New-look Chevrolet Cruze gets tech savvy
The Chevrolet Cruze has become somewhat of a popular car on South African roads in recent years. I only got to drive one for a brief amount of time about a year ago. I remember it as a pleasant, no-fuss, easy-to-live-with car.
Chevrolet has given the Cruze a new suit and invited me to Cape Town for the day to give it a go.
What has changed on the outside?
Well, the exterior changes may be subtle, however, they do make a substantial difference. Changes have been made to the prominent dual-port front fascia as well as the addition of LED daytime running lights. They not only complement the Cruze’s swept-back headlamps for a sportier presence, but also bring the look of the Cruze more in line with the rest of the Chevy family. At the rear things have been changed as well, as new lights which look a lot like that of a Camaros have been added. There is also a sunroof which can be added as an option. This completes the overall look.
What’s changed on the inside?
Apart from the relocation of a few controls, not much really. The relocation of the door lock switch has been moved from the centre console to the front driver’s door for convenience. The boot-lid release switch has been relocated to the centre console. The designers have also refined the cup holders to make it easier to insert and remove cups. Leather seats are optional. Now before you stop reading because of boredom, just hang in there, you see, Chevrolet might not have changed the interior much but that’s because it spent all its time and effort on the technology that can be found in the Cruze.
More about the technological updates
These tech updates actually highlight the interior enhancements. Chevrolet has incorporated a seven-inch diagonal colour touch screen as standard, which has an interface that, according to Chevrolet resembles that of an iPad. Additional USB ports for your infotainment needs have also been added. The MyLink system offers enhanced voice recognition as well as Siri Eyes Free which allows iPhone users to interact with the system via voice commands. There is also a GM application which you can download which helps you get connected. The MyLink system offers the usual Bluetooth connectivity functions as well as a CD player.
What about safety?
The refreshed Cruze offers more standard safety features than any other car in its class, including the 2014 models of the Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla. The Cruze has 10 standard air bags – including side-impact and knee air bags for front passengers – and offers rear-park distance control as an option. ABS, EBD (electronic brake force distribution) and traction control are all added as standard safety features.
Final thought
The Cruze is the corner stone of Chevy’s small car line-up and is available in both hatch and sedan variants. There are two different engine choices, a 1,4-litre turbocharge unit which produces 103kW and 200Nm of torque. The 1.4 is available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission whereas the 1.6-litre with its 86kW and 155Nm only gets a five-speed manual. I think that the Cruze will continue to be a hot seller in the range, these enhancements made, both visually and technologically have just made a good car even better.
