Chevrolet revealed the second-generation of the Cruze sedan recently. It will go on sale in the US in the first half of 2016, followed by its launch in more than 40 countries including India.
Exterior
This is the latest iteration of the Cruze and looks more sleek and dynamic than its predecessor. The car is now longer by 2.7 inches (68 mm) and its wheelbase measures 106.3 inches (2,700 mm). Despite the increase in size, the manufacturer has managed to reduce the overall weight of the car by 250lbs (113 kg) and the car now boasts of a stiffer body.
Aesthetically, the new car boasts of a sharper and leaner look. The sweptback headlamps feature DRLs and the simple yet sharp duel-tiered grille gets a subtle chrome treatment. Similarly even the redesigned fog lamps get chrome accents. The side profile is sleek and the rear features dual-binnacle tail lamps. The rear bumper gets a new design and is in tune with the overall appearance.
Interior
With the increase in length and wheelbase, it means there is more space inside the cabin. Well, the rear legroom has increased from 35.4 inches to 36.1 inches, but the improvement is not in terms of head space. With the sleeker body, the height of the body has been reduced by almost an inch, which has resulted in the headroom reducing by over half an inch for both front and backseats.
Tech fans will be delighted to know that the Cruze features a new standard MyLink display. This seven-inch touch screen is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the company will also offer an eight-inch display as an option. The other optional features include 4G LTE Wi-Fi, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging. The safety features include blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and forward collision warning.
Engine and performance
Under the hood of the new Cruze is a new turbocharged, 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine, which churns out 153bhp of power, an upgrade from the current 138bhp 1.8-litre naturally aspirated mill. This new powerplant propels the car from zero to 60mph in eight seconds. The company claims that the new sedan will deliver a fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon on the highway meaning about 530 miles on a single tank.
Price and Competition
The petrol version will go on sale in the US in 2016 and a diesel model will arrive in the dealerships by 2017. So we can expect the car to be launched around the same time in the Indian market. It might be priced in the Rs 15 lakh to Rs 17 lakh price bracket and will compete with the Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla Altis and the Volkswagen Jetta.
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