Holden Cruze Reviews

Holden’s compact family car offering from a decade ago was the Cruze, a front-drive vehicle that can be broadly divided into two camps for the duration of its production.From its launch in 2009, through 2010 and up to March 2011, the Cruze was available as a sedan with just two engine options and was built in South Korea by GM-owned Daewoo.From the 2012 model-year until its demise in 2016, the car was built by Holden in Adelaide and in a much wider range of trim levels, engine choices and even body styles.It can be confusing, so make sure you can identify any Cruze you’re looking at to avoid paying too much.The imported Cruze was available in just one bodyshell (a four-door sedan) while the range consisted of two trim levels, CD and CDX.Engine choices were limited to a four-cylinder petrol or a turbo-diesel.Once the car was being made locally, Holden ramped up the choices with a five-door hatchback joining the sedan and a much wider range of trim levels, adding Equipe, Z Series, Sri, Sri V and a couple of new engines including a 1.4 and 1.6 turbo petrol.The used price of these variants can vary enormously, so take the time to learn to identify what’s what.How much a Cruze will cost you now has much more to do with specification and its engine that simply what year it was made or its RRP at the time.The Cruze seemed to attract a fairly conservative buyer, so you don’t see a lot of them with aftermarket rims or other sporty accessories like body kits, a rear spoiler or side skirts.Most dealers threw in floor mats and a lot of buyers opted for dealership add-ons like paint protection and rust-proofing that will add nothing to the price now.With an early example, the only real decision is petrol vs diesel, but if you’re looking at a locally made Cruze, the model comparison gets tougher as the models range from the base-model to the top of the range with a lot in between.The Cruze defied modern size protocols by being bigger than a compact but smaller than a medium-sized car.Inside, though, it was about as big as a medium car of just a few years ago thanks to efficient packaging.Many Cruze buyers were traditional Holden owners (many of whom got a surprise when the Cruze turned out to be something else altogether) and since many regional centres still had Holden dealerships, a surprising number of Cruzes lived in the sticks.You’ll spot some of them by their budge bar (although a bull bar is unlikely) and maybe even an LED light bar.Certainly the exterior design of the car allowed for these fitments, although it’s important that any nudge bar is air-bag compatible.All Cruzes had cruise-control, air-conditioning, power steering and a decent range of safety gear.It would be worth checking with a Holden dealer, too, if any warranty applies to a used Cruze.Holden was extending the warranty of some later Cruzes, beyond the standard three-year time limit, so a late version may still have factory cover.Check the boot for a spare tyre, too.Some Cruzes had just an inflation kit, others a space-saver spare tyre.The Cruze’s interior dimensions were about the same as a mid-sized car, so the packaging was pretty good.That meant plenty of interior space as well as a really good boot size for better-than-average luggage capacity.Even so, plenty of Cruzes sported roof racks come family holiday time.The five-door hatch is a more practical car than the sedan.Don’t forget, either, that between 2012 and 2016 Holden also sold the station-wagon version (still made in South Korea) alongside the locally-made Cruzes.Externally, the wagon is about the same size, but the luggage space is huge.The catch was that the wagon was not available with either of the perky turbocharged petrol engines, so it was the turbo-diesel or the 1.8 petrol or nothing.Inside any of the Cruze variants there was a ton of storage spaces including bottle-holders in each door and even an overhead console.The early Cruze had an AM/FM radio (no digital) sound system with six speakers and was MP3 compatible although there was no Apple CarPlay or Android connectivity.Examples from the mid-2013 update also got Holden’s MyLink infotainment system which included a touch screen, and Bluetooth streaming.Those cars also got keyless entry.Upmarket versions the Cruze could be had with leather seats, a sunroof was optional and air-conditioning and power steering were standard across the board.A satellite navigation system had been available on some versions, but that was replaced with the 2013 upgrade as MyLink was able to offer the same functionality with added voice control.The biggest gripe with the Cruze’s cabin is that the plastics can look and feel a bit cheap.Imported Cruzes had just two engines to choose from, a 1.8 litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel motor.For all that it was about the right size on paper, the 1.8-litre four-cylinder was a bit harsh and was only just adequate.The diesel, meanwhile, with its diesel particulate filter to clean up its emissions was sweeter and more flexible especially when paired with the six-speed automatic (there was also a five-speed manual gearbox available).When manufacture switched to Australia, Holden doubled the number of engine choices, keeping the two original powerplants and adding a 1.4 litre and 1.6-litre petrol four cylinder unit, both running a turbocharger.Of all these engines, the later ones are the picks and the 1.4 is smooth and willing while the 1.6 turbo petrol is the performance option for those who want a little more acceleration.Even so, a lot of buyers pondered the diesel vs petrol equation and chose the former for its flexibility and fuel economy.These are the Cruzes you’ll find fitted with a tow bar, although the rated towing capacity is just 1200kg, not bad for a car this size, but not huge.Much of that is down to the Cruze being front-wheel drive (there was no AWD or 4WD option).In fact, the diesel option meant that buying a petrol Cruze and converting it to LPG in the name of running costs just wasn’t worth the effort.Most buyers chose the auto transmission but the manual Cruze is a surprisingly liveable alternative, too, if you can find one second hand.When it comes to horsepower and engine specs, all Cruzes were rated from 103kW to 132kW, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.The diesel was super flexible and the turbocharged petrols were smooth and zippy.Which leaves the 1.8 non-turbo as the one you’re best avoiding.Some Cruze engines use a timing chain which should be good for the life of the car while other use a timing belt which needs periodic replacement.Fuel mileage will be best with the turbo-diesel while the 1.8 non-turbo petrol is likely to be a bit thirstier because it has to be driven so hard in the first place.At around 1400kg, the Cruze is quite heavy for its size and it has a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres.That’s not a huge tank, making the diesel fuel economy even more impressive.The Cruze’s compact dimensions mean it’s an easy drive in and around the city and suburbs with a good turning circle and enough ground clearance for clearing speed humps.That’s provided an ambitious previous owner hasn’t messed around with the suspension or added odd-sized alloy wheels and super low-profile tyres.But even on standard suspension, the Cruze is hardly a race car and while it points okay, the electrically assisted power steering can feel a bit vague at first.But overall, there’s a decent combination of ride quality and handling and the cabin is pretty quiet unless you’re in the 1.8 petrol and driving it hard.The turbo-diesel is super grunty and hardly needs a gearbox at all, while the turbo-petrols are both sweet little things that spin nicely and sound pretty good into the bargain.Straight line performance figures were never what the Cruze was about, but 0-100km/h comes up easily and the car has enough grunt and acceleration to stay with modern traffic as well as be a convincing inter-stater.Again, though, if you can afford any of the turbocharged versions, they’re a vastly nicer car.Safety features on any Cruze included six airbags including side-curtain airbags, ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, stability control, and traction control.As a result, all Cruzes sold here scored a five star safety rating for crash safety.Parking sensors became standard from the mid-21013 upgrade on, but a reversing camera was not standard on any Cruze in any trim level.The Cruze did, however, have ISOFIX child restraint mounting points as standard.Like a lot of modern cars, there’s a bit to watch out for when it comes to common faults, issues, problems and owner complaints.The diesel particulate filter becoming full and clogged is one source of these and many owners have reported multiple fault messages caused by this filter.If the filter became clogged enough, the computer would sometimes cut engine power and ultimately, a trip to the dealership was needed to clean or replace the filter which was neither cheap nor simple but was the most common of the Cruze’s diesel engine problems.A few cars have also experienced automatic transmission problems, including complete failure of the unit.Symptoms are a car that shifts erratically or can’t make up its mind what gear to be in.If the problem is bad enough, the car may not be able to select some gears or may lose the ability to move altogether.When inspecting a car, make sure the auto transmission fluid is clean and doesn’t smell of burned toast.Manual cars are less prone to transmission issues, but the clutch can still take a beating from a previous owner.Make sure any manual Cruze takes off smoothly from the lights with no shuddering or noises.Check that all the electronics work as they should and drive over some bumps to check for squeaking or rattling interior trim pieces.To add to that model’s reliability woes, the non-turbo 1.8 was also susceptible to a cracked cylinder head which can be spotted by poor running, hard starting, mis-firing and engine overheating.Service costs may be a little lower than some of the competition as Holden specified 15,000km service intervals (versus 10,000km for many cars).MORE: If anything crops up, you’ll probably find it on our Holden Cruze problems page.

For what's classified as a small car the Holden Cruze is quite large and has good leg and shoulder room for four adults.

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the 2016 Holden Cruze SRi Z-Series sedan with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the Holden Cruze SRi-Z hatch with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Other than sharing names, the Holden Cruze models introduced to Australia in June 2009 bear no relationship to the Holden Cruze 4WD sold here between 2002 and 2006.The 2009 Cruze is a four-door sedan from South Korea, though it has a fair bit of Australian design in its style and also mechanically. Most Cruzes are built in Holden factories in Adelaide, though the initial imports came from a Korean factory.For a supposedly small car, Holden Cruze is quite large and offers good leg and shoulder room for four adults. Three children plus mum and dad is a breeze in Cruze.The Cruze sedan was joined by a five-door hatchback in November 2011. The revised rear end to create the body was virtually all done in Australia and is sold in many countries globally. A station wagon further increased the body options when it was introduced in January 2013.As befits an (almost) local car Holden Cruze is powered by a variety of engines: a 1.8-litre petrol engine, a 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel and a semi sporty unit in the form of a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol. The latter comes with the bonus of a more sophisticated suspension setup and is much favoured by those looking for something out of the ordinary.Buyers originally had a choice of a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, with the auto being the most popular. A six-speed manual is offered with the turbo-petrol and diesel models. During our testing we found the turbo-diesel engine to be noisier than average for this class, it also suffers from turbo lag. Changes to later cars made it slightly better, but try for yourself. Quality of fit and finish is good, inside and out.Comfort is generally good and noise, vibration and harshness are well suppressed. Rough roads do challenge the suspension at times, but for its class Cruze is acceptable. There are Holden dealers just about everywhere in Australia, though you may not be able to get uncommon parts for the Cruze in remote locations. Generally parts can be shipped to the outback within a couple of working days.Cruze is reasonably easy for the home handyperson to do routine work. As always, keep clear of safety items unless you really know what you're doing. Having a workshop manual at your elbow is always a smart move.Insurance charges are a little lower than average for this class, reflecting the fact that a lot of components are made in this country. Premiums don't vary hugely from company to company, but it's still worth shopping around. Make sure you compare the fine print on what you're being offered.WHAT TO LOOK FORAs mentioned, build quality is pretty good as Holden factories were really getting into their stride in challenging European and Korean quality. It still makes sense to have a full inspection by a professional, after making initial checks to the best of your ability.Make sure the engine starts within a second or so of it turning over. Diesels are slower than petrols, but shouldn't take more than about three seconds to get up and running.After running the engine on a light load for a few minutes floor the throttle and make sure it picks up with a minimum of fuss. Automatic transmissions should change gear promptly, and not hunt overmuch from gear to gear.Look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. It could mean hard driving and/or that the wheels have been kerbed and knocked out of alignment. Check the interior for signs of harsh usage, particularly from bored little darlings in the back seat.Look at the condition of the boot, also check the top of the rear bumper as it's sometimes used as a resting place for heavy items while the boot is being loaded.CAR BUYING TIPA good area to start inspecting a car is at the left-front wheel and tyre. That's generally the spot that gets thumped by those who didn't score ten out of ten during parking lessons. And who may not be good at driving either...

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.

Nissan Pulsar ST-S and Holden Cruze SRI go head-to-head in this comparative review. .star {width:135px;}#article-corpus {width:100%; padding-right: 0;}

Holden and Ford have a longstanding rivalry on the race track -- but it's tame compared to the showroom battle.

Small-car buyers have plenty of reasons to welcome the Nissan Pulsar back to their shopping lists. Around 18,990 of them, by our count.That's the driveaway price for the Pulsar sedan and hatch until the end of this month, and it's unlikely to go much higher in 2013 as boatloads of the born-again Japanese small car continue to dock in Australia. Nissan has set a year-end target for deliveries of its born-again baby and is now landing the cars needed to hit the bullseye, with big incentives on several fronts to ensure it happens.The current deal includes on-road costs and a $1000 bonus, labelled as the 'Switch' incentive, but if you drill a little deeper you discover the reality of Nissan's pricing push. It effectively means the Pulsar - if you allow $2000 for on-roads and then add the extra $1000 - is a $15,990 car in Australia at the moment. And that's unbeatable buying.The Pulsar is not the best car in the class, and we think it's a bit dowdy in some areas, but it does the job and a lot of people are coming back to the badge after the unfortunate experience - for Nissan and its customers - with the underdone Tiida. What the Pulsar really means is that any brand with a small car to shift needs to be setting the bar low enough to compete with the new Nissan, both sedan and hatch.We've seen it many times in recent years, back from the 1990s when Hyundai was the first to go big on driveaway pricing with its Excel tiddler and other rushed to join the feeding frenzy. It's been the same more recently with five-year warranties and capped-price servicing, which are both intended to give customers a benefit that doesn't affect the car's resale value while also giving them certainty on their purchase.Not long ago, baby cars like the Hyundai i20 were pegged at $15,000 and $19,990 became the default setting for small cars. Toyota admitted as much last year when it landed its all-new Corolla and priced it just below the psychological barrier at $20,000.But the Nissan push has driven down the transaction prices - the level at which cars are really sold, not advertised and definitely not the Recommended Retail Price - considerably below the $19,900 level before on-roads or the near-essential automatic gearbox that drives the deal closer to $25,000.If you scan the advertising over the past month it's easy to find driveaway rivals at $18,990, including the Ford Focus, with most small cars now pitched with an on-road price at $19,990. We've compiled our list of contenders using the RRP because there is always going to be some sort of sales incentive, so keep a sharp lookout and watch for the day when your first choice goes on sale.Best of all for buyers, the price genie is now out of the bottle and - as Nissan continues to push the Pulsar - there will be deals through to the end of 2013 and probably well into next year. And beyond.Holden Cruze Price: from $19,490 Output: 1.8-litre four, 104kW/176Nm; 5-spd manual/6-spd auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 7.0L/100kmThe surprise packet this year, as a seemingly-minor facelift makes the locally-made Cruze a better drive with more class. Now a car you definitely recommend to friends, especially with a tasty starting price.Hyundai i30Price: from $20,990Output: 1.8-litre petrol four, 110kW/178Nm; 6-spd manual and auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 6.5L/100kmAs good as the Toyota Corolla for comfort and class, but better as a value deal and definitely the one to benchmark in this class. The former Carsguide COTY winner has always been good buying, too.Ford FocusPrice: from $20,290 Output: 1.6-litre four, 92kW/159Nm; 5-spd manual/6-spd auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 6.2L/100kmThe best driving car in the class thanks to a tight chassis, although the 1.6-litre base engine is nothing special and nowhere near the fun factor providing by the turbo in the 2-litre ST. A sensible choice, although the dashboard is a confusing miss-match of switches.Nissan Pulsar Price: from $24,990 Output: 1.8-litre four, 96kW/174Nm; 6-spd manual, CVT auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 6.7L/100kmA lot of people have been waiting for the Pulsar to return and it's a solid contender, not an outright leader. Quiet and comfy, for sure, but not as good as some of its rivals. But Nissan has big ambitions for the Pulsar and it's the leader on dollar deals.BUYING SECONDHANDThere was a time, for a very long time, when a Toyota Corolla was the automatic choice for anyone looking to buy their first car. That drove up secondhand prices and helped provide plenty of willing buyers who graduated to a Corolla for their first new car. But not now.The first Japanese baby car to really hit the sweet spot in Australia has been overtaken by compact contenders from South Korea and the Hyundai i30 is the current Carsguide choice for savvy secondhand shopping. A Corolla might look good, and plenty of people still recommend them, but their prices are artificially inflated by their history in Australia.The i30 matches the Corolla in most areas including comfort and economy, and is bulletproof reliable. But it's smarter buying and you can get an equivalent car, or something newer or with fewer kilometres, than you would spend on an equivalent Corolla. What makes the i30 more enticing is the five-year warranty, which means buying near-new at around $15,000 can provide a car that still has the remainder of the manufacturer's cover.If you're spending more, or intent on a diesel engine for long-distance driving, the i30 ticks that box. And there is also an i30 wagon, in a class where SUVs have virtually exterminated the once-popular baby station wagon. 

The Holden Cruze hatchback was largely designed in Holden’s Melbourne studio. It’s built at the Holden plant in Adelaide, and has undergone extensive local engineering for Australian conditions.  That’s not the only good news for the Australian automotive industry; the Aussie designed Holden Cruze is made in various GM factories worldwide and is being sold in more than 60 countries, where it’s generally badged as a Chevrolet.This significant Australian input in the Cruze enhances the reputation of our local engineers and stylists and will stand our country in good stead as the future of the industry shakes out over the next few years.Holden Cruze comes with a choice of three body types (sedan, hatch and wagon) four engines and in four specification levels, Equipe, CDX, SRi and SRi-V. Our test car was the sporty SRi hatchback and we found it to have just about everything we want in a midsize car. The buyer looking for a touch of sportiness in a sensible family car will love it.The Holden Cruze SRi has five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, a body kit comprising front and rear fascias and side skirts, front foglamps, a shapely rear spoiler, chromed grille and chrome inserts in the door handles.Holden Cruze has Bluetooth connectivity and there’s voice recognition for a good range of functions. The six-speaker audio system with in-dash MP3 compatible CD player can be operated via steering wheel-mounted controls.  At night the instruments are bathed in a clear blue light that we found just right. The automatic headlights have a ‘follow-me home’ function and there’s remote keyless entry.Cruze also gets MyLink, Holden’s new infotainment system that’s standard across the range. In addition to being able to call up stored songs from a phone or MP3 player and FM/AM stations via the car radio, when a mobile device with 3G data connection is hooked up to the MyLink system, the driver will also be able to get streamed digital content from applications including Pandora music radio and Stitcher on-demand radio.Drivers can access Pandora through the MyLink touch-screen, streaming favourite radio stations as well as using the ‘thumb up’ and ‘thumb down’ buttons to tune station preferences or select music genres. They can also pick out the next track via a steering wheel button or the touch-screen controls. Via the Stitcher embedded app, drivers can choose from more than 15,000 news, comedy, sports and talk radio shows and podcasts from global broadcasters including NPR, CNN, Fox and the BBC.The previous entry-level Cruze CD was dropped from the range earlier this year, being replaced by the Equipe. Starting at $19,490, $2000 less than the model it replaces, it offers excellent value. Added features include foglamps, sports grille, 17-inch alloy wheels and rear park assist as standard.Cruze CDX (starting from $24,190) gains premium features including keyless entry with push button start and a reversing camera. The last is also added to the range-topping SRi-V (from $26,490), while the SRi sport model (from $22,490) gets rear park assist as standard.Those familiar with the Aussie made Holden Cruzes will recognise three engines from the Series II range – the 1.4-litre iTi and 1.8-litre petrol engines and 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel.  The MY14 Cruze introduces an additional engine, a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol unit which is standard in the SRi and SRi-V sport models.  Average fuel consumption in our SRi test car was in the six to eight litres per 100 kilometres on easy country runs and motorways. The figure rises to nine to eleven litres around town if you’re combating commuting traffic.The cabin was welcoming and comfortable. The six-way adjustable driver and front passenger seats were appreciated. The seats have bolsters that support reasonably well in cornering, though you wouldn't call them true sportscar seats.  There’s good legroom for back-seat passengers, something that’s not always a given in this class of car.  There are twin fold-out centre drink holders for use in the front, but only two holders for the three riding in the back.A wide-opening rear hatch and low loading lip means easy access to the 413-litre boot. If you want a full-size spare wheel, it’s a no-cost option. But it cuts the boot space to 325 litres, though you pick up some of this with compartments under the floor providing nine litres of concealed stowage space. Luggage volume can be up to 1254 litres when the flat-folding 60/40 split rear-seat backs.The six-speed manual gearbox works well enough, though the ‘throw’ is rather long for our tastes. Having a manual helps to keep the engine on-song when you’re in a hurry. A six-speed automatic transmission with Active Select is also on the price list.Handling shows the Aussie influence of models for our local market. Ride is slightly firm to gain the best dynamics and we liked the way it remained reasonably neutral in its handling despite having front-wheel-drive. It responds promptly to steering and throttle inputs and corners safely at speeds that are unlikely to be reached by most owners.  A sports coupe it’s not, but Holden Cruze SRi provides an excellent machine for the family car driver that wants something more than mere transport.