Holden Cruze 1.4 Turbo 2011 Review - International

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Hollywood is the home of many thrillers, but the turbocharged Chevrolet Cruze – to be sold as a Holden later this year – is not one of them. To be fair, however, this car is not meant to be an all-out performance sedan, despite its turbocharged engine.

Instead, as many car makers are now doing, General Motors has favoured fuel economy rather than performance, with only modest power and torque increases from its relatively small but turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. The force fed offering delivers the same peak power (103kW) but more torque (up from 168 to 200Nm).

Our test drive in and around Los Angeles for a few days while en route to the Detroit motor show gave a worthwhile insight into the Cruze Turbo before it arrives in Australia.

The test car was a luxury model, with leather seats, automatic transmission and a machined alloy version of the fancy 17-inch wheels we get back home.

In dark blue, it looked sharp. The inside looked more upmarket, too, with a mix of light tan leather and dark highlights on the dash and doors.

Miraculously, it also drove better than other Cruzes I have tested in Australia.

While our Holden Cruze comes from Korea (until it starts getting made in Australia in a few months’ time) this Chevrolet version is made in Ohio. Quality appears to be a little better, and it steered more nicely, with no noticeable rack rattle.

This could in part be to do with the better quality Continental tyres (Australian Holden Cruzes come with Korean tyres) and a different suspension tune. This comparison is probably irrelevant, however, as the Australian Cruze has different suspension tune.

At least the engine will be pretty much the same. The Austrian-made 1.4 turbo has a bit more oomph than I remember the regular 1.8 non-turbo petrol Cruze already on sale in Australia has – but it certainly won’t be chasing Subaru WRXs or Golf GTIs. Or even the twin-charge Golf.

It has good torque where you need it, at freeways speeds, and it helps you negotiate traffic a little easier, but it’s no ball of fire. To me, it felt comparable to a 2.5-litre Mazda3.

The Mexican-made six-speed auto worked okay, but it got the hiccups every now and then. It wasn’t so much hunting for gears, rather it was deciding whether or not to engage them at times.

On the open road, however, it was well suited to relaxed, almost lazy driving. Indeed, it is much more suited to older drivers who don’t need to be anywhere in particular in a hurry, and who want to travel in a bit more comfort and have access to a little more urge under their right foot when they need it.

But if Holden Special Vehicles is considering a version of this Cruze, they should probably put down their pencils now. Unless they can install a turbo 2.0-litre and build a vehicle to challenge the Renault Megane RS or Ford Focus XR5 – or the VW Golf R – they should probably save themselves further headaches and any wasted development money.

The Cruze 1.4 T is a nice car, but it’s no hot rod.

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