Holden Cruze

[VS Omega]

The all-new Holden Cruze made its Australian debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show today signalling the company’s latest entrant in the competitive small car segment. Cruze is the first of General Motors’ new wave of global products and enters Australia’s small car segment equipped with striking road presence, advanced interior comfort and high levels of safety features.
Powered by a 1.8 litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine or optional 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine, Cruze will go on sale in the second quarter of 2009.
GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss said Cruze represented Holden’s commitment to the small car market and marked the beginning of a new era for the company.
“The small car market is the largest growing segment in the Australian market and this is our response to that change,” Reuss said.
“Cruze will play a significant role in Holden’s future and presents us with a new generation car, a new design and a new way of thinking.
“It is a world class small car that has the perfect blend of both style and substance, all from the base model to the top of the range.”
2009 HOLDEN CRUZE HIGHLIGHTS:
Drawing on GM best practices from around the world, Cruze was developed by a global design and engineering team.
Product line-up
The Cruze line-up will include CD and CDX models, both powered by a 1.8 litre 4 cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine with the choice of a five speed manual transmission or six speed automatic transmission with Active Select.
A 2.0 litre common rail turbocharged diesel engine will be available as an option on the CD model and will form part of the Holden EcoLine range.
The choice of powertrains ensures fuel efficiency and excellent performance all with the ride and handling ability of a true Holden to ensure it feels as good as it looks.
Exterior styling
With a wide track, long wheelbase and its wheels located at the outer edges of its body, the Holden Cruze sedan’s 'four-door coupe' styling delivers the presence of an upscale mid-size sedan.
State of the art manufacturing processes ensures gaps are minimised and margins in the exterior design deliver high levels of quality, fit and finish.
Cruze has been designed to appeal to drivers who value sophisticated design combined with sporty good looks.
Interior comfort
Inside, Cruze boasts one of the most advanced interiors of any small car on the market offering exceptional quality and functionality, while delivering sportiness and luxurious comfort.
Stylish and spacious, the Cruze interior offers exceptional fit and finish and comfort with contoured sport seats and a dual cockpit design which houses an advanced integrated centre panel with graphic information display and CD with MP3 “plug and play” functionality.
An integrated centre stack houses the infotainment display, radio and HVAC controls resulting in a fresh and contemporary look.
With generous rear passenger leg, head and shoulder room this small car comfortably sits five adults, and when combined with one of the largest range of standard features from the base model customers do not need to compromise on large car features.
Storage, functionality and convenience applications found on the new Cruze are plentiful with 60/40 split rear seats, seatback pockets, a centre console CD storage, a shopping bag hook and six cup holders.
Safety
Safety was an overriding objective in the development of Cruze. Significant advancements in structural strength and a full offering of active and passive safety systems should combine to make the all-new Holden Cruze among the safest in its class.
The Cruze’s stiff structure helps to minimise noise and vibration as well as assuring a good crash safety performance and optimal ride and handling properties.
With an impressive level of standard safety features across the range including:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control (TC)
• Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
• Brake Assist (BA)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Six airbags including driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags
• Seatbelt retractor and lap pretensioners with seatbelt load limiters
• Sixty-five percent of the structure is high-strength steel

Holden Cruze CD Feature Highlights:

• 1.8 litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine or optional 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine
• 5-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Select
• 16 inch steel wheels
• Body coloured door handles and mirrors
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) incorporating:
  • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
  • Traction Control (TC)
  • Brake Assist (BA)
  • Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• 6 airbags including:
  • Front airbags for driver and front passenger
  • Front side impact airbags
  • Side curtain airbags
• Automatic headlamps
• 6 speaker audio system with MP3 compatible in dash CD, radio and MP3 “plug & play” functionality with graphic information display
• Air conditioning
• Steering wheel audio controls
• Cruise control
• Trip computer
• Power windows, front and rear

Holden Cruze CDX - includes all CD specific feature highlights, plus:

• 1.8 litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine
• 5-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Select
• 17 inch alloy wheels (4)
• Front fog lamps
• Leather steering wheel
• Leather appointed seats
• Heated front seats
• Rear park assist

Full specifications, fuel economy figures and pricing will be released closer to launch.

[VS Omega]

This'd better not be the "Torana". Me thinks Astra replacement

[Pete_perth]

I think I might want one when they come out

[greenfoam]

This is the "Torana" I reckon typical Holden in that you can't get the good motor in all models. Only in the base model (random)

[1991_Vn2nV]

So the Cruze gets a 6 speed auto but the Omega and Berlina still have a 4 speed. Go figure.

[Calaber]

So the Cruze gets a 6 speed auto but the Omega and Berlina still have a 4 speed. Go figure.

The Cruze is'nt due out for another year or so. By the time the next Commodore is released, which should happen before the Cruze is released, the four speed auto should be dead.

[1991_Vn2nV]

The Cruze is'nt due out for another year or so. By the time the next Commodore is released, which should happen before the Cruze is released, the four speed auto should be dead.

....

Its being released in April, just over a month away.

[Calaber]

....

Its being released in April, just over a month away.

You're right - I didn't read the article fully. I was of the opinion that earlier articles had said Holden was producing a locally manufactured four cylinder car in 2010 and assumed this was that car.

Is the Cruze just another Daewoo with Holden badges and design/engineering input, and there is another car coming next year, or is this the car, imported for the time being, but locally manufactured from next year?

[1991_Vn2nV]

You're right - I didn't read the article fully. I was of the opinion that earlier articles had said Holden was producing a locally manufactured four cylinder car in 2010 and assumed this was that car.

Is the Cruze just another Daewoo with Holden badges and design/engineering input, and there is another car coming next year, or is this the car, imported for the time being, but locally manufactured from next year?

The Cruze is a replacement for the Chevvy Cobalt and Daewoo Lacetti. But its not a Daewoo, its global.

For us, it really replaces the Viva.

The car being built from 2010 at the Elizabeth plant will be a more upmarket version based on the Cruze.

[Morton]

Well, at least it looks better than the old Holden Cruze.

[1991_Vn2nV]

So Holden will offer 3 compact size models all built off the same Delta platform :S

Barina - Sub compact

Cruze - Compact (Delta platform)
2010 Australian - Compact (Delta platform)
Astra - Compact (Delta platform)

Epica - Midsize (why we sell this and not the Insignia is beyond me)

[Morton]

At least the model overlap will not as bad as Toyota's 4wd overlap.

Rav 4 = med/large (much bigger than the original rav 4)
Kluger = Large
Prado = large
Land Cruiser = large

Even the Hilux is now huge.

[Morton]

Epica - Midsize (why we sell this and not the Insignia is beyond me)

Because the Insignia looks like a good car, and is therefore probably expensive ^_^ GM have a habit of assuming that Australians do not want good cars from Holden. We got the good Astra for a while, but even that didn't last

[1991_Vn2nV]

Because the Insignia looks like a good car, and is therefore probably expensive ^_^ GM have a habit of assuming that Australians do not want good cars from Holden. We got the good Astra for a while, but even that didn't last

It was voted European Car of the Year 2009, so I assume it doesn't just look good, but it IS good

The next Astra is meant to be just as good too, so it would be a shame if that is canned to make way for an aussie version of the Cruze.

I honestly don't see a place for the aussie built version.

[VS Omega]

If the Aus car is good enough to win our hearts (Torana, and with at least an alloytech as the premium motor) then it could replace the Astra, but to have a V6 would mean it's going to replace the Epica which replaced the Vectra?

[1991_Vn2nV]

I really don't see a front wheel drive car based on the Chevvy Cruze as winning the hearts of most australians.

The Cruze is built on the compact Delta II platform as will the aussie car. Its not large enough to replace the mid-sized Epica especially with a hatch form.

Also they've only said it is going to be a 4 cylinder, not a V6.

[greenfoam]

It was voted European Car of the Year 2009, so I assume it doesn't just look good, but it IS good

The next Astra is meant to be just as good too, so it would be a shame if that is canned to make way for an aussie version of the Cruze.

I honestly don't see a place for the aussie built version.

Hey man the Fiesta got car of the year in Europe in one of the two big magazines: ) and come second by ONE point out of 600? in the other. Anyway the current Astra is 50 times better than this Cruze

[1991_Vn2nV]

Hey man the Fiesta got car of the year in Europe in one of the two big magazines: ) and come second by ONE point out of 600? in the other. Anyway the current Astra is 50 times better than this Cruze

Yeah, although the two awards are a little different. I'd like to know what the one point was for that seperated the two

The fiesta was voted car of the year by What Car? which is a website for selling cars, basically the British version of Carsales. See link Home - What Car? Helping you buy better

The Insignia was voted European Car Of The Year by the European motoring press, which is a panel made up of motoring journalists from publications throughout Europe with representation from each country being based on the size of the country's car market and car manufacturing industry. It consists of around 58 members from 22 countries.

[Reaper]

You're right - I didn't read the article fully. I was of the opinion that earlier articles had said Holden was producing a locally manufactured four cylinder car in 2010 and assumed this was that car.

Is the Cruze just another Daewoo with Holden badges and design/engineering input, and there is another car coming next year, or is this the car, imported for the time being, but locally manufactured from next year?

I went to the motorshow last night and had a look at them. On first impressions it's actually a very good thing. NFI how it drives of course but the finish and overall design does seem worlds better than your normal Korean fare. The sales guy said it would be initially built by GM Daewoo in Korea and later built in Elizabeth. My gf will probably be looking for a new car next year and it will probably be on the short list for a drive at least.

Reaper

[davey g-force]

My gf will probably be looking for a new car next year and it will probably be on the short list for a drive at least.

Reaper

LOL, I'm in the same boat Reaper. We'll be in the market for a car for the mrs in a few months and she's already sold on the Cruze! I think it would look good in the garage beside the SSV. So yeah, a test drive is definitely on the cards when they come out...

Anyone have any idea on pricing??

[Reaper]

LOL, I'm in the same boat Reaper. We'll be in the market for a car for the mrs in a few months and she's already sold on the Cruze! I think it would look good in the garage beside the SSV. So yeah, a test drive is definitely on the cards when they come out...

Anyone have any idea on pricing??

Low/mid $20k. Similar to most in that class.

Reaper

[Astranomical]

Meh, its just another boring 4 cylinder FWD that doesn't really bring anything new to the table...doesn't interest me at all I'm afraid.

[Reaper]

Meh, its just another boring 4 cylinder FWD that doesn't really bring anything new to the table...doesn't interest me at all I'm afraid.

Ton better than the Viva that it replaces. I think it will do ok in its market segment.

Reaper

[1991_Vn2nV]

Ton better than the Viva that it replaces. I think it will do ok in its market segment.

Reaper

I don't think its even near its own Korean competition let alone what else is out there. The Hyundai i30 is under 20k, so the Cruze is going to have to be VERY competitively priced.


Its main competition is probably the new Ford Focus, the new Mazda 3, the Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato, Honda Civic and Jazz and of course the Toyota Corolla and maybe even the Holden Astra.

Mazda 3 is 20k. Honda Civic is 22k/Honda Jazz 16k. Even the base model Astra is only 22k, and the Ford Focus is 20k as well.

The Viva is about 19k, hence why it doesn't sell as for the price there are much better cars out there. The Cruze will have to be priced at or under 20k.

[greenfoam]

Yeah those cars in another leauge no doubt but it'll be ok for those wanting to support Holden(ish) been awhile since they had a Camira