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Chevrolet has a real contender in the compact class in the form of the 2011 Cruze sedan. With mid-size interior room and two engine choices, the Cruze is expected to be a player in the hotly contested compact segment.Cruze gives Chevrolet a real compact class contenderStory and photos by Lorne Drurystability control. Even the six-speed transmis-Metroland Mediasions are something that wouldnt have been Carguide Magazinefound on an economy car a few years back.Inside the cabin, the Cruze has what GM At the lower end of the price scale, automo-calls a twin cockpit design. While hard plastic is tive consumers often have to make sacrifices still in evidence, the interior has an interesting and they may have to give up a bit when it look to it with a two-tone colour scheme. Cloth comes to performance, quality and comfort in inserts in the dash help add a touch of colour.their vehicle.Up front, theres plenty of legroom and the But thats not the case with Chevrolets new seats are comfortable and well bolstered. They entry in the compact segment, the all-new 2011 are easy to adjust and with the tilt/telescopic Cruze sedan.feature on the steering column, it is easy to find The Cruze was recently named winner of the just the right driving position. The Cruze is 2011 Best New Small Car (over $21K) in the wider than many rivals and that pays dividends Automobile Journalists Association of Canada for passengers who will find lots of elbowroom. (AJAC) Car of the Year awards. It is now one of Rear seat leg room is a bit cramped when the three finalists for 2011 Canadian Car of the front seats are pushed back, but there is ample Year.room in the Cruze for four passengers to ride in The success of the Cruze is crucial for comfort.General Motors because the compact market is The rear seats can be folded down for added perhaps the most important in Canada, making cargo space, but the trunk is quite large on its up more than 20 per cent of all car sales here. own with a capacity of 425 litres (15 cu ft).With a strong entry like the Cruze in that class, The Cruze is certainly no sports sedan, but it Chevrolet hopes to increase its market share gets to speed fast enough that youll have no with segment leaders like the Honda Civic, worries merging into high speed traffic from an Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 clearly in its on ramp or passing slower vehicles when crosshairs.needed.Like a number of new cars in the automotive Where the Cruze shines is in the fuel econo-marketplace, the Cruze has a coupe-like profile, my area. yet it has more interior space and cargo volume My tester has an excellent Natural Resources than both the Civic and Corolla. In fact, GM Canada fuel economy rating of 8.5L/100 km (33 touts the Cruze as having the spaciousness and mpg) city and 5.5L/100 km (51 mpg) highway. amenities of a midsize car with the fuel econo-On the road, the Cruze has a solid, stick-to-my of a compact.the-pavement feel to it. It rides well and is fairly Two inline four-cylinder engines are offered quiet, although there is some engine noise in the Cruze. My LT Turbo tester had the Ecotec before the car reaches speed. GM engineers, 1.4-litre DOHC turbocharged engine, mated though, put a lot of effort into reducing cabin with a six-speed automatic transmission. That noise with triple-sealed windows and the appli-same engine also comes in the Eco and LTZ cation of liquid sound deadener at strategic Turbo models, while a 1.8-litre Ecotec engine is locations on the underside and side body of the featured in the LS model.car.Both engines make 138 hp, but the turbo The electric power steering is light and has more torque, 148 lb/ft compared with 125 makes it easy to dart in and out of tight spaces lb/ft. A six-speed manual transmission is stan-in city parking lots and also have some feel to it dard on the Cruze Eco and LS models. The at higher speeds.others get the six-speed auto as standard fare.Over the years, Chevrolet has been able to Starting at $14,995, the Cruze has standard compete in the compact class based largely on features that are unheard of on most economy price. cars.Now, with the Cruze, it has a car that can go For example, it has 10 standard airbags as head-to-head with the best in class based on well as anti-lock brakes, traction control and performance and quality as well.17 Wednesday, February 2, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com