First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Over a year ago, we sampled a Korean-built, Euro-spec Cruze and declared it the car that must save GM. Since then we’ve been bombarded with rhetoric about how THIS global compact will be different, conceived from the start as a world-beater that will sell in the U.S. as an aspirational compact (oxymoron alert!). We’ve been assured the proof of the pudding would be in the tasting, and today the chefs have called us into the kitchen to lick some beaters as the chefs add the final pinches of tuning calibration and dashes of refinement before the Cruze comes out of the oven this September.
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Agent63 - 4/19/2010 12:07:16 PM

+4 Boost

The car itself doesn't look half bad. However it looks like that center console started from the CTS/Malibu and trickled down to all the other brands. It doesn't look bad but it's not all that different from it's more expensive siblings. But GM cars have come a long ways.

upwards - 4/19/2010 1:47:10 PM

+3 Boost

Keep an eye on the domestic brands it seems that a return to dominance in the value market is underway with cars like this coming from GM and Ford. Along with Toyota slipping .

uaw_lax - 4/19/2010 4:34:39 PM

+1 Boost

Not to sure about Chrysler but I wish them the best.

NSXR - 4/19/2010 2:29:11 PM

+1 Boost

Agree... With good looks, engine choices and handling, this will be a global market hit.

Whelan - 4/20/2010 10:00:14 AM

+1 Boost

What concerns me is that this car has been around for a little while in other markets. It is coming here as a NEW model. However comparison wise it is competitive currently with the aging 2006 design Civic and the recent redesign of the Corrolla/Matrix. So I would think that with the upcoming Civic redesign, the new Ford Focus and new Mazda 3 in a year would help to dampen this cars efforts in sales.

Competing with current models is just not enough, you need to exceed them.

LauderdaleDriver - 4/23/2010 11:48:28 AM

+1 Boost

Currently in Israel, I think I saw what must be the European version of the Cruze in Tel Aviv today. It is quite a nice looking car, actually.

Did not get close enough to see any badging other than a bow-tie on the front as it passed my bus.