Engine, Clutch & Gearbox:
Have had the opportunity to clock 125kms since i got delivery 2 days back ( Odo mileage at delivery was 26kms) and having spent close to 4 hours yesterday in one of the most nightmarish traffic jams ( due to rains) both times on my way to office. Below is an update of how this car feels in peak start & stop traffic.
I take my words back, the clutch "does" have a spring back action force ( it's a very very minor irritant) but, in peak traffic conditions it snarls its head up and shows its colors. Honestly, developed a slight pain in left foot after spending so much time fighting the traffic conditions.
That pain disappeared this morning though. Besides, i think also the phobia of a new 'BIG" car in heavy traffic conditions also tend to have a bearish effect on you.
Clutch is so soft that it springs back so you need to develop the habit (which will get developed in due course of time) of gradual release of the pedal. I repeat this is a minor irritant and should in no way hamper your buying decision in any way.
Having experienced this beast for 100+kms, a few words about its heart :-
"Cruze owners should be booked by police for misdemeanour for driving this beast in traffic conditions instead of unleashing it on highways"
It's a indeed a crime to drive this car in city conditions. It's got insane power and is impatiently trying to lunge forward and for a fleeting moment a silly thought of me reigning a "Horse" crossed my mind.
Just an analogy
Refinement and smoothness is the prefix and suffix names of this diesel mill and no points for guessing what's its middle name.
Having graduated from a 3-pot mill there is no irritating loud engine clatter that you get to experience on some other diesel engines. This engine has a lovely purring sound and is pleasantly smooth and has a lot of meat once on the move and you really need to have patience until 1200 RPM,
After that –
It can sprint like Usain Bolt and punch like Mike Tyson with a silken glove, if I may be allowed to be a little clichéd.
Turbo Lag is the only other irritant of this engine. Since i live in a city like Hyderabad, where majority of the roads are steeply curving upwards and some roads are so steep, you may have to even go down to the bottomest gear to trounce that part and make sure to be always above 1200rpm. As long as you have that point etched into your mind, no worries.
Once you hit the open roads, the Cruze unleashes its wonderful abilities. With loads of torque at hand, a slight dab of the accelerator paddle pushes this baby ahead in a potent yet understated manner.
Yesterday on Gachibowli road, i touched 125kmph with RPM hovering well below 2K and this would have not been possible in the Viva where i did a maximum of 100kmph due to traffic conditions.
There is always a huge amount of power available once you’re past the lower rev-range. The amazingly refined engine, along with a taut steering feel and a taut and confidence inspiring suspension which gobbles up potholes at slow speeds and shows its better abilities as speed increases gives the feeling of you sitting in a tank and nobody can even consider a thought of taking a panga with you.
Its firm suspension is it's highlight and according to me offers the optimum balance between comfort and sportiness once you’re past crawling speeds. Having driven the Viva before which was lights years behind in handling, this one feels like a solid rock totally planted on the road.
I tried taking this car at a slight high speed over as many as 20 speed breakers yesterday ( both ways) majority of them being on Rd.No 10, Banjara Hills, it just sailed over them like they didnt exist and i was mentally prepared for a small thud to the underbody but, there was NONE. I am happy is an understatement
I would like to make a special mention of the steering. Unlike the Viva, where the steering was light (it had decent feel though) this one is relatively stiffer, heavier and bigger with a loads of precision and feel "etched" to it.
Gearing : It has lovely short throws and gives you the feeling of a sports car. But, the feel is a bit notchy and hard. Could be because its new? Can any Cruze owner confirm if the shifts will become smoother as more kms are clocked? Accent has a much smoother gear shifts.
To summarize, this engine packs so much punch that it can knock a mule sideways with its power. Cant wait to explore it on the highway which seems tough to hit atleast for next couple of weeks due to work and personal engagments.