What’s it like to live with?
If you buy a Chevrolet, as with buying a Skoda, you are buying the ‘economy’ brand from the respective family of cars. For some this is embarrassing. It is a shame that some people can’t take pride in their cheap car.
So what if it sounds like a lawn mover on the motorway? What of it if the interior is drab – it won’t show the marks, will it?
Sadly, if you are one of those people, you won’t be able to take pride in the cheapness of the Chevrolet Cruze either.
Let’s start with the looks. It looks good.
Then there is the build quality. It is as well made as a Volkswagen.
So let’s take it for a spin. It’s powerful – 113 ps/bhp, 0-62 in 10.3, - and economical: 51 mpg.
But is it refined? Yes, it floats silently down the motorway like it’s a Volvo. Your biggest concern will be how to avoid letting your speed creep up. There will be no wind noise, road noise or lawn mover engine sounds to alert you of your crimes against GATSO.
It’s fair to say that the Cruze suffers from the same lack of steering feedback as a Volvo (which regards itself as a rival to Volkswagen, not Skoda) and that means it is not a lot of fun in country lanes. But it never set out to be.
So far from being ashamed of owning Chevrolet Cruze because of its cheap naff-ness, you can glow with pride at its quality.
What’s the right time to buy?
New, a Cruze starts at just under £14,000 but is usually around £15,000. Which is 20% or so less than you would expect to pay for a similar Vauxhall or Ford.
After 18 months, the £15,000 car will have an average mileage of 9,000 miles on the clock and be just £9,000. Which is an absolute bargain.
This car has a 5 year guarantee, so buying anything over one year old, is good news. The sweet spot is probably around 2 years old. That gives you a strong combination of low mileage, good condition, long warranty, and low depreciation.
What else does this budget buy?
The Cruze is not just a budget alternative. It is a direct alternative to Citroen’s C5 and Peugeot’s 407 – primarily because those cars are now rather dated. But their prices are still pretty chunky – the Cruze is 25% less money.
It is better than directly comparable offerings from Hyundai and Kia, which feel cheaply made by comparison.
The Cruze’s build quality is so good it is almost a direct rival to Vauxhall’s Insignia and Ford’s Mondeo. It only falls short against these two in a series of relatively subtle competencies. But again, you pay a premium for them.
Summary
A family car to be proud of at great prices.