Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT

To say Chevrolet bosses have high hopes for the Cruze would be an understatement. They claim the newcomer raises the bar for design, quality and refinement not only for the brand, but for the whole value family car segment.

That’s a bold assertion, yet the Cruze gets off to a promising start. On the surface, its swept-back headlamps and split-level grille provide a striking look, and its tidy rear end is inoffensive. It’s been styled to appeal to a global audience, so it won’t turn heads on UK roads.

One key difference between these two cars is the Chevy’s four-door layout, which impacts on practicality. Its boot is big enough to carry a reasonable 450 litres of luggage – however, it loses out to the gigantic 560-litre load area in the five-door Octavia.

The interior does provide some welcome surprises, though. Not only is there a reasonable amount of space, but it’s neatly laid out, with an attractive steering wheel, fabric inserts on the dash and chunky Vauxhall-derived switchgear. The central storage cubby behind the handbrake gets in the way when changing gear, and the Cruze’s light-coloured plastics look low rent when compared to the Octavia’s darker finish.

Overall design is busy, too, but then so is the kit list. In LT trim, there’s a huge tally of standard equipment, including climate control, six airbags, rear parking sensors, plus cruise and stability control.

Our 1.8-litre petrol-engined car features variable valve timing and is good for 139bhp and 176Nm of torque, so it’s evenly matched with the 1.4-litre turbo in the Octavia, which produces less power and more torque.

On the road, a different picture emerges, because the Chevy has little in the way of low-down punch and needs to be worked hard to keep up with the lively Skoda. Peak torque arrives at 3,800rpm, yet the Octavia generates maximum shove at only 1,500rpm, and this makes a big difference.

We were only able to rate the Skoda’s performance at the test track, and it covered 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds. Chevrolet claims the Cruze does 0-62mph in 10 seconds – and the difference feels even greater.

With only five gears to choose from, and a heavier shift, the newcomer isn’t as refined at motorway speeds, but on twisty roads it is more involving to drive than its softly sprung rival.

The Cruze has composure in corners and lots of grip. Body control is tighter than in the Skoda, so the Chevy feels more agile and its light steering is precise and responsive.

At the pumps, the Cruze’s 27.5mpg figure trails the Skoda by only 1.3mpg, while it puts out a mere 5g/km more CO2, at 159g/km. Yes, it’s arguably the best Chevy money can buy. Is that enough to win this tough test?

Details

WHY: New family saloon uses the same underpinnings as next-generation Vauxhall Astra, and is competitively priced.