CRUZE Shortlist Car of The Year !!!!!!!

csv8 · 05-09-2009, 09:20 AM

I'VE come over all poetic about a test car. No, it's not a $500,000 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder from Bologna nor a Maserati Gran Turismo, with its Ferrari-built 302kW V8 engine.

Strangely enough, it's the $20,000-odd Holden Cruze sourced from GM Daewoo in Korea.

Here I am packing a tonne of groceries from the Rocklea markets into the huge flat-floored boot thinking how cavernous and welcoming the space is.

And there I am tootling around the back streets of my suburb pondering how the essence of good motoring is about how the vehicle makes you feel connected to its mechanical being.

"For god's sake, it's just a shopping trolley car. Wake up to yourself!" I cry.

But somehow this little car with the unfortunate name and its confusing heritage as a small crossover vehicle is starting to get me thinking about Carsguide Car of the Year shortlists.

I recently drove both petrol and diesel models with five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions.

It wasn't the engines nor the transmissions that made me come over all poetic, though.

This is one of those cars where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

I actually wasn't all that fussed with the engines and transmissions.

The 1.8-litre petrol engine feels anaemic, the diesel is asthmatic at first then gasps huge gulps of air, while the five-speed transmission is a little clunky with badly matched ratios in the diesel and the six-speed auto is too slow and ponderous.

Yet, with some encouragement, these engines and transmissions can propel the small car quite capably.

In fact, the car is so nicely set up I'm sure it could take a lot more engine.

And here is where the essence of good motoring comes in. The whole time you feel connected to the road with all the inertia and physical feedback sitting just right in your inner ear.

It does just what you want and expect it to do, encouraging rather than discouraging positive driving.

All the while it behaves itself with quiet and refined manners.

Outside, this Korean-made car doesn't look remarkable.

But then it's not as boring as some of the German sedans on the market, either.

The stylists have restrained themselves, adding minimal touches of chrome here and there.

Inside, there is an unexpected amount of quality soft-touch plastics and cloth in the trim and upholstery.

The cockpit is a pleasant place to be with full seat and steering adjustability to get the right fit for any size driver.

All controls and instruments fall neatly to hand and are so easy to operate you won't need to consult the owner's manual.

The dashboard and console surfaces also look neat and easy to keep clean.

But the interior isn't boring, either. The steering wheel is small and sport, the instruments have a beautiful blue illumination you would expect in a luxury European car and the three-pod instrument binnacle is reminiscent of a superbike.

My only complaint was that my elbow kept hitting the high and non-adjustable centre console armrest when operating the manual gearshift.

While the driver and front passenger get themselves positioned, the rear passengers don't take a back seat in the accommodation stakes.

There is plenty of room for three adults back there with good room all round.

This car ticks a lot of boxes when you add such practicalilties as a maximum five-star crash rating, standard electronic stability control and six airbags, a full-size spare wheel in the petrol model and sockets for your iPod.

Cruze is the sort of car that reminds us what a good car can do for you; it can put a smile on your face without putting a hole in your wallet.

No wonder it has shot to the eight best-selling car in Australia in its first full month of sales in July.

What does FORD have to do to get FOCUS mainstream attention ??????
Is the Aussie motoring buying public soo stupid ?????

Mr Hardware · 05-09-2009, 09:30 AM

nice writeup!

**PepeLePew** · 05-09-2009, 09:35 AM

The automotive world has truly changed and enthusiasts might as well pack their bags

Rob · 05-09-2009, 09:52 AM

Wait..I smell........

Paul Gover?

csv8 · 05-09-2009, 10:05 AM

No..

By Mark Hinchliffe

September 05, 2009 12:00am

R-Design · 05-09-2009, 10:08 AM

Close. It's like Mabo, it's the 'vibe' of the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarsGuide

Mark Hinchliffe road tests and reviews the Holden Cruze, and finds it ticks a lot of boxes.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new..._cruze_review/

NudgE^SIKBRO · 05-09-2009, 10:32 AM

Ive been meaning to go out and take one of these little rockets for a test drive, I dont beleve many cars deserve the tag of 'cute' but the little Cruze sure is one, it doesnt appear to suffer from any form of down syndrome like many of the other small cars on the market, doesnt look as cheap as a corolla or (dare i say it) focus. My full opinion will be reserved till such time as a drive one, but from the outside, i must put my hands together for GM/Daewoo/Chevrolet/Holden.

uranium_death · 05-09-2009, 11:47 AM

I think the Cruze looks like crap...
BUT Holden have made a big deal about their Korean package, and marketed brilliantly.
IN their advertising, they lied, saying, 'we've taken all we've learned from creating Australia's 'favourite' car and created the all new Holden Cruze.' People will swallow it though...

Yep...they stuck a badge on it, and learned that a Holden badge alone will sell.
Kalos for breakfast, anybody?

I am sure it is an okay car though...

ea90gl · 05-09-2009, 02:49 PM

Ive been in a million cars that makes you feel connected to the road, its called having a chassis, suspension and a steering wheel....

Swordsman88 · 05-09-2009, 03:12 PM

There is nothing wrong with the cruze...hell i'm sure it is much better than a corolla sedan/camry anyday. But at the same time, there is nothing wrong with a focus either. Whether by accident or deliberate holden requirement the cruze has not gone up against a full range of true competitors in very many reviews. Most reviews have been launch drives. Most reviewers have been suitable impressed by its capabilities given the usual GM korean fair. BUT....this is to be expected. Holden has pointed out for years (and this is the first car that really delivers....perhaps save the Captiva) that the next gen of its korean cars was coming. A car that is truly global in setup...based on GM platforms not old Daewoo stuff.

Given this it is hardly surprising the cruze is much more competitive. But aside from good value (and its not alone there...) its hardly a groundbreaking car. It is not at present, nor will it ever likley be in the class of athe mazda 3 or golf. Or focus. Yes its interior is more modern and its styling (though not my taste) is not bad...its a newer car after all. THe reviewers main point is that a good cars don't have to be expensive (which i agree with) and that often a car can come together and be more than the sum of its parts.

For me, cars like the Focus do just that. I drove a 2.0 petrol base focus a few years back and then a diesel focus when they launched it. What shocked me was that while the diesel had surprising grunt the car still drove and responded beautifully. Ergonomics were more than adequate and yet the car was just as at home on a suburban traffic riddled test drive as it was punting up a windy mountain road. I highly doubt, based on paper spec alone and the few comparison i have seen, that a cruze would do as well as a focus in this application. Also its worth noting that we are within 18 months or so of a the all new focus in europe being launched and i don't doubt it will be a step forward again. Complete with next gen ecoboost engines (1.6 size), DSG more widely available, and ergonomic/style improvements. And it iwll be a ripper to drive like all modern Fords. Afterall, it will be designed from the start to beat the Astra...and that is basically a holden cruze without the torsion beam suspension and other cost cutting.

Recent reviews of the 'facelifted' Territory have all had one theme....damn this car is not only still great...its still very very competitive. The tezza is a car that is truly more than the sum of its (jacked up falcon) parts. And its holding on very well because of it. I think Holden will do well with the cruze, probably increase their sales overall compared to viva/astra combo before it. Would i buy one over a corolla....probably. Would i buy one over a Focus.....ah...NEVER!!!

buickman · 05-09-2009, 03:14 PM

[QUOTE=csv8]
What does FORD have to do to get FOCUS mainstream attention ??????
QUOTE]

The only thing I can think of why the Focus does not sell as well as others in its market is it's rare end with the lights on the hatch looking unusual in appearance as it ticks all the right boxes in it's class maybe a 5 year warranty offered like Lancer might increase it's sales .

Has the Focus ever got into the top 10 on sales since being introduced after the laser.

burnz · 05-09-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

I think the Cruze looks like crap...
BUT Holden have made a big deal about their Korean package, and marketed brilliantly.
IN their advertising, they lied, saying, 'we've taken all we've learned from creating Australia's 'favourite' car and created the all new Holden Cruze.' People will swallow it though...

Yep...they stuck a badge on it, and learned that a Holden badge alone will sell.
Kalos for breakfast, anybody?

I am sure it is an okay car though...

but their made at elizabeth S.A. (the first lot were imports)
and the engine come from the foundry in victoria. (family 4)

Bucknaked · 05-09-2009, 03:27 PM

Why is hard for Ford people to accept that a holden or any other brand can win car of the year? To me, a title is only worthy if I was looking to buy that specific car. If the focus had won, would you have actually gone out and bought a focus? Or do you let a magazine dictate to you what you buy and don't. I like to test drive my car, form my own opinion before making a purchase. And should a holden should win an award, then good luck to them.

So apart from bruising your ego, what does car of the year actually mean to you for a car that you would never consider in the first place. Let the Journo's hand out their pointless awards. They arn't worth the paper they are printed on.

vztrt · 05-09-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Why is hard for Ford people to accept that a holden or any other brand can win car of the year? To me, a title is only worthy if I was looking to buy that specific car. If the focus had won, would you have actually gone out and bought a focus? Or do you let a magazine dictate to you what you buy and don't. I like to test drive my car, form my own opinion before making a purchase. And should a holden should win an award, then good luck to them.

So apart from bruising your ego, what does car of the year actually mean to you for a car that you would never consider in the first place. Let the Journo's hand out their pointless awards. They arn't worth the paper they are printed on.

Focus did win its class when released.

The G6ET Spot · 05-09-2009, 03:57 PM

Surprise, Surprise!!!!! Yet another thread about a holden. It seems as though lately that is all that is on these forums.

It's about time you all got over it and got back to what the forums are about Fords.

XR6_190 · 05-09-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

What does FORD have to do to get FOCUS mainstream attention ??????
Is the Aussie motoring buying public soo stupid ?????

YES, THE AUSTRALIAN MOTORING PUBLIC ARE TOO STUPID!! Why else would the Toyota Corolla be the number one selling car in the country? Why else would the Commodore still be outselling Falcon, even though the Falcon has better safety, better economy, better interior? simply put, the Aussie motoring public are largely stupid, and will usually buy what ever has a holden badge on it, why else is the Holden Barina, so much more popular than the Daewoo Kalos?

vztrt · 05-09-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_190

YES, THE AUSTRALIAN MOTORING PUBLIC ARE TOO STUPID!! Why else would the Toyota Corolla be the number one selling car in the country? Why else would the Commodore still be outselling Falcon, even though the Falcon has better safety, better economy, better interior?

Fleets would be the answer.

You want Australian public then it would be Mazda that's Australia's favourite car.

You want the Focus to push more units (who cares really when its not going to be built here) then the Ford brand needs to be made more cool and trendy to sell to the main demographic.

prydey · 05-09-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnz

but their made at elizabeth S.A. (the first lot were imports)

not yet they're not...

also, i'll never buy anything that comes from lizbeff

and they'll never be australian

daewoo lacetti
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?i...a%3DX%26um%3D1

uranium_death · 05-09-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnz

but their made at elizabeth S.A. (the first lot were imports)
and the engine come from the foundry in victoria. (family 4)

Yeah, but they were not designed here.
All they do it put the pieces together.
If I buy a Chinese jigsaw and put it together in Australia, the jigsaw was still designed China, regardless of where I buy it from. That's a crap analogy...but meh...

vztrt · 05-09-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnz

but their made at elizabeth S.A. (the first lot were imports)

Not yet, still Daewoo's, but good to see Holden's PR machine does its job.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ghlight=holden

cwhitnal · 05-09-2009, 06:35 PM

nice initial write up

GTpilot · 05-09-2009, 06:54 PM

Guy at work has a cruze. He got it a month ago.
He's been driving a commodore for the last two weeks.
The heater caught fire.

**PepeLePew** · 05-09-2009, 07:19 PM

Personally, I accept a Holden could be car of the year, dont care.

But IMHO, if the Cruze is good enough to make the cut, I clearly am of a different generation with different values than todays.

**Dave R** · 05-09-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Yeah, but they were not designed here.
All they do it put the pieces together.
If I buy a Chinese jigsaw and put it together in Australia, the jigsaw was still designed China, regardless of where I buy it from. That's a crap analogy...but meh...

I believe the Cruze was a global effort this time around. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading GM's claim that 4 BILLION went into it. That's 30+ years worth of Commodore development budget in a small car.

Nikked · 05-09-2009, 09:19 PM

My View on its sales in the Vfacts thread.

Quote:

Holden Cruze: Proof that a lion badge could sell Feces to a treatment works.

burnz · 05-09-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

I believe the Cruze was a global effort this time around. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading GM's claim that 4 BILLION went into it. That's 30+ years worth of Commodore development budget in a small car.

it was penned in the usa and the rest was a global effort.
first run was chevrolet cruze.

LeadFoot81 · 05-09-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

I believe the Cruze was a global effort this time around. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading GM's claim that 4 BILLION went into it. That's 30+ years worth of Commodore development budget in a small car.

Not much car for 4 billion!

Windsor220 · 05-09-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

Not much car for 4 billion!

I was thinking that. Considering the VE was a little over 1 mil. The Cruze is rated as only average amongst the cars in its class. Bit of a poor effort really.

sgt_doofey · 05-09-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgb

Guy at work has a cruze. He got it a month ago.
He's been driving a commodore for the last two weeks.
The heater caught fire.

Can't say it wasn't working. Just working too well ;)

XR6_190 · 05-09-2009, 10:58 PM

LOL, 4 billion for the Cruze, What a joke, Mercedes Benz only spent 2 billion on the last model E class, and that's actually worth it, but 4 billion on Cruze?

By the way, Cruze is not built in S.A., and it was not designed here. Elizabeth start production next year. As for Family 2 engine being built in Melbourne, that stopped earlier this year (or late last year), putting 500 people out of work.