2013 Chevrolet Cruze Review

We had the opportunity to spend some time test driving the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback. We got our hands on the 1.8L model with 6 speed automatic transmission. We took it for a spin around the urban streets of Dubai. Here are our thoughts...

Driving Performance

The drive is smooth and sporty and the six speed transition feels natural. Now for those of you who aren't familiar with the car it's a solidly built little hatchback. It's not the fastest out there so if you do decide to go for one you could find yourself spending a lot of time in the right hand lane when driving on highways. In fact it could be considered more of an urban comfort cruise as it offers a smooth and comfortable drive when in the city. When it comes to fuel economy it's not the best in class. In the 6 speed automatic we got as high as 9L/ 100KM in some of our tests, a figure you'd expect more from a compact sedan than a hatchback, but with careful driving you could keep this to a more reasonable level. Overall the drive is fun and comfortable, reasonably good within it's segment. 

Interior 

The options that you can choose from are fairly diverse and the full option model has some fantastic features like a rear camera, park assist and MyLink entertainment system which allows you to make calls and manage entertainment options without taking your mind off the road. A useful safety feature as well as a nice touch in terms of entertainment. Chevrolet are calling it a new infotainment system thanks to the marriage of other useful features like GPS and Satnav, altogether making for a convenient package that's easy to use. Other interior features as well as the quality and comfort of the interior offered by the Chevrolet Cruze are up there with the best in this class. In terms of space it's not the best out there, it features a slightly compact 413L boot space although it is a reasonable size for a hatchback, somehow we were hoping for a little more. 

When it comes down to price the Chevrolet Cruze is pretty reasonable, the full option model with a 1.8L engine is 73,500 AED which is good considering all the extras it offers. However, there are cheaper options out there if you shop around like the Peugeot 208 or Nissan Micra which are also known to be more reliable. If you're doing a comparison though you will find that the Chevrolet is superior in terms of features and comfort and feels like a higher end vehicle. It also feels a lot more powerful than cheaper alternatives so depending on your priorities could actually be better value if you want more of a high end product in a smaller car. 

Verdict

Overall we would say that this smooth little hatchback is a good choice for singles, or even for small families that are looking for a tech-savvy car ideally suited to chiefly urban use. If you do a lot of highway driving or looking for performance oriented driving, this car would not really work for you.