Chevrolet has outdone itself with its Cruze 2.0 diesel, which competes in the highly competitive C-segment sedan. But this car’s funky front-end styling with its two-tier grille catches the attention of passers-by with its aggressive appeal - a lot more alluring than other sedans in the identical segment. At the same time the car affords excellent finishes and is solidly built, as well as offering some high level standard equipment in selected models.
Having said that, this car may be comfy to drive and has an exceptionally responsive clutch, but the significant turbo lag is a sure hindrance, especially in bumper-to-bumper traffic. And it’s only once you get used to it that you can enjoy the vehicle’s stonking performance as it supposedly boasts the most powerful diesel sedan in its class.
Coupled with its smooth road-handling ability, the car contentedly soaks up the worst of bumps on our heavily potholed-riddled roads. This, of course, means hardly any jolts are transferred to the cabin ensuring smooth sailing for the driver and passengers. Yet, with good front leg room, a tall passenger may be slightly disappointed with the rear seating because there is inadequate headroom and one’s hair, more often than not, brushes against the roof.
Overall the Cruze is a comprehensive package with all the essentials and more, as well as sizeable boot space. But beyond the decent fuel consumption, possibly the biggest grabber is its price, which is substantially lower than the competition at R261 100 for the diesel 2.0 LT.
