & Torque >> He said Cruze's 140hp brisk but its 176nm torque is no match against Sylphy's 191nm. He must be retarded and blind as the Sylphy is 2.0L and the Cruze 1.8L could get 176nm@3800rpm is confirmed superior. Latio 1.8 could only churns out 174nm@4800rpm. So if Sylphy is fitted with 1.8L at 174nm, what is he going to say? Not far behind from Cruze?
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Interior space: Cruze has smaller interior space than Sylphy that comes with very spacious legroom. How about his head and width? Never tried with 3 adults behind? No wonder he didn't feel the cramp. Well I did tried with 3 full size adults and I can say interior width, legroom and headroom very good in the Cruze except that the design shape that has sloped sideways C-pillar is close to my head.
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Seats : He said Sylphy's seats most comfortable but never really checked the thigh support, sitting postion, footrest, etc. Cruze's seats are biggest followed by Altis. He's giving Cruze low point because its fabric. Wow, it's like he can't replace with DK nappa's leather or something? Cruze & Altis rear seats are like mini sofa whereas Sylphy's rear seats like wrapped with sofa material dining chair. Sofa vs dining chair, which is more comfortable? Sure sofa. Next time tell that journalist to buy dining chairs and throw his sofas away.
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Dashboard : He said Cruze is most exciting, etc, Altis looks bad with fake wood trim while Sylphy's plain but has LCD very high tech. But Cruze has built in monitor to check status, is he missing that? Wow, can't buy LCD outside is it? I can get folding LCD that could hide well when not in use.
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Handling : The picture, could see the Cruze took corner fast while Altis is not bad neither but when comes to Sylphy, the picture looks still by looking at journalist's face impression. How come he didn't write bad things about Sylphy's terrible bodyroll and bad handling? Whereas for Cruze, little thing that he finds it cons will write as worst as possible. Please note that they always try not to snap Sylphy photos from direct front, even the bodyroll picture, it is more from sideways whereas the 2 are almost direct from front to show bodyroll.

>>> So, the rest of you can go check out the Autocar mag but don't waste money buying it. At 7-eleven and MPH, you can quickly flip to that page and read then go off. No problem. Besides the Cruze, there is 1 section that the author tries to say bad things about the new Kia Sportage but praised plain empty new X-Trail. Best time to catch them red handed this time.

To be honest, my first glance of the Cruze's taillights instantly reminded me of the Civic. Perhaps the four-circle design being the dominant factor had something to do with it. I certainly did not see the 7 Series resemblance until you guys pointed it out.

Having said that, however, I believe car manufacturers these days borrow so many cues from each other, it's difficult to ascertain who copies who already. For example, the current generation Accord features an unmistakable re-interpretation of the Hoffmeister kink.

I am rushing off now, but I'll present my two cents on the rest of your opinions later. Good day!

I don't even know why you bother reading the thrash on the news stands. I gave up a long time ago but did glance through the same review yesterday while waiting for someone.

A comparison that does not take into account the retail prices of the cars in the comparison, is not worth commenting on. Any car buyer worth his salt would immediately take prices into consideration. If he/she doesn't, then obviously money is not an issue to them and therefore, comparisons are also not what they would read.

People who read comparisons do care about pricing.

I have not driven that particular version of the Altis, but I have driven the Cruze and the Sylphy. I won't comment on the integrity of the folks at Autocar, but some of his findings tally with my experiences, even if I don't agree with all of them.



The common consensus amongst the motoring media is that the Sylphy is pretty good at fuel consumption. I won't put my mortgage on it, but my personal experience also agrees to that. Whether it's genuinely better than the 1.8-litre Corolla and Cruze, I have yet to examine that for myself, though I won't be surprised if the Sylphy matches of not betters both these cars.



Many of our colleagues in other publications (not just Autocar) have told me that they find the Cruze underpowered, but I personally find it satisfactory. During our media drive from KT to KL, I was able to keep pace with a Honda Accord 2.4 without too much problems.

Disregarding the 1.8 vs 2.0 comparison, the Sylphy is, in actual fact, a deceptively fast car. On an open road, it builds up speed gradually, quietly, and also relentlessly. If you don't keep your right foot in check, it is ridiculously easy to hit 160-170kph with the Sylphy.



Rear passenger space is indeed something that the Sylphy excels at. Its rear leg & head room stands up for comparison with even D-segment sedans. However, I do see where you are coming from in terms of shoulder room, because I believe (without referring figures) that the Cruze's cabin is wider than the Sylphy's.



While I won't say which is the MOST comfortable, the Sylphy's seats rank pretty high in my books as well in terms of overall comfort provided. The Cruze was not too bad either, I drove it from KT to KL all the way without feeling tired.



The Sylphy actually handles better than many of us would give it credit for, but where it lacks is feedback. There isn't that feeling of interaction between the driver and the car. I personally place the Cruze ahead of the Sylphy in terms of handling and driver interaction, though the Sylphy has better overall refinement and comfort.

Here are my reviews of the Cruze and Sylphy:
- Chevrolet Cruze - GM's award-winning 'Global Car' put to the test
- Nissan Sylphy: To Tune or not to Tune?

Congrats...