Holden Cruze 2002 Problems

The Holden Cruze SUV was launched in Australia midway through 2002 and was imported until 2006. It didn’t enjoy the success anticipated for it, partly because most buyers in the 4WD class were looking for medium to large vehicles during that period. Though the name’s the same, these older models have no relationship with the Australian made Cruze sedans and hatches sold since 2009.Why use the same name for two completely different vehicles? We’ve no idea … put it down to the mysteries of marketing.Though the Holden Cruzes being examined in this feature were built by Suzuki in Japan, a lot of the design is Australian, done by the same team that gave us the third generation Monaro. Chunky looking body panels increase Cruze’s visual appeal when you compare it with the Suzuki Ignis on which it’s based.Suspension work was done by a team that included several Australians. Handling is surprisingly good for a vehicle in this class and the little Cruze can be tossed around on dirt or bitumen roads safely and comfortably. However, it’s a 4WD not a car, with all that means in the way of a higher centre of gravity and a greater likelihood of rolling over in extreme conditions.Under the skin the Cruze is virtually all Suzuki and has been built to a high standard.Seating is fine for four adults and three children can be carried in the back seat if the one in the centre is of an easygoing nature. However, most owners regard the Cruze as a two-seater.Boot space is compromised to make room for passengers. One big suitcase just about fills it, so many owners have the 50/50 backrest permanently folded down.This little Holden fun car is powered by a 1.5-litre engine. There's not a huge amount of torque and it tends to be developed higher in the rev range than you would expect from a small 4WD. It’s barely enough if you are doing serious on-road hillclimbing with a load on board.The five-speed manual is better than the four-speed automatic, though the latter isn't as bad as you might expect as Cruze is relatively light.Cruze isn't too bad in the bush, or even on rock shelves. Good clearance angles front and rear and a compact body can take you a long way in rough off-road conditions. But don’t drive it too hard as the relatively light construction means it can be broken more readily than purpose-built 4WD vehicles.On the beach the lightweight Holden Cruze is in its element, its low weight sees it skimming over sand the big 4WDs would sink into.There's good underbonnet and under car space so a good amateur mechanic can do a lot of their own routine servicing. Safety related items should be left to the professionals and we highly recommend you have a repair manual at your elbow before lifting those spanners for the first time.There are Holden dealers all over Australia. However, not all the ones in the outback carry spare parts for the Cruze. You’re not likely to be waiting for more than a couple of working days before parts arrive at the dealership.Parts prices and servicing costs are reasonable, though not as low as for locally-made Holdens.Insurance generally sits towards the bottom end of the scale, but there's often a fair bit of difference at times between one insurer and another. So shop around, but make sure you are comparing like with like.The final shipment of Cruze SUVs arrived in Australia in June 2006, some may not have been sold new for several months afterwards. Be wary of any advertised as 2007 models, as you’re likely to find these classed as 2006 car when you come to sell them down the track.WHAT TO LOOK FORClosely examine the whole body inside, outside and underneath.Be especially suspicious of any damage caused by off-road use - look for dents at the lower corners of the bumpers, the door sills and underneath the engine, transmission and suspension.Salt water can cause serious rust. If you suspect a Holden Cruze has been taken to play at the beach check for signs of salt underneath the body and behind the wheels (smart people tend to wash the visible areas of the wheels, but not the out of sight ones.Lift the floor mats and have a good look at the floor for signs of dampness and/or rust.Go for a professional inspection if there’s the slightest doubt about the condition because repairs to small off-roaders are likely to cost more than those for hatches in the same price bracket.Make sure that the engine starts easily, runs relatively smoothly, and that the gearbox works easily and quietly.If the Cruze pulls to one side under heavy braking there may be problems in the braking system.CAR BUYING TIPFor some strange reason small SUVs tend to be taken off road, particularly to the beach, than big ones. Beware of one that’s been knocked about by idiot drivers.

The Holden Cruze from 2002 until 2006 shouldn't be confused with the Cruze introduced in 2009. The two are such completely different vehicles that it’s hard to imagine why Holden should have reused the same name for the current model as the older one.The Holden Cruze being examined in this week’s Used Car Checkout was built by Suzuki in Japan. However a great deal of the design was Australian. Even more fascinatingly much of the body shape was penned by the same team that designed the third generation Monaro.Cruze began its life as a chunky little concept SUV based on the Suzuki Ignis. The interior styling of the Cruze is as adventurous and appealing as the exterior, with Tonka Toy style controls highlighted by bright alloy-style inserts. Under the skin is virtually all Suzuki, though the final suspension turning and component selection also involved some Australian input.The latter resulted in greater ground clearance and a wider track to suit it to Australian conditions, both on road and off. Handling is surprisingly good for an SUV of this type and the Cruze can hold on pretty well, both on sealed and unsealed roads.But always keep in mind that it’s a 4WD not a car. It has a higher centre of gravity and so there is a greater likelihood of it rolling over in extreme conditions, than do hatchbacks in similar price groups. Seating in the Holden Cruze is fine for four adults. Three children can be carried in the back seat if the one in the centre is on the smallish side. Having said that, most owners regard the Cruze as a two-seater. Boot space is compromised to make room for passengers. One big suitcase just about fills it so you will soon get used to folding down the 50/50 backrest if you have a lot to carry. This little Holden fun car is powered by a 1.5-litre engine. There's not a huge amount of torque and the grunt is developed higher in the rev range than is ideal for a 4WD.So the Cruze will struggle at times in harsh climbs. In fact, even hill climbing on sealed roads with a load on board may tax it at times. The five-speed manual is better than the four-speed automatic, though the latter isn't as bad as you might expect given that Cruze doesn’t have a lot of weight to haul. On the beach the lightweight Holden Cruze is in its element, skimming over sand that the big 4WDs sink into.Cruze isn't too bad in the bush, or even on rock shelves. Good clearance angles front and rear and a compact body can take you a long way in rough off-road conditions. But don’t drive it too hard as the relatively light construction means it can be broken more readily than purpose-built 4WD vehicles. There's good under bonnet and under car space so a good amateur mechanic can do a lot of their own routine servicing. Safety related items should be left to the professionals and we highly recommend you have a repair manual at your elbow before lifting those spanners for the first time. It almost goes without saying that there are Holden dealers all over Australia. However, not all carry spare parts for the Cruze, that’s because 4WDs aren't as common in the bush as in the suburbs (silly, isn’t it!).Holden operates an efficient parts delivery network and you’re not likely to be waiting for more than a couple of working days before parts arrive at your dealer in the remote outback. Parts prices and servicing costs are reasonable, though not always as low as for locally-made Holdens. Insurance generally sits towards the bottom end of the scale, though, for some reason, there's a fair bit of difference at times between one company and another. So shop around rather than opting for the first insurer suggested by the sales person. Just make sure you are comparing like with like before coming up with your decision. Holden Cruze didn’t enjoy the success anticipated for it, partly because most buyers in the 4WD class were looking for medium to large vehicles during that period. The final shipment arrived here in June 2006, but some may not have been sold new for several months afterwards. Be wary of any advertised as 2007 models – it's the build-plate date that counts, not the year of first registration.Salt water can cause serious rust, rust that can cause the body to be written off in a short time if repairs aren't carried out promptly. If you suspect a Holden Cruze has been beach cruising check for signs of white salt, underneath as well as on the visible parts of the body. Lift the floor mats and have a good look at the floor for signs of dampness and/or rust. Check over the complete body inside and out as well as underneath and be suspicious of any damage caused by off-road use. In particular look for dents at the lower corners of the bumper, in the door sills and underneath the engine and transmission. Make sure that the engine starts easily, runs relatively smoothly, and that the transmission works quietly and shifts gears with no fuss. Tyres with severe wear, particularly if that wear is uneven, can also indicate a harsh off-road driving. If a Holden Cruze pulls to one side or locks one of the wheels under heavy braking, it could mean expensive problems in the braking system. Go for a professional inspection if there’s the slightest doubt about the condition because repairs to small off-roaders can cost more than those for hatches in the same price bracket.Small off-road vehicles are sometimes treated as toys by kids who haven’t yet learned the lessons of mechanical sympathy...