Holden Cruze is a competent and affordable mini 4WD.HOLDEN Cruze is a funky little 4WD that can be tossed around on dirt or bitumen roads safely and comfortably.
As a city cruiser it really is in its element, although it is far from disgraced in light offroad activity, especially at the beach.
You wouldn’t really call it a sporty offroader, but it’s fun to drive if you don’t get too ambitious going into corners.
Cruze has an aggressively chunky shape that appeals to the younger generation in the way that few other 4WDs do.
The cabin’s styling is as adventurous and appealing as that of the exterior with chunky controls highlighted by bright alloystyle inserts.
Holden’s smallest 4WD vehicle is actually built by the company’s General Motors sibling, Suzuki, and is based on the Ignis.
There is, however, plenty of Aussie input to improve the vehicle.
The biggest alterations to create the Cruze from the Ignis were to the suspension as requested by the Australian engineering team and tested over 35,000 kilometres at Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground.
This was partly to raise the ground clearance so the Cruze could be imported as a truck instead of a car and attract a lower tariff rate, but mainly to widen the track and improve onroad handling.
Interestingly, the body changes that transformed the little Suzuki into a little Holden were done by the same team that gave us the Monaro coupe so there’s a real sporty flair to the appearance.
Seating is fine for four adults and three children can be carried in the back seat if the one in the centre is of an easygoing nature.
However, most tend to regard the Cruze as a twoseater with space for a couple more if need be.
As with most small cars, boot space has been seriously compromised to make room for passengers.
One big suitcase just about fills it so you will soon resort to turning down the 50/50 folding backrest if you have large luggage to carry.
Cruze is powered by a 1.5litre engine, again at the request of the Australian engineers who felt the 1.3litre unit used on Japanese domestic markets just wasn’t enough.
A good decision as even the 74 kW of the 1.5 is barely enough if you are doing serious onroad hillclimbing with a load on board.
The fivespeed manual is better than the fourspeed auto in this regard, though the latter isn’t as bad as you might expect.
Fuel consumption is appropriately frugal at around 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and around 7.0 L/100km on the highway.
Treat it the way it is intended, that is as a fun vehicle with some offroad ability, and you will enjoy life in one of these wellpriced little Holdens.
To arrange a test drive contact Barry Bourke Holden, 755 Princes Highway, Berwick, phone 9707 2222, or Cranbourne Holden, 217A South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne. Phone 5995 4555.
MODEL RANGE
Holden Cruze 1.5litre fivedoor wagon $18,990
