2012 Chevrolet Cruze: Competition Check

Skoda Laura

The Laura has always been the Cruze’s main rival. It has also been around in the market for longer but its current avatar is pretty much its best. Available in the brilliant 1.8 TSI and the torquey 2.0 litre diesel the Laura boasts one of the best engines in the market. The diesel which is more of the Cruze’s rival even gets a quick shifting DSG gearbox which makes up for its lack of horsepower compared to the Cruze with some lightening quick shifts while accelerating. It’s pretty spacious too and boasts one of the most cavernous boots in its class. Good looks, good performance and plenty of space, the Laura then is even now the Cruze’s biggest rival. The only chink in the Skoda’s armour is the after sales service which can get patchy.

Toyota Corolla Altis : NEXT>>

Toyota Corolla Altis

The Corolla too like the Laura and the Cruze is in its second generation. Toyota recently gave the Corolla an update which included an all new engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. The hallmark of the Corolla has always been practicality and in this aspect the car performs to the T. On the diesel front, the Corolla has the smallest heart, with a 1.4 litre D-4D unit doing the job. As a result it’s also the one with the least power figures but that’s where the cars least bits end. When it comes to space, quality and efficiency, this Japanese is right up there with the best and in some areas even betters the competition. However, when it comes to driving pleasure, it’s a car to be driven around in while the Cruze is the one you would want to drive.

Volkswagen Jetta : NEXT>>

Volkswagen Jetta

While the earlier Jetta was a little timid compared to the competition, the all new Jetta is anything but that. In fact the Jetta is quite a formidable rival to the Cruze. The new Jetta almost passes of the Passat thanks to the familiar family face across all VW’s. It’s also loaded to the brim when it comes to features. Engine and power figures are similar to its cousin the Skoda Laura but VW has made sure the two cars feel and drive different. The Jetta is also a sorted bet when it comes to high speed cruising and handling thanks to its brilliant chassis and suspension set up. The new Cruze may not match the Jetta’s dynamics but gets ahead when it comes to ride quality, overall performance and most importantly, the price.  

Renault Fluence : NEXT>>

Renault Fluence

The Fluence is the latest entrant in this segment signaling the arrival of the French in the competition. Now the Fluence hasn’t really had the best of starts and has already received an update in its young life. While it’s a spacious and robust car where it really lags behind is in the performance. With just a 110 PS on tap and quite an amount of bulk to heave around, the Fluence is not the most spirited performer. Where the Fluence excels is value for money. You get quite a bit of kit and you pay considerably less than what you pay for some of the more expensive competition. But pitch it against the Cruze, the Renault has quite a lot of ground to cover.