Road Test: Holden Cruze CD Diesel

Review by Peter Maniatis - 10/November/2009

I was anticipating this drive for some time.  What will the new kid on the block offer local punters keenly focused on price and the environment? The Cruze Diesel has the makings of surprising the market with all that and provides quality too.

First impressions sitting in the car was that it was quite basic in respect to the interior. But once I got myself comfortable, and drove around town a little, I got a real sense that this Korean built Cruze has what it takes to deliver the local market a value for money, economical, low cost and even environmentally friendly car that actually looks pretty damn good too.

Even though the new Cruze is built in Korea, improved build quality seen in recent models sourced from the Gunsan manufacturing facility by Holden are present in the new Cruze. Plus Holden plans to build the Cruze in Australia at Holden's South Australian Elizabeth plant late in 2010, which will be a positive to their local economy.

Drive: 4.5/5

I like a zippy car and have fallen in love with the low-end torque offered by the Holden Cruze CD Diesel.

The Cruze CD felt great while driving it around town. The best part was that the fuel gauge nearly stuck on full. This is a great feeling, especially with city driving. 

Have I mentioned that I think this is great value for money?

It was really a fresh relief to see the fuel gauge hardly move, even more so with the latest fuel prices. I even thought there was a problem with the gauge – but no, the car was just very fuel-efficient.

In terms of drivability, the Cruze offered great stability and felt soild on the road. The suspension was firm, but still comfortable enough for day-to-day driving. Cornering felt responsive through the steering wheel, and the seats felt firm, yet comfortable.

Engine: 4.5/5

The 2.0-litre turbo diesel had great torque down low and still had plenty of pull through the upper revs. From the moment you release the clutch on the manual Cruze, you feel the effortless acceleration delivered by the engine from such low revs. It's the sort of feel only considerably bigger petrol engines can produce with their higher torque.

The "Common Rail Direct Injection" diesel engine works well. There are two advantages of the modern system, reduced vibration/noise and no warm up. 

It also produces less pollution helping it to pass stringent emmission standards. It's new technology, because the computers used to control the injectors, have only become fast and cheap enough in the last 10 years to allow multiple injections for each firing.

Exterior: 3.5/5

I found the Cruze’s looks deceiving. Here you have a car that is priced in the low 20’s, but looks at lot like some of the higher end European cars.

The exterior of the car is well suited for those mindful of looking good, but who are on a budget. 

The Holden Cruze has a low slung roof, colour matched side mirrors and door handles. This all add to the overall sleekness of the vehicle. Its large headlights and big chrome grille add a touch of class to the small sedan.

Interior: 4/5

Very nice styling and design both internally and externally. You feel as though you are sitting in a sports car, especially from the drivers seat. 

The Cruze features a small and sporty steering wheel, and the controls and instuments are pieced nicely together. Holden designers have done a great job in keeping the dash uncomplicated and neat.

The Blue illumination of the dash is a nice touch – I was getting a little tired of the usual green found in most other Holden’s. The blue instrument lighting is a little reminiscent of the Volkswagen range but more subtly done, I must say. The Blue light is also easy on the eyes, especially when driving at night.

One thing that did suprise me was the use of quality soft-touch plastics and cloth in the trim and upholstery, again styling is very european and pleasent on the eyes.

Overall: 4/5

Holden have done a fabulous job at being able to deliver a car of this quality and style for such a competitive price. The Holden Cruze has a lot to offer with a maximum five-star crash rating, electronic stability control and six airbags as standard. It sure is a tough competitor.