Nothing summed up the failures of old, pre-bankruptcy General Motors quite like its inability to build a competent small sedan for nigh on decades — the kind of car that’s the most popular vehicle worldwide, which other automakers had long mastered.
Which is what makes the current Chevrolet Cruze such a remarkable scoop of vanilla. Launched in 2009, the Korean-designed Cruze was the first small Chevy in decades that matched well against all comers, foreign and domestic. Worldwide, Chevy sold 3.5 million; in the United States, the Cruze became the first Chevy many young families ever bought. It’s a safe, enjoyable car that doesn’t excel in any one area, but also has few weaknesses.
And that means the all-new 2016 Chevy Cruze revealed today also has a challenge that no previous small Chevy sedan has faced — a reputation to live up to, instead of down.
Riding on a new, 250-lb. lighter chassis, the 2016 Cruze will remain a sedan-only model in the United States for now; Chevy remains mum on the possibility of a hatchback. While the current model has a variety of engine choices, the 2016 Cruze will launch with just one, a new 1.4-liter turbo rated at 153 hp and 177 lb.-ft of torque, tied to either a six-speed automatic or manual. With more power and less weight, the Cruze will now hit 60 mph in eight seconds, and get 40 mpg on the highway with the automatic. The diesel option will return next year.
Riding on a new, 250-lb. lighter chassis, the 2016 Cruze will remain a sedan-only model in the United States for now; Chevy remains mum on the possibility of a hatchback. While the current model has a variety of engine choices, the 2016 Cruze will launch with just one, a new 1.4-liter turbo rated at 153 hp and 177 lb.-ft of torque, tied to either a six-speed automatic or manual. With more power and less weight, the Cruze will now hit 60 mph in eight seconds, and get 40 mpg on the highway with the automatic. The diesel option will return next year.
All of this is roughly par or slightly better than among the crowded field that includes the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and others. Chevy’s calling card for the Cruze will instead rely on styling and space. The new Cruze is an inch lower, but also 2.7 inches longer, most of which has gone into passenger space. That let Chevy designers use a more sweptback windshield and sleeker look which scans as stylish but not for everyone.
Inside, Chevy has learned to offer every gadget it can — from in-car WiFi and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay linkages to wireless phone charging. On the new, high-end Premium trim, there’s heated-and-cooled front seats with heated seats in the rear. The bowtie brand will also tout the safety angle, with 10 air bags and tech like collision warning and lane keeping.
Prices will not likely change much from the current car, starting just below $20,000 and rising from there. We’ll have to experience the new Cruze in person to see whether it avoids a sophomore slump, or rises to the front of the class.
Source: Yahoo autos
