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Hello guys, let me share my impressions after drive testing the Cuze diesel, 1.6 with MT. I drove the car in the city (80%) and on highway for a couple hours. I plan(ed) to get this car so I paid attention to details. Below are my impressions:
The good:
- Cruise control stays engaged even if you shift (MT), if you don’t keep the clutch pressed longer than 2 sec I think. I drove many cars with this feature in Europe and I really enjoy it. Good job! :th_salute:
- Quiet engine, regardless of RPMs.
- START button and no need to put the key fob in any special place, just keep it in your pocket.
- Good MPG, the average for 2 hours, 80% city, at low speed, stops, etc, was 38.4! I’m impressed! :bowdown:
- Nice combination of the colors for the electronic display: black background with white text, numbers. It is relaxing for eyes.
- Felt very stable on highway, even on HIGH speed! I still had pedal left but I didn’t want to get a ticket.
- Nice display with rear camera and a lot of “toys” that I didn’t have enough time to play with.
- Button for opening the trunk inside. Remember that the initial Cruze generations don’t have it, so you open the trunk with the key fob or from the button on the trunk.
- Third gear has a LOT of power, you can use it in many situations.
The not so good (bad):
- The 1[SUP]st[/SUP] gear is… weird! A lot of RPMs and the car barely moves with 5MPH! I tested it and I could start the car with the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] gear “normal”, without any problem. I think the ratio is like that to help starting on the hill and get more torque but I didn’t like it at all. :jump:
- Handbrake lever is… flimsy! Not properly guided into the console so you feel it moving left and right when you engage the brake. No eBrake yet? Shame on you GM! :th_down:
- Wipers move in the opposite directions, I personally like better the “classic” movement in parallel.
- The dash was rattling on different RPM, unacceptable for a new car in my opinion.
- The knob for adjusting the side mirrors is on the door, perpendicular on it, so you have to use your hand in a strange position to adjust the mirrors.
- The button to open the trunk is inside now but… still doesn’t work if the engine is idling. So if you are picking up somebody with some luggage, you have to stop the engine, open the trunk and restart the car. :th_down: Lucky there is the start button now!
- Brakes were a little “weak” for hard braking, but let’s say because they were new.
- The arm rest lid gets a new design but the same issue as the original model: it will slip back all the time when you keep your elbow on it and keep shifting the gears.
- The information on the screen could be better, you have on info at the time instead of combinations like: average MPG and instant MPG, etc. You will play a lot with the displays..
- No garage opener integrated into the car.
Loaded, with all the gizmo on it, the car goes up to $30k! I have to think about that for a while and see what other options with MT I would have (diesel or not) available by the end of the year. I like the Subaru Legacy but the MT is available just for Canadians.. Mazda 6 maybe... I have enough time to think about it. :smile:
The good:
- Cruise control stays engaged even if you shift (MT), if you don’t keep the clutch pressed longer than 2 sec I think. I drove many cars with this feature in Europe and I really enjoy it. Good job! :th_salute:
- Quiet engine, regardless of RPMs.
- START button and no need to put the key fob in any special place, just keep it in your pocket.
- Good MPG, the average for 2 hours, 80% city, at low speed, stops, etc, was 38.4! I’m impressed! :bowdown:
- Nice combination of the colors for the electronic display: black background with white text, numbers. It is relaxing for eyes.
- Felt very stable on highway, even on HIGH speed! I still had pedal left but I didn’t want to get a ticket.
- Nice display with rear camera and a lot of “toys” that I didn’t have enough time to play with.
- Button for opening the trunk inside. Remember that the initial Cruze generations don’t have it, so you open the trunk with the key fob or from the button on the trunk.
- Third gear has a LOT of power, you can use it in many situations.
The not so good (bad):
- The 1[SUP]st[/SUP] gear is… weird! A lot of RPMs and the car barely moves with 5MPH! I tested it and I could start the car with the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] gear “normal”, without any problem. I think the ratio is like that to help starting on the hill and get more torque but I didn’t like it at all. :jump:
- Handbrake lever is… flimsy! Not properly guided into the console so you feel it moving left and right when you engage the brake. No eBrake yet? Shame on you GM! :th_down:
- Wipers move in the opposite directions, I personally like better the “classic” movement in parallel.
- The dash was rattling on different RPM, unacceptable for a new car in my opinion.
- The knob for adjusting the side mirrors is on the door, perpendicular on it, so you have to use your hand in a strange position to adjust the mirrors.
- The button to open the trunk is inside now but… still doesn’t work if the engine is idling. So if you are picking up somebody with some luggage, you have to stop the engine, open the trunk and restart the car. :th_down: Lucky there is the start button now!
- Brakes were a little “weak” for hard braking, but let’s say because they were new.
- The arm rest lid gets a new design but the same issue as the original model: it will slip back all the time when you keep your elbow on it and keep shifting the gears.
- The information on the screen could be better, you have on info at the time instead of combinations like: average MPG and instant MPG, etc. You will play a lot with the displays..
- No garage opener integrated into the car.
Loaded, with all the gizmo on it, the car goes up to $30k! I have to think about that for a while and see what other options with MT I would have (diesel or not) available by the end of the year. I like the Subaru Legacy but the MT is available just for Canadians.. Mazda 6 maybe... I have enough time to think about it. :smile:
