The new 1.7 litre turbo-diesel engine is perfect for the Chevrolet Cruze SW.
It packs a useful punch from low to medium revs so it has plenty of pulling power to cope with anything thrown into the back of this practical five-door estate.
With a low knee-high loadbed, sensible plastic lined sides, 60/ 40 split back seats, luggage cover and net it has all most people could want or would be delighted to have in an estate costing from about £15,400 and topping at under £21,000.
A C-segment car about the same as the Astra or Focus estates, the new Cruze SW is roomy for four, slightly tight for five, but it offers good headroom throughout and it coped well with a variety of roads ranging from motorways to B-class roads over the Derbyshire Dales which made up the launch test route to the east of Manchester.
From getaway there is a very slight hesitancy but that quickly passes and the power smoothly flows which encourages you to change up fairly quickly in this manual-only powertrain. You can have LT and LTZ trim levels but there is no automatic option, which may not please every potential buyer.
The fifth and sixth gears are really for speed above 40mph and letting it sink lower makes the 1.7 TD noticeably struggle but at the other end of the performance envelope it is utterly composed on the motorway.
Even the engine is not particularly noisy through the gears, and in fact you are more likely to appreciate the road rumbles from the wheels and tyres.
The slickness of the powertrain is matched by the direct electric power steering and well balanced brakes underfoot and the parking brake, which is really set up for left hand drive markets, holds well on slopes.
Secondary controls are mostly on stalks and the wheel-spokes and the straightforward instruments are immediately infront of the driver and give very clear readouts.
After some fiddling, because it’s not as intuitive as it might be, the on-board computer showed we averaged 45.5mpg over 111 miles, still some way off the claimed combined 62.7mpg, and we were not driving particularly hard. Clearly laid out controls but some displays not intuitive
That said, it was an easy and relaxing drive and when you look at the price of the newcomer and what you get, apart from missing out on an automatic option on the new diesel, the Chevrolet Cruze SW does a good job. It comes with a strong and simple five years warranty for enhanced residual value figures, which is good for both private and business buyers.
As private buyers are turning more towards SW or estate cars, the new Cruze is a very welcome addition to the choice available in this sector and its sharp pricing will make rivals take notice.
Fast facts
Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon LTZ with Nav £20,230
Insurance group: 21E T1
Mechanical: 4cyl turbo 130ps 1.7 litre, six speed
Performance: Max 124mph, 0-60mph 10sec
Fuel consumption: 45.5mpg on test (claimed 62.7mpg combined)
Emissions: 119gkm
Luggage capacity: 500 to 1478 litres
For: Good powertrain, roomy and well riding, competitive equipment list.
Against: No diesel automatic option, some road noise, indifferent economy.
