2009 Holden Cruze Info New Car and Best Car Pictures, Car models, pictures of luxury sports cars, exotic cars, supercars, future and concept cars, cool cars, cheaper car insurance, instant car insurance, find car insurance, car insurance estimates, car insurance rate quotes, get car insurance quotes, instant car insurance quote, auto insurance and hot cars About 2009 Holden Cruze provided only for review and evaluation.Latest 2009 Holden Cruze provided by
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If you like this car, buy 2009 Holden Cruze at your nearest record store. Look review 2009 Holden Cruze Below :
If you like this car, buy 2009 Holden Cruze at your nearest record store. Look review 2009 Holden Cruze Below :
Holden's mid-sized replacement for the Astra hatch and wagon and the Viva sedan and wagon is the Holden Cruze. Holden's mid-sized replacement for the Astra hatch and wagon and the Viva sedan and wagon is the Holden Cruze. Importantly for Holden it's going to be built in Australia at Holden's South Australian Elizabeth plant late in 2010, a move that will help secure the plant and Holden in Australia.
The Cruze will simplify Holden's small car line-up. Initially it's going to be available as a sedan with other body styles to follow. There are two specification levels - CD and CDX. The two engines - 1.8 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel both come with manual or auto transmission.
Built in Korea, the new Cruze reflects the improved build quality seen in recent models sourced from the Gunsan manufacturing facility by Holden
Value for money:
Pricing
Prices start from just $20,990 for the Cruze CD manual. The CD 2.0 litre diesel (tested) starts at $23,990. Add $2,000 for the six speed automatic transmission. The top spec Cruze CDX petrol is the same price as the CD diesel manual - auto versions of both will set you back $25,990.
With 30 brands competing for around 24 per cent of the total market share in Australia, pricing needs to be on target. Hyundai's i30 and Kia's Cerato sedan are the only notables from Korea that have a cheaper starting price and only by a few hundred dollars. Proton's 1.6 litre Persona built in Thailand is one of the cheapest in class starting at just $16,990.
Standard features
There are two specification levels CD and the more highly optioned CDX. We tested the base CD and were impressed the level of standard features, which include:
- Airconditioning
- Power steering
- Power windows with express down/up function for the driver
- Six speaker AM/FM CD audio system with MP3 compatibility, plus an AUX line in
- Internal electric boot release
- Six airbags, including side curtain airbags
Design & function
Space & practicality
A feature of the new Cruze sedan is its generous interior dimensions, especially in the rear. If you regularly carry passengers they will appreciate the easy rear access. Installing a child restraint is also a simple operation.
Useable boot space benefits from a flat floor and a low load lip, and there is the added advantage of the 60/40 split fold rear seats which, when folded, provide 1.7 metres of cargo length.
Inside, the cabin storage solutions include- Good sized lockable glove box
- Shallow lidded compartment in the top of the dash
- Smaller hidey hole below the audio screen
- Smallish centre console
- Two front cup holders
- Rear cup holders in the centre armrest
Comfort
Depending on your body size you will either love or hate the front seats in the new Cruze.Firmly bolstered in the backrest they are more like a snug fitting sports seat, and larger bodies may find them too restrictive and tight.
When I initially drove the Cruze they felt too firm, but after a few kilometres I found them very supportive. The rear seats don't have the same level of bolstering but design-wise offer above average support and importantly there is adequate footpace underneath the front seats.
Ergonomics
Seated behind the wheel, the two large, easy to read, dials for speed and engine rpm are framed by a small, nicely proportioned steering wheel. Minor gauges for fuel and engine temperature are easily identified and a central display showing trip information sits between the two major dials.
In the centre console rotary dials control the heating and ventilation functions and at a glance are much easier to identify than those in the old Astra.
Forward vision is likewise improved. The new body design has minimised the amount the front A pillars impair vision when cornering
Safety
Six airbags, three point seatbelts in all seating positions and Electronic Stability Control, in a brand new body structure that is stiffer and stronger than any before, add up to a five star NCAP crash rating. The Cruze is only the second Holden (after the Commodore) to achieve such a rating.
The new Cruze also comes four wheel disc brakes with Anti Lock brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist on all models
Build quality & finish
Until recently, especially for some manufacturers, having a vehicle built in Korea often equated to hard edged interior trim plastics, inferior floor coverings loosely described as carpet and varying degrees of build quality.
Thankfully the Cruze we tested has stepped up. In terms of build quality all interior and exterior surfaces were well fitted. Interior trim materials are equal to the European sourced Astra range and visually the interior has benefited from input from Holden's Australian design team.
From the interior front door trims through, there's an integrated flow in design that belies its $20k starting price. Security
The usual fare - engine immobiliser with remote keyless entry. However, what's not so common are the programmable auto door locks - once a certain speed is reached the doors automatically lock.
The new Cruze hasn't yet been rated by NRMA Insurance for theft resistance.On the road
Fuel
The new two litre common rail turbo engine has an official fuel figure of 5.7 litres per 100km combined. On test the best we could achieve was 7.4L/100km on our highway drive and 9.3 around town.
Performance
Diesel engines are increasingly finding favour with small car segment consumers, with the extra torque they provide delivering a satisfying drive experience. However buyers still favour the petrol versions, which is a shame as the diesel Cruze is the pick of the bunch.
The new turbo-diesel engine develops 320Nm of engine torque from just 2,000 rpm. Matched to a five speed manual, with a useful spread of ratios, it's a handy performer with plenty of power for overtaking. However, around town you need to use the transmission as you would a petrol engine. Below 1500rpm available engine torque isn't that strong.
Out on the open road it's a different story and is where the Cruze really shines and performs strongly.Ride
The new Cruze doesn't break any new ground in terms of suspension design. It has a well proven combination of MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear.Testing the new Cruze in several continents, including Australia, has been beneficial. Overall it displays a nicely balanced ride that soaks up most road irregularities. It's biased towards ride comfort which in this class is ideal.
Handling & steering
Power assisted rack and pinion steering is sharp and precise especially when initiating a turn. It complements a chassis that befits the Holden badge, especially when compared to the Viva. It feels taut - on faster large radius turns it's not upset by any bumps or potholes, and it's only at the limit that mild understeer comes into play.
Braking
Four wheel disc brakes with ABS, EBD and brake assist is standard across the range. The diesel engine versions have larger disc rotors. The front ventilated discs measure 300mm and the solid rears are 292mm - up 24mm over the petrol versions. On test they performed consistently recording a stopping distance of 24.5 metres.
Smoothness & quietness
With the outgoing Astra we were critical of the drive train in certain combinations; they were often jerky on takeoff. The newly designed Cruze overcomes its predecessor's drawbacks. The manual is very user friendly and clutch and gear lever operation are light and simple to use.
A lot of work has gone into NVH reduction and while not as quiet as some competition we've driven recently, once inside you're hard pressed to know it's a diesel.
Summary:
Holden looks to have finally got it right with its latest entrant into the mid-sized market. Previous efforts covered off some parts of the equation well - the Astra had a good handling chassis and ride, but it's interior was lacklustre and ergonomically it wasn't that intuitive. Pricing jumped up quickly from the base spec model as well.
The Cruze is a more complete package. Keen pricing, a five star NCAP safety rating and attractive specs across a simplifyied two model range, with diesel and petrol engine options, are part of it. Add generous interior and bootspace dimensions in a neatly styled sedan body, that handles and stops as well as its major rivals, and the combination appears right.
