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Cruze hatchback first pictures

Chevrolet shows off Cruze hatch at Paris Motor Show.

Chevrolet Cruze hatchback front

September 2010

Meet the Cruze that’s hatching big plans in Europe! This compact version of the Cruze was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, and is the second of four new cars that will feature on the American firm’s stand.

The Cruze hatchback will join the Orlando, as well as a facelift of the Captiva SUV and a new version of the Aveo. The fastback design has an almost Japanese flavour, and the car looks similar to the Subaru Impreza in profile, although the big wheels and LED running lights from the show car are likely to be dropped from the production model.   

The Cruze saloon has recently overtaken the Aveo to become Chevrolet’s best selling car globally, so to broaden its appeal and further boost sales this new hatch is set to offer great value for money and compete with the likes of the Kia C’eed and Hyundai i30.

The hatch will offer nearly 400 litres of boot space, and although that’s 50 less than the saloon, a 60/40 folding seat arrangement and bigger load space should ensure this is the most practical Cruze yet.

Wayne Brannon, Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe, said that by offering a hatch back variant they were “sending out a signal that Chevrolet is now a serious mainstream player in Europe."

The current Cruze comes in S, LS and LT trims, and the new car will continue to offer the familiar line-up of four-pot engines from  the saloon. That means either a 1.6 or a 1.8-litre with 112bhp or 139bhp. The diesel option is a 2.0L with 123bhp, and 300Nm of torque.

Prices should remain broadly the same as the current range, although the hatchback could end up costing less than its stable mate, starting at around £13,000 for the 1.6i S when it goes on sale mid-way through next year.  

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5 Comments

I think you will find AE that as LED running lights will be a legal requirement from 2011 that will not be dropped, as you claim. I really wish you guys would write your articals after doing some proper reserch!

By Focus_your_mind on 3 September, 2010, 11:41am

%*$! Me

You know for 20 years SAAB has had GM rammed down it's throat. Even with thew new 9-5 AutoExpress and Co. just cannot resist telling everyone it's just a Vauxhall Insignia. Even though 80% of the Insignia was engineered by SAAB. So the reality is that OPEL are actually badge engineered SAAB's these days.

What the hell does this have to do with this article?

This is a chevy, so it's part of the GM asylum. So tell me why is there no reference to the Vauxhall Astra or GM delta architecture that this car is built on? Are AE so far up Vauxhall's exhaust pipe that your not obliged to mention synergies?

I tell you. Car Journalist are all the same. If it doesn't have a Blue and white sticker on the front it's no good. If I had any other way of finding out what was happening in the car industry then I'd gladly stop reading the excrement and vomit that's churned out by arrogant lazy people who know more about what wine should go with their salmon than the cars they are supposed to be writing about.

By W00DZ on 3 September, 2010, 4:52pm

MEEOOOW!!!!

By sgtgrash on 12 September, 2010, 8:35pm

who cares!

i dont really care who's badge is on the front of it, as long as it looks good ,goes well and lasts a few years.

this badge engineering thing isn't new you know, austin/morris did it for ever!

i kinda like this, it looks like a cross between a astra/impreza/cruze.

By carlw437 on 23 September, 2010, 11:56am

Wow, I was not expecting it to look like it does, very nice!

That is a fine looking car, chunky, purposeful and slightly agressive looking. Factor in it's about 4k cheaper than the Astra it's based on, with free 5 yrs servicing, 5yr warranty, 5 yrs roadside assistance and it is generously spec'ed, I think Cheverolet are on to a winner.

As for AE, you stated recently that there were no plans ever for a hatch. You really are the cowboys of car journalism!

By Focus_your_mind on 5 December, 2010, 3:26pm

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Pictures

Chevrolet Cruze hatchback front
Chevrolet Cruze hatchback rear
Chevrolet Cruze hatchback front
Chevrolet Cruze hatchback side

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