CRUZE HATCHBACK LANDS IN CANADA
GM’s top-selling compact melds space, versatility in smooth-running package
DETROIT Chevy’s targeting a younger, more ethnically diverse and predominantly male buyer with the new hatchback version of its best-selling compact Cruze — one who’s relatively affluent, active and presumably hip, given the carefully crafted image of our surroundings.
A repurposed industrial building in the heart of Detroit is the new home of Third Man Records, the latest project of punked-out blues artist Jack White. Here, you’ll find an eclectic collection of obscure music paraphernalia — and White’s latest foray: a vinyl record pressing plant that will cater to smaller-output indie productions.
Here we’re introduced to North America’s first hatchback variant of the Cruze, surrounded by robotic record presses, steam pipes and a blues-playing acoustic guitar picker, dressed in all black.
“The Cruze has been our bestselling vehicle globally,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America. “And now, extending the range, here in the U.S. (and Canada), the new hatchback is a really big step.”
It’s entering an arena of very stiff competition. It will vie against segment-leader VW Golf, Mazda3 Sport and Ford Focus Hatch — and the Honda Civic hatchback that will soon debut.
While the wheelbase is exactly the same as the four-door, the overall length drops from 4,666 millimetres to 4,453 in the Cruze hatch, to be built in Mexico.
The interior is essentially the same as the sedan’s, except for the all-important rear cargo space. Aside from its sportier image, space and versatility are the hatchback’s raison d’être.
In comparison to the sedan, which has a trunk space of 419 litres, and rear seats that produce an awkward hump when folded, the hatch offers 523 L of cargo room, with a total of 1,189 L of flat space with the rear seats down.
Like the sedan, the Cruze hatch offers a torsion-beam axle on the base LT trims, and a Z-link rear setup on Premier models.
Front suspension across the lineup consists of MacPherson struts, coil springs and stabilizer bar.
Available in only the LT and Premier, the hatch is priced at $750 over the sedan.
The base Cruze hatch LT manual starts at $20,595, or $22,045 with automatic. The Premier is $24,645.
As with the sedan, there are Convenience and Technology package upgrades, and a True North Edition that adds the safety technology suite and the eightinch MyLink touch screen with Apple CarPlay. There’s also an RS appearance package with sport body mouldings, rear spoiler, fog lamps and RS badging.
Safety tech includes lane-keep assist, Intel li Beam, forward collision alert with followingdistance indicator, lane-change alert, rear park assist and rear cross-traffic alert, but there’s no adaptive cruise control.
This is available on mid-range Honda Civics and will be offered as standard on all upcoming Corollas.
Our day was spent in the topspec Premier True North; features include heated leather seats and steering wheel, and remote push-button start. Chevy calls Cruze the “most connected car in its segment,” and on top of Apple CarPlay, it also features standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi across the lineup.
There’s no marked difference in handling between the Cruze hatch and its sedan sibling.
The single engine choice is a turbocharged 1.4-L four-cylinder producing 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic in upper trim levels.
Performance is adequate, if not invigorating; the transmission is smooth but paddle shifters would add sparkle.
The Cruze rides smoothly with plenty of composure, and there’s very little noise. The steering, a rack-mounted electric setup is nicely weighted but not as communicative as the Golf ’s.
Those of a more enthusiast bent may want to wait for the diesel variant, set to arrive in Canada next spring.
It will likely be the 1.6-L CDTI four-cylinder found in the Opel, which produces 136 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque.
“The torque that you get out of this type of diesel, in this type of vehicle — particularly being a Brit — with a manual transmission, that’s what I call fun,” said Batey.
In addition to the six-speed manual, the diesel Cruze will be available with a new nine-speed automatic.
In this configuration, the Cruze hatch could boast fuel consumption ratings as high as 50 mpg (5.6 L/100 km). The official fuel consumption numbers for the gasoline-powered Cruze hatchback are slightly higher than the four-door, at 8.3/6.4/7.4 (city/ highway/combined) for the LT manual, 8.1/6.2/7.3 for the LT automatic, and 8.4/6.4/7.5 for the Premier automatic.
The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback is available in showrooms now.