2010 Cobalt/Cruze; Official Photos

[homeforsummer]

The grill is still ghastly...seriously this car would look fan-freaking-tastic in Saturn/Holden/Opel/Vauxhall trim.

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I just don't get the need for the little "moustache" above the Chevy badge. The 'shopped version Omnis did looks much better. Even if the crossbar with the Chevy badge on was half-way down the bottom grille with a section above it'd still look much better.

Overall though it's a good looking thing.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, the problem is that the grille there is the new "corporate face" for Chevrolet's cars and trucks...

It doesn't work well on everything, but compared to their previous floundering in the style department, its pretty attractive, and does well to give the brand an identity that is easy to recognize.

 

[homeforsummer]

I suppose it depends what vehicles you're referring to when you say "floundering". The Cobalt was quite a nice looking car, if not that imaginative, and even the last generation Cavaliers (95-05) were quite good looking, clean designs. It seems a shame to create what's probably going to be quite a good car, and then give it such a generic appearance. But then I'm not a fan of "corporate faces" on cars anyway.

I've no idea when they're intending to replace the Impala (assuming the Malibu doesn't take over because they're both classed as "mid-size" at the moment) but it's a bit disappointing knowing that it'll look exactly like the Cruze, but bigger

 

[Tornado]

I don't have a problem with the grill design itself so much as I do the fact that Chevy pushes it out about 1-2 inches further forward than the headlights.

 

[YSSMAN]

Check out that interior!

Very nice!

 

[Omnis]

That's pretty tight. I wish they'd move the outside airvents a little more outward, but that's cool.

 

[Joey D]

Wow, that's a really nice looking interior. Now lets hope they don't use cheap materials and ruin it.

 

[Jim Prower]

That's pretty tight. I wish they'd move the outside airvents a little more outward, but that's cool.

On cold mornings, you learn to appreciate having those blow on your hands.

This is definitely something to give SERIOUS consideration, should I ever get a good enough job for a new car.

 

[YSSMAN]

The only major hurdle that GM will likely have would be whatever the MKIII Focus would be. Given that they're both global efforts, they (in theory) should both be damn-good. We'll see what happens...

 

[YSSMAN]

GM Announced Some New Trim Levels Today​

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So, we now know some of the finer details of the Cruze before it makes it's North American debut in New York just a week or so from now. They will have the typical LS, LT and LTZ trims that most of the Chevrolet products include as well as a new "Eco" and "RS" version for those looking for some different kind of performance. What all is included?

Both the Eco and the RS models will use the new 1.4L Turbocharged I4, making 138 BHP and 140 lb-ft of torque. The Eco will get some fancy adjustable air dams that will move around at speed to reduce drag (along with some other fancy underbody diffusers), and presumably will use some low-resistance tires to keep the MPG figures lofty. Chevrolet is claiming a 40 MPG figure, which for a "small car" of this size, is actually moderately impressive. The RS will on a lot of fancy trim pieces inside and out, much like the rest of the RS models that GM offers (Camaro, I'm looking at you). There has yet to be a true sporting model announced, which is a bit of a disappointment. It may be a while until we see an SS version (I'm crossing my fingers that they give us the 2.0T a run again!).


Good on GM to finally get the car here, running quite a bit late. But, I fear that the car won't make a lick of difference once the MKIII Focus shows up. As I recall, a new Civic is coming down the pipe as well. Assuming that what the engineers have learned in Europe and Asia have translated well to the North American Cruze, hopefully this will be a class-leading car (in the US) for a while.

 

[homeforsummer]

I wouldn't get too excited. It's nice enough but has got some fairly average reviews over here.

 

[eSZee]

Check out that interior!



Very nice!

Looks nice, the feel will be completely different.

 

[Jim Prower]

Eco version is intriguing. When they mention the lightweight wheel package and aero tweaks...I suddenly wonder what would happen if proper tires were added, and one started playing with the turbo...

Or dropped the 2.0 Turbo Ecotec in. >:3

 

[Omnis]

On cold mornings, you learn to appreciate having those blow on your hands.

This is definitely something to give SERIOUS consideration, should I ever get a good enough job for a new car.

On cold mornings, you roll your windows down. See, Detroit interior design reasoning just doesn't make sense for south florida.

 

[Eric.]

I really don't know what I think of the exterior of this. I like it until I see the front or rear. The front just has kind of a cheap look to it. The rear's generic looking. The tails do look like the 7 series'. But they also slightly reminded me of the JDM Civic Type R until I compared them directly.

Interior, on the other hand, looks epic if they pull off the materials.

Trims. What efficiency benefit do you get for a movable air dam? I could only imagine it extending closer to the ground at higher speed, but that's not a particularly good idea in case you run over debris on the road and then tear it up. I'm pretty sure you've got the same CD at 10mph as you do at 75mph, so how can active aero help out?

40mpg isn't a bad claim, but doing it with a 1.4L turbo with 140hp? Unless its just a very clean engine, it seems a larger, traditional I4 would be just as good. The 1.8L Civic is rated something like 38mpg, but like most cars can achieve several higher in real world usage (I think I heard the average for Consumer Reports was around 42-45). Uses a turbo with such a low output adds more complexity than benefit in my opinion. Should be good for anyone who tries tuning them. Maybe 200hp will be easy to hit with a turbo-back exhaust, intake, and a tune.

 

[YSSMAN]

40mpg isn't a bad claim, but doing it with a 1.4L turbo with 140hp? Unless its just a very clean engine, it seems a larger, traditional I4 would be just as good.

I think in Europe, they offer it with a bigger N/A engine that offers up the same 140 BHP. I think it is a 1.8L unit that is shared with a lot of the Vauxhall/Opel offerings. Presumably the same unit that we saw in the Opel Saturn Astra we had here. Not much gusto, but good enough for most people.

The Cruze being a big-ass car, presumably GM wanted to keep the fuel economy up with the small displacement, but pack in the performance with the turbo, when necessary. I agree that it is a strange choice that we didn't see the big 2.4L under the hood in this car, but that could be something coming later. Otherwise, the addition of the 2.0L Turbo would be most-excellent.


Oh, and this may be good news:
North American-Specific Upgrades for the Cruze May Include A New Rear Suspension

Ditching the torsion-beam suspension for a multi link setup? Yeaus Pleaus!

 

[Eric.]

Hey, that makes two USDM cars that have a better suspension than Euroland. (Euro Civic Type R, I'm looking at you!)

 

[Pupik]

Spent the past two days tooling around in one as a rental car; it's actually a pretty solid ride for an American-branded car. The automatic doesn't know when to upshift, though. Maybe it's the turbo motor without a boost gauge that confuses it. Nice reflexes, despite the S-rated all-season tires (the Firestone FR710 tires whistle on concrete surfaces to the tune of jet aircraft turbines accelerating down a runway, although admirable in snow and slush). Style isn't bad, although the rear-seat room isn't much greater than my old Neon.

Materials are quite nice in most places, a lot less cheap touches (although the bin on the center of the dash cover is tinny); another weird exception is the woven-cloth on sections of the dash cover...my guess is that it's going to look as hospitable as an old dog bed in roughly 3 years' time, since it will be ne'er impossible to clean. Another peculiarity is the adjustment lever for the front driver's seat, it's in a seemingly bizarre location, unless you like scratching your buttocks while in motion. And the key fob will make Ford and Chrysler owners jealous.

A massive improvement upon the Cobalt, that's for sure!

 

[YSSMAN]

I've heard from a lot of people that the car is surprisingly good. I haven't had much seat time in one, but I really want to take the Eco model for a spin with the 6-speed manual and the 1.4L Turbo. The re-tuned suspension and lower weight should make it an interesting ride once the ultra-low-resistance tires are ditched, but that would probably take quite an effect on the 42 MPG highway figures they're claiming.

 

[Keef]

Made some modifications:

Looks much better, imo. Sometimes corporate identity features get in the way of good design. Haven't tried putting the chevy logo in the center of the grill, but I think it looks fine like it is.

Uh no.

It's not a particularly good looking car, but it's certainly not offensive. It's just angry enough to avoid being boring.

 

[Omnis]

Uh, YES. It looks totally better my way. The badge can still be shrunken and put in the center of the grill, but my way looks far better.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think what you've done is turned a Cruze into a Cadillac...

thus you've created a Cimmarron.

Nice going, guy.

 

[YSSMAN]

Both the Cruze and the Sonic look much better in person, I've found. For some reasons the photos make the car look insane, especially from the rear. I didn't spend much time with the Cruze in Chicago yesterday, but I found it to be a pretty reasonable choice in the segment against the Jetta, MKIII Focus and Elantra. The interior pieces fit together nicely, a lot more of it was soft-touch than I had expected, the seats are far more comfortable than those in the Focus, and it is laid out in a way that is a little more familiar to American customers.

For the Eco model I looked at, I think the only major drawback I could come up with was that the throws on the gearbox seemed a little long, and the pedal placement isn't exactly conducive for heel/toe shifting. Still, for a regular sedan that gets 42 MPG on the highway and will ring-up for less than $20K, the Cruze Eco seems like a fantastic car. When I have some free time in the next week or so, I plan on going out to take one for a spin.

 

[Pupik]

The automatic (also a 6-speed), will occasionally shift into neutral if you stop for a certain length of time. The kick into 1st takes a little getting used to, and it will roll back ever so slightly on a gentle incline, if you don't have your foot on the brake pedal...never expected that in an automatic!

 

[Robin]

Hello 2007 Honda Civic Saloon rear lights...

As for the badge I kinda like its quirky positioning. Saw an SUV on 'the mentalist' last night wizz past and couldnt quite catch the badge but seeing the positioning in the middle of the grille I knew instantly it could only be a Chevy! I was later proved right.

Robin.

 

[Pupik]

See, we don't get those style of taillights on our North American-spec Civics. Just on that rare Mugen edition.

 

[Keef]

See, we don't get those style of taillights on our North American-spec Civics. Just on that rare Mugen edition.

The Mugen didn't have them either.

Most of the Cruze is boring but the front end is definitely recognizable.

 

[Cale]

The Cruze with the RS package looks sophisticated, stylish, and slightly sporty.

 

[YSSMAN]

I know I'm a little crazy, but I think the Cruze looks best in Eco trim:

 

[Cale]

Just a bit crazy.