Holden Cruze hatch sees the light of day

Holden commenced production of the Cruze sedan at its Elizabeth plant back in March, but it has taken until now for the hatchback models to join the range.

Developed from the sedan's platform by local engineers based at Fishermans Bend, the Cruze hatch is already on sale in the US and UK.

“With the hatch program we started with a very good base, having worked on the platform since 2008, but with the introduction of a new body style we needed to reassess areas such as ride and handling, noise and vibration (NVH), and powertrain,” said Peter Siablis, Holden’s Program Engineering Manager for the Cruze program.

“Through extensive evaluation, we’ve engineered and implemented a number of changes to the suspension, NVH package and transmissions to further improve driving dynamics, refinement and fuel economy.”

The story began with the Cruze hatch show car wheeled out for the Paris motor show in September of last year. On the stand the car wore Chevrolet badges, and the production model is also marketed as a Chev throughout most of the world — Australia being an exception.

Test vehicles in Australia were subjected to 140,000km of local testing. Holden's development program has ultimately yielded 20 engineering modifications that will be adopted in other markets where the Cruze is sold. These include NVH refinements and a recalibration of the automatic transmission for the 1.4-litre Cruze.

Other locally-devised solutions to meet the needs of Australia and other global markets have included: modified front suspension bushes for the MacPherson struts, rear bushes for the torsion-beam rear axle, added reinforcement around the tailgate, more efficient air conditioning compressor and the installation of damping patches to attenuate sound transmission through sheet metal.

The drivetrain is shared with the sedan, as is the hatch's wheelbase measurement —2685mm — but overall length is reduced by 79mm to 4518mm for the CD and CDX models, or by 87mm — to 4542mm — for the SRi and SRi-V. Luggage capacity is 413 litres without folding the 60/40 splitfold rear seat. With the rear seats lowered the capacity expands to 1254 litres. Holden also claims that the access to the rear seat is easier in the case of the hatch.

As for the sedan, the Cruze hatch is rated by ANCAP at five stars for crash safety. To achieve this result the Cruze is offered with six airbags (including side curtains) and a pedal release system.

Three engines powering the range comprise the 1.8-litre petrol four, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel and the 1.4-litre turbo petrol ('iTi') engine. The naturally-aspirated 1.8 develops 104kW and 176Nm, for fuel consumption figures of 7.0 (manual) or 7.4L/100km (auto). Promoted by Holden as the most frugal engine to power a locally-built car, the turbodiesel is also a four-cylinder, producing 120kW and 360Nm, for fuel use in the combined cycle of 5.6 (manual) or 6.7L/100km (auto). As the premium engine on offer, the 1.4 generated 103kW of power and 200Nm of torque, and posts fuel consumption of 6.4 or 6.9L/100km — for manual or auto variants respectively.

All models of the Cruze hatch feature as standard the following inclusions: Bluetooth, voice recognition, air conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, power windows, auto-on/off headlights with follow-me-home, multi-function steering wheel (audio/cruise) and MP3-compatible six-speaker CD audio with USB/iPod inputs.

Cruze CD, as the entry-level model, rides on 16-inch steel wheels, but the CDX picks up 17-inch alloys, front fog lights, leather-trimmed seats/steering wheel/gear shifter, reverse-parking sensors, heated front seats and exterior chrome trim.

The Cruze SRi comes equipped as standard with the following features additional to CDX specification: body kit, rear spoiler, chrome grille/door handles, bolstered sports seats in Jet Black or Sonic Blue.

Heated front seats are not available in the SRi grade, although they are standard in the SRi-V, which also gains keyless entry/push-button starting, seven-inch colour touchscreen, satellite navigation, DVD playback through audio system with 10Gb hard drive and enhanced voice control.

Holden has priced the hatch variants the same as the sedans. The range starts at $21,240 for the Cruze CD 1.8-litre petrol with manual transmission. Automatic — an option for all drivetrain variants — adds $2000 (making the 1.8-litre CD variant a $23,240 proposition). New CD variants powered by the 1.4-litre turbocharged engine are introduced at $22,490 for the manual. The Cruze CD with diesel is priced from $25,240 for the manual variant, and the Cruze CDX with 1.8-litre petrol engine comes in at $24,740 (manual) or $26,740 (auto). With diesel power the Cruze CDX is $28,740 (manual) or $30,740 (auto). Two sporty grades with the 1.4-litre turbo engine are the Cruze SRi — $24,990 for manual or $26,990 for auto — and the Cruze SRi-V — $28,490 for manual or $30,490 for auto.

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