Holden Cruze: Small car mega-test 2013

Holden Cruze CDX (sedan)

What we liked:
>> Chassis revisions
>> Infotainment system
>> Cabin accommodation

Not so much:
>> Light steering
>> No rear seat vents
>> Lacklustre performance

And they’ve done an excellent job, for the most part. Indeed, the Cruze shows great grip and body control through the bends and holds its line faithfully once committed to a corner. But the compact Holden’s Achilles’ Heel in the dynamic stakes is its overly-light steering, which makes it hard for the driver to feel connected.

There were no issues with steering accuracy, the Cruze going faithfully where it was pointed, but the lack of feel came to the fore in the lane change test. Here the inability to accurately meter how much input was required saw the Cruze step out of line dramatically on more than one occasion.

The performance of Cruze’s naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre engine has been improved by changes to throttle mapping and auto transmission calibration but it’s still far from the category’s best.

But it’s apparent that the changes haven’t gone far enough to keep Cruze competitive. The compact Holden’s acceleration performance was, frankly, awful, finishing flat last in the 0-100km/h sprint – more than three-seconds adrift of the quickest car on test.

It did, however, win back some kudos with an impressive second-ranked braking performance. Not only did the Cruze stop well, but the brake pedal feel remained firm and confidence-inspiring with strong initial bite after repeated applications.

FIT, FINISH AND FINESSE
With a taut bumper and neat chrome garnishes attracting the eye, it was disappointing, at a closer look, to find raw black plastics across Cruze’s lower air inlets. That said, overall Cruze’s paint had a very high level of consistency and the panel gaps were regular.

Cruze also offered a nice door action but this was let down by flimsy feeling exterior handles. The fuel filler, like the door jambs, was clean and tidy.

The boot lid did not feature gas struts. Inside, the boot area’s carpet looked durable. There was no 12V outlet but there was a light.

Cruze’s carpeted parcel shelf felt at odds with its faux-leather upholstery. A mostly dark interior was lifted by chrome door handles and the seats by contrasting stitch work. The Cruze had no rear-seat ventilation outlets.

Entry and egress was roughly on par with the Hyundai i30. The layout of the centre stack felt cluttered; while dash and console plastics were below the average in this test group.

We didn’t like the clunky wiper/indicator stalks and felt that the navigation of trip computer and infotainment was similarly awkward. A shame considering the rest of the instrumentation and HVAC controls drew high praise.

A cleanly presented engine bay with a large shroud proved a hit among our reviewers but road noise was middle of the road. On test, it achieved 80dBA.

SUITABLE INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY
The only Australian-made car on test, the Cruze stood out in a few areas, particularly electronic driver aid integration and Bluetooth functionality. The Cruze was the only vehicle on test with in-car apps (Pandora and Stitcher) which allow digital music streaming via a smartphone's 3G/4G data connection.

Pairing the iPhone with the Cruze was a straightforward affair, about five button pushes in all – and streaming music and phone calls were good too. Using the Pandora music streaming app required you to download the app onto your phone, but it was easy to set up. Just watch your data bill!

While the interior design is very progressive and edgier than most on test, some of the plastics looked cheap, which took the shine off the car's finish in some respects. However, the touchscreen system, reversing camera, parking sensors and climate control were all impressive, and the steering wheel buttons easy to use at a glance.

The car also came with keyless entry and push-button start, adding a bit more techno-cool to proceedings.

Not quite as sorted as the Golf or the Focus, the electronic stability control in the Cruze was nonetheless effective, with rapid but subtle intervention that kept the car pointed in the desired direction if grip was compromised.

VALUE FOR MONEY
The Cruze CDX came in as the third-cheapest car on test at $24,190 (plus on-road costs). The six-speed automatic is now listed as the only available transmission for Cruze CDX and frankly wasn't complemented by the lethargic, thrashy ECOTEC engine.

Things improved inside with keyless entry/go, reversing camera and leather ‘appointed’ seats, with the front seat heaters. The lack of dual-zone climate control and sat-nav did, however, mark the Cruze down. Outside, 17-inch alloys (with temporary spare wheel), fog lights and body-coloured, heated mirrors added a degree of class.

HoldenWise capped price servicing is available on the Cruze and covers the first four scheduled services, with nine-month/15,000km service intervals (while the kilometre interval equals the highest in class, the nine-month gap lags behind the 12 months offered elsewhere). Regardless, capped services are competitively priced at $185 each.

A three-year/100,000km warranty is standard and can be extended for an additional fee, while 12 months of roadside assistance is included from the time of first registration.

Come resale time, the median private sale price for the previous MY10 Cruze CDX petrol is $16,000, or an impressive 62 per cent of its new price.

EXECUTION OF INTENDED PURPOSE
The Holden Cruze four-door sedan is well equipped to comfortably seat five adult passengers.

Driver and front passenger have large, comfortable contoured seats that are three-way adjustable. The console and instrumentation is thoughtfully designed and well executed. It’s easy to navigate and ergonomically friendly. The Cruze also offers good in-cabin storage.

Second row passengers will enjoy comfort and space. The seats are large and flat, allowing good width for three adults, despite a slightly imposing centre hump in the footwell.

The ride comfort in the Cruze was slightly less refined than others on test and some engine noise was evident in the cabin. Some road noise also crept inside the cabin, more so for the second row passengers.

The Cruze has a large boot and 60:40 split-fold seats.

Visibility in the Cruze was very good

motoring.com.au's Small Car mega-test 2013 comparison:

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…