Sedan’s the man

2010 CHEVROLET CRUZE 2.0D LT

Many people are under the impression that you need a large SUV or double cab to be able to tow comfortably, but there are many sedans that can do the job just fine, says Danie Snyman from Roodepoort.

I used to tow my 2006 Sprite Splash with a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, but because I earned my driving stripes with manual vehicles I just couldn’t get used to the feel of an automatic transmission. So after two 140 km trips I looked around for a replacement vehicle with sufficient lowdown torque that didn’t require the engine’s neck to be wrung on the highway en route to our destination. I was also looking for great fuel consumption for everyday driving around town. Four years ago I purchased a used Chevrolet Cruze 2.0d LT for R160 000.I also considered other diesel options such as the Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi and Volkswagen Jetta 1.9 TDi. Being a diesel sedan fan, my dream vehicle is a Volvo S90 D5. The Cruze is spacious, well built, and is solid on the road. The interior finishes are of top quality. Fourth gear has a particularly good ratio for towing and you seldom have to drop a gear. The Cruze is in its element on the open road and I find towing between 110 and 120 km/h a breeze. The fuel consumption varies between 6,7 ℓ/100 km and 4,3 ℓ/100 km for urban and highway driving respectively, while hitching the Sprite takes the figure up to 10.7 ℓ/100 km. I also tow with a Yellow Blade stabiliser. ATKV Buffelspoort remains a favourite camping destination of ours. The management is very helpful, the resort is always clean, there are enough swimming pools for everyone to enjoy, and they make a huge effort to keep the young ones happy as well.