Chevrolet Cruze SW - even more practical
Most of us dream of a sports car with a powerful engine and a magic button with the word "Sport" that sends goosebumps when pressed. However, one day there comes a time when you have to sacrifice your passions and fantasies by buying a family car that is used not to burn tires and dig around the neighborhood around the V8, but to transport luggage, children, dogs, shopping, etc. .
Of course, if you have a lot of money, you can theoretically buy a family Mercedes E63 AMG station wagon or a large Range Rover Sport, in which we will also take the children to school, the dog to the vet or the wife to gossip with friends. , and on the way back we will feel the power of several hundred horses under the hood, but first we will have to spend several hundred thousand zlotys on such a car.
However, if, quite by chance, we do not have a huge portfolio of money at hand, but have to buy a family car, then we may like the words of the President of Chevrolet Poland, who, at the presentation of the Chevrolet Cruze SW, told reporters that although the price is not the most important thing in marketing, she has reason to be proud, because the starting price of the new Chevrolet family station wagon will be only PLN 51. The good news does not end there, but more on that later.
Chevrolet sells half as many cars in Poland as its brother from the GM family, Opel. However, it is in Poland - after all, sales of Chevrolet around the world are four times higher than those of the Russelsheim brand. Four million cars sold is a great number, isn't it? Do you know which Chevrolet model sells the best? Yes, it's Cruz! And the last question: what percentage of European buyers choose a station wagon? As much as 22%! So it made sense to expand the 5-door hatchback and 4-door sedan offerings with a roomy-bodied model that Chevrolet calls the station wagon, or SW for short. It seems that a 3-door compact is still needed for complete happiness, but let's not be too demanding and continue with what we have now.
The car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in early March this year. We hope that the gentlemen who are looking for a car for the family breathed a sigh of relief looking at the new model - it is not boring and not formulaic, right? The body of the presented model found a tasteful backpack, and at the same time the front part of the entire Cruze family was modernized. If you look at all three cars from the front, it will certainly be difficult to distinguish between body options. Naturally, apart from the almost identical front end, the entire body line is similar to other models - the roof line tapering towards the rear, adorned with standard roof rails, which increase the usability of the car and give it a sporty character. In our humble opinion, the wagon version is the prettiest of the trio, although the sedan isn't bad either.
Of course, the station wagon has a place for luggage, and this has a positive effect on the family atmosphere on vacation. It's simple - the more clothes and hats we take on vacation, the happier the wife will be. Going on vacation with a small compact, we can be sure that our partner will sooner or later remind us of a useless car that fits only two suitcases with clothes - a real disaster. The new Cruze SW has solved this problem. If we have three children and the back seat is used, whether we like it or not, we will put about 500 liters in the luggage compartment up to the window line. In addition, the luggage compartment length is 1024 mm as standard, so we are not afraid of longer items. However, if we go on holiday alone or with the aforementioned partner, the luggage compartment will increase to 1478 liters to the roof line after folding the rear sofa.
In a separate compartment you will find a standard repair kit, and two more compartments behind the wheel arches. There are also holders on the walls to help attach bulky luggage. An interesting addition is the luggage compartment with three compartments for small items or tools, fixed next to the roller shutters. However, we will run into a problem when we want to remove this useful gadget in order to use the entire trunk volume. Just removing the roller shutter isn't easy, and the glove box keeps it welded on and takes a lot of determination to move it.
There is also plenty of practical space inside. In the doors you'll find traditional storage compartments with built-in bottle holders, while the dash has room for a large two-piece illuminated storage compartment. If the standard equipment is not enough, additional equipment includes, among other things, luggage nets, as well as special luggage containers with adjustable compartments. For real travelers, there is a roof box and holders for bikes, skis and surfboards.
In addition to a large luggage compartment, does the new Cruze Station Wagon offer something interesting? Yes, it includes, for example, an optional keyless door opening system. Quite an interesting and useful solution, thanks to which we will get into the car even when the key is in our pocket, and we will have a grid full of purchases in our hands.
However, the biggest and most interesting innovation is the MyLink system. Chevrolet's new infotainment system lets you connect your smartphone to the 7-inch color touchscreen in-flight entertainment system. The system can connect to both a phone and other storage devices such as an iPod, MP3 player or tablet via a USB port or wirelessly via Bluetooth. And what does this system offer? For example, we have easy access to playlists stored on the phone, as well as photo galleries, phone books, contacts and other data stored on the device. We can also route the call to the audio system so we can hear the caller from the car's speakers - a great alternative to a speakerphone or headset. In addition, at the end of the year, Chevrolet promises to download additional applications and programs to expand the functionality of MyLink.
It is also worth mentioning that models equipped with the MyLink system will additionally be equipped with a rear-view camera. The package also includes Bluetooth technology for streaming, touchless control, an AUX and USB socket, steering wheel controls and a six-speaker CD player. This is further proof that a family car doesn't have to be boring and devoid of big boy toys.
Under the hood of the new roomy compact will also fit a lot of toys, although we do not expect sports impressions here. The biggest novelty in the offer is the arrival of two new units. Most interesting is the new 1,4-liter turbocharged unit, which is able to offer quite decent performance with reasonable economy. The engine, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, transmits 140 hp to the front axle. and 200 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes about 9,5 seconds, which, of course, is a satisfactory result for a family station wagon. According to the manufacturer, the average fuel consumption in the combined cycle is approximately 5,7 l/100 km. In practice, when driving a car with this engine, you can easily forget about its low power - a large torque appears already from 1500 rpm, and from 3000 rpm the car pulls forward quite pleasantly. It's fuel efficient too: we've tried every style of driving, and end-of-route fuel consumption through highways, small towns and narrow winding roads was just 6,5 liters.
The new diesel engine also looks interesting. The 1,7-liter unit was equipped with a turbocharger with an intercooler and a standard Start / Stop system. The unit develops a maximum power of 130 hp, and its maximum torque of 300 Nm is available in the range from 2000 to 2500 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 10,4 seconds and top speed reaches 200 km/h. In addition to satisfactory performance, this engine is very economical - according to the manufacturer, the average fuel consumption is 4,5 l / 100 km. It seems that the new 1,7-liter diesel unit will hit the bull's-eye, because an inexpensive car should be economical. We also had the opportunity to ride this unit and I can confirm both the low fuel consumption (the test route showed 5,2 l / 100km) and the considerable flexibility of the engine, which accelerates from 1200 rpm, and from 1500 it gives the best it can give. diesel - high torque.
The new Chevy is a smart alternative for people who want a car with a lot of luggage space but don't want to buy a huge 7-seat bus that swings around every corner. The car will not cause euphoria in the driver, but it is not a boring and raw station wagon either. Indulging in euphoria is not his main task - Camaro and Corvette in the Chevrolet family take care of this. Cruze SW is designed to be affordable, practical and modern - and it is.
