Pictured above is the production version of the all-new Chevy Cruze. This past Fall we have sampled from Chevy the Camaro RS and Equinox, both great vehicles that we would happily recommend to anyone. But the real test for Chevy comes with the Cruze, as the outgoing Cobalt, although a strong seller, failed to convince critics that GM could build a compact car that could stand toe to toe with a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. The time has come, and General Motors must prove that it is capable of building a world-class compact car if it expects to survive in the 21st century.
The Cruze will go on sale in North America in the third quarter of 2010. Available will be the LS (with a 1.8L four rated at 136) and LT and LTZ with a 1.4L turbo four rate at 138hp, but with greater torque and fuel economy than the base mill. Both engines offer a choice of six-speed manuals or automatics. With the Cruze, Chevy is boasting ten standard airbags, and greater interior and cargo room than the Civic or Corolla. With available features like heated leather seats and Bluetooth, satellite radio, Chevy also wants to offer equal luxury and infotainment features available from the Mazda3 as well. To win in this tough segment, that is a must.
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