Daewoo Lacetti / Chevrolet Cruze

Debut: 2009
Maker: Daewoo
Predecessor: Nubira / Lacetti (2003)


Lacetti is the first fruit of Delta II, GM's first truly world platform...

Never before a Daewoo is so important to General Motors. Daewoo Lacetti is not only the first fruit of GM's new global compact car platform, Delta II, but it will also appear as Chevrolet Cruze in the global market including North America and Europe. In China and Australia it will be sold as Buick Cruze and Holden Cruze respectively. Apart from the main factory in Korea, these cars will be produced in the United States, China and Russia to supply the local market. If everything goes according to plan, its production volume will eventually top 1 million units a year !

And that does not include the 800,000 units or so expected for the next generation Opel Astra and Zafira, which will be derived from Delta II platform as well. It goes without saying that Delta II is General Motor's first truly "world platform", one that consolidates all its compact cars sold all over the world. This ensure high percentage of common parts thus greatly reduce purchasing costs.

  

Good looking and solid build surprises many

Daewoo Lacetti and Chevrolet Cruze are basically the same car except minor styling differences - actually the front grilles only. It was designed by an international team of designers located at Incheon, Korea. Development of the car was also responsible by Daewoo, at its newly upgraded Bupyung R&D center, though preliminary engineering of the platform was done in Rüsselsheim by Opel. Detroit did not involve in its development because, from the painful lessons learned in Saturn Ion and Chevrolet Cobalt, it understands that small car is not its strength.

Naturally, for a car designed and built in Korea, we have plenty of reasons to worry about its styling and build quality. However, once you see the Lacetti (or Cruze), all such worries will be washed away. This is a very handsome car, with beautiful proportion and crisped lines. Body panels are tight fit, the chassis feels solid and the interior bits are well screwed together. The dashboard design is clean and stylish. Although soft-touch plastics are absent, all surfaces are either textured or lined with quality fabrics to give a decent feel. On the move, there is a grown-up feel as wind and road noise is well insulated from the cabin.


Twin-cockpit design inspired by Corvette

More impressive is the amount of passenger room. Lacetti / Cruze runs a wheelbase some 100mm longer than Volkswagen Golf, no wonder it provides vast of legroom front and rear. Head and shoulder room are also one of the best in the class. Besides, the sedan layout provides some 450 liters of trunk space to carry a lot of luggage.

Despite of its new found dimensions and refinement, Lacetti / Cruze still sells for lower prices than its Japanese and European counterparts. This is made possible by its lower production cost as well as its simple mechanical layout. It employs struts and torsion-beam suspensions front and rear respectively, plus electrical power steering and conventional 5-speed manual gearbox as standard (a 6-speed auto is optional). Predictably, such layout does not deliver a sharp and engaging handling, which is evident in its lack of steering feel and early understeer compared with European cars. However, it is tuned to deliver comfort and ease of control. It rides supplely over rough surfaces. It cruises on motorway with plenty calmness. Its handling is predictable and secured. Most people will be happy with the way it handles and rides.


Chevrolet Cruze is the same as Lacetti except the front grilles

Not so satisfying is performance. This is because both the 114hp 1.6-liter and 140hp 1.8-liter variable valve timing engines lack low down torque. Mated with the 5-speed only gearbox, the smaller engine takes nearly 12 painful seconds to do 0-60 mph. The 1.8-liter engine claims to do that in less than 10 seconds, but it is still too slow to cheer about. Moreover, it sounds coarse working at high rev. What about the optional 6-speed automatic ? it actually makes things worse by its sluggish response.

The only respectable engine now is the 2.0-liter common-rail direct injection diesel completed with variable geometry turbocharger, which also serves Tosca (Epica) and Captiva. This advanced engine, supplied by Italian diesel engine specialist VM Motori, produces 150 horsepower and plenty of low down torque, along with reasonable refinement. But compare with petrol engines it is expensive and heavy, the latter hampers handling agility a little. Solution will be found next year when Opel offers its new 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol. Horsepower will be the same as the current 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine, but it will provide a flat torque curve that peak at 148 lb-ft. So keep you money in bank until then.


GM has never produced such a convincing small cars outside Europe...

Undoubtedly, the new Lacetti and Cruze is a vast improvement from the previous Nubira / Lacetti. It is handsome, well-built, accommodating and refined to go. While not exactly exciting to drive, it is capable enough and should satisfy most family men/women drivers. General Motors has never produced such a convincing small cars outside Europe. Is this a sign of revival ?
The above report was last updated on 25 May 2009. All Rights Reserved.
 





Specifications




General remarks

Lacetti 1.6
Cruze 1.8
Cruze 2.0 VCDi
Layout
Front-engined, FWD
Front-engined, FWD
Front-engined, FWD
Chassis
Steel monocoque
Steel monocoque Steel monocoque
Body
Mainly steel
Mainly steel Mainly steel
Length / width / height 4597 / 1788 / 1477 mm 4597 / 1788 / 1477 mm 4597 / 1788 / 1477 mm
Wheelbase 2685 mm 2685 mm 2685 mm
Engine
Inline-4
Inline-4 Inline-4, diesel
Capacity
1598 cc
1796 cc 1991 cc
Valve gears
DOHC 16 valves, VVT
DOHC 16 valves, VVT SOHC 16 valves
Induction
-
- VTG turbo
Other engine features
-
-
CDI
Max power
114 hp / 6400 rpm
140 hp / 6200 rpm
150 hp / 4000 rpm
Max torque
112 lbft / 4200 rpm
130 lbft / 3800 rpm
236 lbft / 2000 rpm
Transmission
5-speed manual
5-speed manual or 6-speed auto
5-speed manual
Suspension layout
F: strut
R: torsion-beam
F: strut
R: torsion-beam
F: strut
R: torsion-beam
Suspension features
-
- -
Tyres front/rear
205/60R16
215/50R17
215/50R17
Kerb weight
1285 kg
1290 kg
1427 kg
Top speed
115 mph (c)
124 mph (c)
130 mph (c)
0-60 mph (sec)
11.5 (c)
10.2* (5M)
9.4** (6A)
9.2 (c)
0-100 mph (sec)
-
31.2*
31.1** (6A)
-
Performance tested by: *Autocar, **C&D


Cruze LTZ 1.4 turbo


Layout
Front-engined, FWD


Chassis
Steel monocoque


Body
Mainly steel


Length / width / height 4597 / 1788 / 1477 mm

Wheelbase 2685 mm

Engine
Inline-4


Capacity
1398 cc


Valve gears
DOHC 16 valves, VVT


Induction
Turbo


Other engine features
-


Max power
140 hp / 4900 rpm


Max torque
148 lbft / 1850 rpm


Transmission
6-speed automatic


Suspension layout
F: strut
R: torsion-beam


Suspension features
-


Tyres front/rear
225/45R18


Kerb weight
1407 kg


Top speed
124 mph (c)


0-60 mph (sec)
8.9* / 8.0* / 9.0**


0-100 mph (sec)
27.8* / 24.5* / 27.7**


Performance tested by: *C&D, **MT






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