Sunday, February 7, 2010

GM: CHEVROLET CRUZE IS GOOD VALUE


    GM SAYS: The Chevrolet Cruze, GMSA’s new offering in the high volume ‘C’ segment of the passenger car market offers value for money and exceptional build quality and safety. These combine with economy of operation and highly competitive parts pricing to provide a recipe for low total cost of operation over the life of the vehicle. The solid global reputation of the iconic Chevrolet brand adds an element of security when the time comes to sell the vehicle on to a new owner.

    GMSA offers the Chevrolet Cruze in a range of four models with value packed pricing of R174 192 for the 1.6 L; R186 126 for the 1.6 LS; R204 133 for the 1.8 LS and R244 440 for the top-of-the-range 1.8 LT.  Prices include VAT and a three year/60 000km Service Plan that takes care of all normal serving costs over this period leaving just normal wear parts and exceptional items for the owner’s account.


    The four-model Cruze range offers a 1.6 litre petrol engine (83 kW) mated to a 5-speed manual transmission for the L specification grade, or the same 1.6 petrol engine and a 1.8 litre petrol engine (104 kW) with 5-speed manual transmission for the LS specification. The top of the range Cruze 1.8 LT features an electronically controlled 6-speed automatic transmission. Both te 1.6 and 1.8 engines are latest generation 16-valve engines with the 1.8 boasting VVT..

    From the base 1.6 L model up the Cruze offers an impressive value added level of specification that includes: alloy wheels; 4 channel ABS system; power steering; sports type front seats; height adjustment for the driver’s seat; power windows front and rear; power side mirrors; air conditioner; alarm immobiliser system with remote central locking; driver and passenger frontal and side airbags, and a radio/CD player.

    The 1.8 LS specification has the following items added to this list: front seat side airbags; curtain side airbags, and a six CD front-loading sound system. This gives the Cruze Car Of The Year (by the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists) contender one of the most comprehensive levels of safety and comfort features in its class.

    The top-of-the range Cruze 1.8 LT adds the final word in features with plush leather interior; 6-speed electronic automatic transmission; cruise control; dual zone climate control air conditioning; rear park assist and rain sensing windscreen wipers.

    In a recent study conducted as an extension of the annual Kinsey Report on vehicle parts pricing the Cruze 1.8 LS fared extremely well against competitors in the ‘C’ segment of the report for cars priced between R160 000 and R260 000.

    In the basket of service and wear parts assessed, which includes items such as filters, spark plugs, wiper blades and brake pads, the Cruze 1.8 LS parts pricing is bettered by only two 1.6 litre vehicles at the lower end of the segment price scale.

    When it comes to some of the more expensive replacement parts that are only likely to be required later in the vehicle’s life, the Cruze betters all of the vehicles in its segment as published in the 2009 Kinsey report. In the basket of accident repair parts surveyed for the competition the Cruze is only bettered marginally by three vehicles, all smaller 1.6 litre models.

    Add to this overall average fuel consumption of 8,8 l/100 km for the two 1,6 litre models, 9,2 l/100km for the 1,8 LS and 9,6 l/100km for the 1.8 LT Automatic together with a 15 000km service interval and the value loop is complete.

    A comprehensive safety specification compliments the tangible features and specification list to add a further dimension to the overall value proposition offered by the Cruze. An inherently strong body structure backed by a suite of active and passive safety systems makes the new Chevrolet Cruze amongst the safest vehicles in its class.

    With a structural design and occupant protection systems designed to meet the exacting standards of international safety certification organisations such as Euro NCAP and the US Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) the Cruze offers piece of mind to vehicle occupants. One of the key safety performance requirements which the Cruze has been designed to comply with is the 2010 standard for roll over performance that will be applied in the United States. This requires the body structure to be capable of withstanding 2,5 times its own weight in a roll over situation.

    Driver, passenger and seat side airbags are standard on the L specification grade while side curtain airbags are added as standard to the LS and LT specification grades. Active safety systems include ABS anti-lock brakes on all models with EBD on the LS models and Traction Control on the 1.8 LS and 1.8 LT models.

    The new Cruze has been greeted with enthusiasm in South Africa by the motoring press with the Cruze 1.8 LS nominated as one of just eight finalists for the prestigious South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year award. The final dynamic assessment of the eight finalists takes place early in February.

    Public acceptance of the Cruze can be measured by the fact that it was ranked amongst South Africa’s top ten passenger vehicles in sales within its second month in the market.

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