Review of the new Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 VCDI

The Cruze is at its best with a diesel engine and remains good value despite the price premium needed over the petrol models. Handling is competent, though less composed than in more mainstream family cars, while the design and build aren't obviously low rent. Strong economy in both models and decent performance from the 148bhp car also count in its favour but Chevrolet limits the appeal of the Cruze by only offering a four-door bodystyle.

In the era of compact crossover 4x4s, supermini MPVs and executive hatchbacks, is there still a place for the good old saloon car? The concept of a lidded boot tagging along behind your vehicle is clearly less popular than it once was, particularly in middle to lower areas of the market where even cars that do come with a four-door option tend to be offered as a hatch as well. Chevrolet is one brand that's keeping faith with the saloon and it's confident that fleet customers in particular will want to do likewise when they get wind of its Cruze 2.0 VCDi diesels.

It's tough at the bottom and, in car market terms, that's where the Chevrolet Cruze plies its trade. As a budget family saloon car, it's competing in a sector where there's a dwindling number of rivals but customers seem to be in similarly short supply. Tight margins have prompted other manufacturers to edge cars of the Curze's ilk upmarket and traditional customers have been tempted away by exciting new niche markets that have popped into being.

All this leaves the Cruze out on a limb in some respects but Chevrolet will counter that if you're after an affordable saloon car with room for the family, there aren't many other options. With the 2.0 VCDi diesel engines installed, the Cruze shapes up even better from a cost point of view and could well raise some eyebrows amongst company car users.

There are two petrol engines available with the Cruze and two diesels. The diesels are by far the most satisfactory options. Even the entry-level 123bhp 2.0 VCDi engine outclasses the often insipid petrol contingent with a plump torque curve giving good flexibility through the middle of the rev range. In raw figures, that engine generates 300Nm of torque from 2,000rpm compared to 176Nm available at 3,800rpm in the 1.8-litre petrol. Go for the more powerful 148bhp version of the 2.0 VCDi engine and there's 320Nm to call upon. The diesels aren't as smooth as the best 2.0-litre oil-burning engines in the compact car class but they're good engines for the prices Chevrolet is asking.

"The 2.0-litre VCDi engines are undoubtedly the ones to go for in your Chevrolet Cruze."

From a driver's perspective, the Cruise is competent. The ride can be jittery over bad surfaces but is generally composed and, appropriately enough, the Cruze is a comfortable cruiser. It also handles much better than we've come to expect from a budget saloon car, resisting roll admirably and showing a nice neutral balance through corners. The steering in the diesel cars, which have the extra weight of a larger engine over their front wheels, is slightly less sharp but this ensures they aren't as jumpy at motorway speeds. The 123bhp engine can reach 122mph after covering the 0-60mph sprint in 10.3 s but the 148bhp engine is usefully brisker with a 8.7s 0-60mph performance and 130mph as its maximum.

The Cruze doesn't give its low pricing game away with half-hearted design. It's a handsome-looking thing from most angles with the sharp creases around the bonnet and the lower body mixing well with the long curve of the roofline. The short overhangs front and rear produce a well planted stance on the road and the front end is distinctive - large headlights and a tall grille complete with a big yellow Chevrolet bow tie. Interior space is pretty good for four occupants. Only headroom might become an issue for taller people in the rear seat. The boot can accommodate 450-litres, which is good for the class.

The build quality inside the Cruze is considerably better than expected given some of Chevrolet's past efforts. The controls are clearly laid out with big buttons and an interface that doesn't require much getting used to. The chunky steering wheel is another highlight and there are big door pockets along with a large box in the centre console to help keep the place tidy. Compared to mainstream compact saloons, a lot of the plastics are sub-standard and the mix of gloss black and metallic finishes on the higher spec cars is a bit gaudy. The entry-level S trim level does without the worst of these stylistic excesses and although the centre console buttons are finished in a lower grade material, its simpler approach might just be preferable.

The 123bhp 2.0 VCDi engine is available in S and LS trims, with the range-topping 148bhp version reserved for the LT trim level. The entry-level S car come with remote central locking, electric front windows, a CD stereo, and headlights that stay on for a few seconds after locking the car to guide you to your door. The LS model is expected to be the strongest seller and adds air-conditioning to this tally along with 16" alloy wheels and a chrome radiator grille. At the top of the range, LT customers get 17" alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, electric rear windows and an upgraded stereo.

The available models predominantly fit into a £14,000 to £16,000 price bracket with the 123bhp versions in particular looking conspicuously good value. You certainly couldn't get a 2.0-litre diesel engine in a Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia or even a Mitsubishi Lancer for that kind of money and even the 148bhp engine appears keenly priced when you factor in its performance. The fly in the ointment is that the vast majority of the cars the Cruze would count as rivals are hatchbacks or available as both four-door saloon and 5-door hatch. In the UK, the market for booted cars without a premium badge has dwindled and the lack of a five-door bodystyle is a major handicap for this Chevrolet.

Running costs for the diesel Cruze models should stand comparison with the compact family car mainstream with the only slight question mark relating to how residual values hold up over time. The 123bhp car returns 51.4mpg on the combined cycle with the 148bhp option only a single mile per gallon behind. Emissions of 145g/km for the less powerful car are also right up there. Both cars have 12,000-mile service intervals and a 3-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Chevrolet can offer a very affordable route into a frugal family sized saloon car with its Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 VCDi diesel models. The upfront prices look favourable and lead you to expect that significant corners may have been cut somewhere along the line but the Cruze reveals few serious downsides. You have to make allowances for its position at the budget end of the market but the car is well designed and a competent performer. The saloon bodystyle is hardly the height of fashion these days but it appears there's life in the old boot yet.

The 2.0-litre VCDi engines are undoubtedly the ones to go for in your Chevrolet Cruze. The premium over the petrol models is significant but you're getting a far more capable vehicle that will pay back some of your outlay with its low running costs. The fleet managers and company car users which the Cruze is likely to rely on for the bulk of its sales will certainly concur.

TOP 5 CRUZE DEALS

The results below show the top CRUZE deals on buyacar

Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 VCDi LTZ 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £16,181 Read Cruze Reviews	Save £1,609
Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 VCDi 163 LTZ 4dr Diesel Saloon
Price £16,549 Read Cruze Reviews	Save £1,641
Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LTZ 5dr Auto Hatchback
Price £15,288 Read Cruze Reviews	Save £1,792
Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 VCDi LT 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £15,629 Read Cruze Reviews	Save £1,561
Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LTZ 5dr Hatchback
Price £14,365 Read Cruze Reviews	Save £1,720
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