|THE DEN|
The Chevrolet Cruze may not have been everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy driving, this was likely to be the ideal vehicle for you. The Cruze was the best-driving sedan in its segment, and even when compared to cars in higher segments, the Cruze always came out on top. No wonder this is a car we miss out on the Indian roads.
The Cruze was a stylish vehicle, a welcome change from the American conglomerate's usual bland saloons. The Cruze had astrong presence on our streets, with sharp headlamps, a twin- port grille, and a crease over the Chevy badge on the hood. To put it another way, the front end is a love-it-or-hate-it design. The side profile is more coupe-like than huge saloon-like.
The Cruze also stood out for its build quality, exterior fit and finish, and paint job. This was an automobile that felt like it was made to last. The paint job was great, and there were no unsightly panel gaps. The attention to detail was excellent, and the body exuded quality. It had a low ground clearance of 165mm, which makes it easier to scrape on rough roads.
When it came to the interiors, everything was meticulously designed. Large bottles could be stored in the door pockets, and there were numerous little cubbyholes. The driver also got a sunglass holder, although it's on the side, right above their head, which was a concern. There were also all the features you'd expect from a car at this price point, such as keyless entry and go, six airbags, and an almost-ahead-of-its-time infotainment system.
At the time of launch, GM India only provided the 2.0 common- rail direct injection diesel derived from the Captiva. This diesel engine produced 148 horsepower and 327 Nm of torque at 2600 rpms. The Cruze was better suited to highway driving than congested city traffic. Its urban drivability was hampered by the turbo-lag.
On the open road, the car went from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds, and that was with the air conditioning on full blast. The Cruze refuses to let go even after hitting the tonne. In this beast, hitting 180 kph was a breeze. There are many reasons to miss this Chevrolet masterpiece, which makes it a car we'd like to see back on Indian roads with an update. However, given GM's exit from India, the chances of that happening are slim to none.