2013 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.

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...

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.

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Toyota Corolla Ascent and Holden Cruze Equipe 1.8 go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Nobody can accuse GM Holden of relaxing on the Cruze. Indeed, the Aussie auto maker has set a new benchmark with its 2014 version of the small sedan and hatchback. (American companies traditionally release their new models eight months before the start of the year, hence the MY14 designation that may appear odd to Australians.)With 31 models selling for less than $30,000, the new Cruze which goes on sale in April, faces a congested small-car market where competition is red hot.The entry-level Cruze CD has been cut out of the range, being replaced by the Equipe. Starting at $19,490, which is $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.New Holden Cruze sees for the first time in a locally built car the introduction of MyLink, a new infotainment program 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 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.Musical tastes cover hundreds of styles offering more than a million tracks representing the music of more than 100,000 artists. Holden even has its own dedicated driving music channels.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.Cruze benefits from capped price servicing – petrol $185, diesel $335 – for up to four standard scheduled services for the first three years or 60,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.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. Now 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.A sound insulated, lit luggage space provides 445 litres of storage in the sedan and 413 litres in the hatch with the rear seat backs up. (I once had a car salesman mate who used to illustrate boot space of a vehicle to potential buyers by climbing inside). He would have loved the Cruze; a huge 1254-litre selling point out back to curl up in with the seats folded and tyre inflator kit in place.With safety never far from car makers’ minds, later this year Holden Cruze MyLink will take up Siri Eyes Free Integration which means owners with a compatible iPhone running iOS 6 can direct the system to perform tasks by voice.Eyes Free integration stops the screen from lighting up, ensuring drivers are not tempted to look at their phone screen. Owners simply connect their iPhone to the MyLink radio via Bluetooth and use the steering wheel voice activation button to begin and end sessions.Drivers can make voice-activated, handsfree calls to contacts on their iPhone, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number, or anyone in their saved contacts, and access their calendar and add appointments.Occupants can settle in a range of supportive seats and are protected by active and passive safety systems such as electronic stability control, antilock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control and brake assist.Six airbags - driver, front passenger, front side and curtain – and collapsible pedal release system, together with a sturdy passenger shell, have helped earn the MY14 Holden Cruze the top five-star ANCAP crash rating.Launched in Tasmania, it was a Vivaldi sort of day – four seasons in one – from winter fog to spring rain to summer sunshine to autumn hues and back, as the Cruze convoy snaked out of Hobart.Over the next 24 hours or so and more than 500 kilometres the motoring media were introduced to a range of MY14 models on some of the best and most testing roads in the country.While the 1.4, 1.8 petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines hooked up to a mix of manual or automatic transmissions had the Cruze skipping along the narrow twisty roads at full tilt, it was the sporty 1.6 petrol turbo six-speed manual that offered the most driving satisfaction.All the 230 Nm of torque was put to good use running down slower traffic, even on steep inclines. Merely dropping back to fifth gear was enough to clear the slow coach convoys.