New Car Test - Holden Cruze

20 June, 2002

The Holden Cruze is best described as fun and cheap!

By Julian Edgar

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Way back in the late Eighties/early Nineties there was a defining car in the small car market. It was call the Swift, and it was made by Suzuki. Despite its performance being nothing terribly special, and although its driving experience was only acceptable, young fashionable uns bought them in droves. They loved the fact that it was nimble, easy to park, was economical, had an engine that unburstably revved and revved - and most of all, they loved the fact that when they'd shelled out the money on their first new car, it wasn't just one of the sheep. It was a Swift!

Despite the gagging noises coming from the corners, in many ways the Holden Cruze is a Noughties version of the Swift. In a land where you can spend your money on a bland that's-a-good-choice-dear car like a Toyota or Hyundai, the Cruze stands out as a fashionable, cheap and well-equipped alternative. On a checklist of features and safety and potential resale and initial cost and on-road dynamics there may be better cars out there, but we think - and Holden are gambling on it - that there will be plenty who see in the Cruze the right mix of funk, fashion and fun.

And you want to know something? The Cruze is actually substantially engineered by Suzuki, it uses an engine producing the same power as that old Swift GTi, and it even has the four-wheel drive system that was available on the Swift sedan that was sold here in limited numbers! So maybe that comparison isn't so farfetched after all...

The Cruze is based on a four wheel drive version of the Suzuki Ignis with jacked-up suspension and a substantial exterior and interior makeover. With a 1.5-litre 75kW engine (up over 1.3-litre, 60kW engine in the Ignis) the Cruze also has more power than both of its obvious competitors - the Daihatsu Terios (63kW) and its brother Suzuki Jimny (59kW). However, in a way neither of these small four wheel drives are competitors: we're sure that many who look at the Cruze wouldn't dream of keeping company with the other - in styling terms at least - more truck-like four-wheel drives.

Holden did the Cruze restyle and suspension work. The latter included extensive revisions - increasing the track width front and back by 10mm, changing the wheels and tyres, modifying the steering linkages to alter bump-steer, recalibrating the electric power steering, and specifying unique springs, dampers and sway bars. But it's a pity that they couldn't also ask for - and receive - a new rear suspension. Featuring a very low-tech live rear axle (complete with drum brakes), on paper it lets down the whole system.

And on the road? Curiously, the archaic rear axle configuration isn't quite the downer you could first think. It can be felt thumping through over sharp bumps (with that characteristic high unsprung weight effect) but in smooth road driving the Cruze hangs on quite well, thanks very much. As is characteristic of the front-biased viscous-coupled four-wheel drive system, the car has initial turn-in understeer, going to neutral as power is applied and then reverting to mild power understeer on the corner exit. Translated: it might not be a wildly exciting way of driving around corners, but it's safe - much more secure, for example, than small four wheel drives that are rear-wheel drive until a second gear lever is pulled. Even in wet conditions, this isn't a car to bite you when you make a mistake. On bumpy roads the Cruze is still quite good, holding its line well and with a competent - albeit firm - ride, although really enthusiastic driving on rough roads will see the car hopping around a bit.

The engine is typically twin-cam Suzuki - if you like to sloth around in high gears at low revs, don't expect to get anywhere fast. But if you work the (unfortunately notchy and slightly clattery) five-speed gearshift of the manual cars, the engine seldom feels underpowered. Keep the revs between the peak torque rpm of 4500 and the redline of 6500 rpm and the Cruze is a fun machine. It also needs to be said that even at low revs, the engine remains tractable and unfussed - it's just not going to have you accelerating very strongly.

The four-speed automatic version is also quite respectable. The trans easily downshifts at part throttle, keeping the revs on the boil, while it's also prepared to hang onto gears as needed. While distinctly slower than the manual trans car, it's no slug.

The four cylinder engine has equal bore and stroke (ie, internally it is a 'square' design) and uses a moderately high 9.5:1 compression ratio. However, it drinks only 91 RON fuel - and not much of that, either! The AS2877 government test figures show the manual Cruze gets a stunning 5.2 litres/100 km on the highway cycle and 6.8 in the city. On test, our figure for the manual car was 8.5 litres/100 - but that was working the car very hard. The automatic trans worsens fuel consumption a little, with the government test showing 5.4 and 7.2.

Of course the Cruze isn't a paragon of on-road finesse - for $19,990 (manual) and a significantly more expensive $21,990 (auto) you could hardly expect it to be. At speed it can wander in crosswinds, the engine is relatively noisy (though curiously, at high speed it doesn't get much louder), and the manual gearbox can be baulky going into second. This 'box also whines in first.

And off-road? We ventured down a sloping muddy clay track and got back out without a problem. However, on another steep off-road climb the Cruze got stuck, one front wheel and a diagonally opposite back wheel spinning. But with a little run-up, again the barrier was overcome. For occasional slippery off-road conditions - eg along a beach or in snow - the Cruze is far better than a conventional two-wheel drive car.

But it's the interior package which really establishes the Cruze as a good car in its price range. Firstly, it's very well equipped. Not only are there two standard airbags, but also air con, remote locking (that also does the boot and interior lighting), leather height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel, Clarion single CD radio with four speakers (it doesn't sound the best but the fault's in the easily-upgraded speakers), and a multitude of storage compartments. ABS - as fitted to the test car - is a $700 option, and one which all buyers should plump for.

And secondly? Unlike some recent 'fashionable' cars, the interior works very well in a practical, real-world way. Despite having a small cargo area (guess something has to give) we were surprised and impressed by the amount of in-cabin space. This 1.8-metre person could set up the driver's seat for a comfortable, long-distance drive - then get out and sit in the rear seat immediately behind.

And also fit in there without a worry!

Despite looking quite cramped, the rear passenger space is actually quite commodious. The complete feet of the rear passengers fit under the front seats, creating an unexpected amount of knee room. Headroom for all but the very tall is also fine. So in this vehicle - only 3625mm long - there is actually plenty of room for four full-size adults. (Despite having provision for five, we'd suggest that the Cruze is a definite four-seater only - the centre rear passenger gets neither a head restraint nor a lap/sash belt.)

Luggage space really is tight: with the 50/50 split rear seat backs up, there is a very shallow amount of room. Fold the seatbacks down and an unfortunately stepped load area is revealed - the rear seats remain proud of the load area, even when folded. However, with the seats flat there's a much more reasonable amount of goods room - plenty of space, for example, for a weekend away. Storage spaces around the cabin include two innovative drink holders built into each end of the lower part of the dash, door pockets - and a very small glovebox.

Overall the Cruze is a fun car to drive with competent, safe dynamics, an economical and peppy engine, and a fashionable face. Despite some commentators suggesting that Holden have got it wrong, we'd suggest that Holden have got it very much right. If you want a high quality conventional looking car, the Holden Barina does it very well. And if you want something more lifestyle orientated, the Cruze does it equally right.