Skip advert
Advertisement
Car group tests

Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback vs rivals

Chevrolet has finally launched a five-door version of its Cruze. Can it close the gap on its Skoda and Mitsubishi rivals?

Skoda Octavia vs Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback vs Mitsubishi Lancer

Family hatchbacks are big business in the UK – and this hasn’t gone unnoticed at Chevrolet. Until now, the firm’s capable Cruze has been available only as a traditional saloon, but in an effort to achieve greater showroom success, bosses have finally pulled the wraps off a versatile five-door version.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Promising more passenger space and greater flexibility, the newcomer aims to topple rivals from the top value brands. We test the car in well equipped LT guise, with the 161bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine. Add Chevrolet’s generous five-year warranty, and it’s not hard to see the Cruze’s appeal. But it faces some stiff competition.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Chevrolet Cruze

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68687","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

The talented Skoda Octavia is a firm family car favourite at Auto Express, thanks to its spacious cabin, composed chassis and refined diesel unit. Better still, it’s finished in the top four of our Driver Power owner satisfaction survey for the past six years running.

And don’t dismiss the Mitsubishi Lancer. It’s often overlooked, but with a mixture of dependability, value and space, this five-door is a sensible family choice.

To beat these rivals, the Chevrolet will have to be good. We see if it’s up to the challenge.

Verdict

Conquering the competitive family car sector is a big ask for the Chevrolet Cruze hatch. The good news is that the newcomer gets a lot of things right. It’s better looking than the saloon version and is impressively practical. On top of that, it boasts the most powerful engine, is the cheapest to buy and comes with a decent haul of kit. The icing on the cake is the company’s five-year warranty and great-value fixed-price servicing.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Kuga

2023 Ford

Kuga

12,645 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £21,674
View Kuga
500

2020 Fiat

500

19,771 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £8,541
View 500
Juke

2023 Nissan

Juke

48,681 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,291
View Juke
CR-V

2018 Honda

CR-V

57,546 milesManualDiesel1.6L

Cash £11,222
View CR-V

Even so, the Cruze hasn’t done enough to topple the Skoda. The Octavia is a polished performer, with the neatest handling, the strongest engine refinement and the most spacious cabin in this test. Better still, top-notch build quality and classy materials make if feel like a model from the class above. Yes, it will cost you more to buy – but we reckon it’s worth every extra penny.

That leaves the Mitsubishi bringing up the rear. Its sporting heritage and aggressive looks flatter to deceive, as the Lancer is way off the pace in this sector. Although it’s well equipped and should prove reliable, we would recommend spending your money on something else in this class.

1. Skoda Octavia

Spacious, comfortable Octavia is simply unbeatable in this sector. It costs more than its rivals here, but the superb quality, composed chassis and smooth drivetrain mean it feels like a premium offering in this company. ESP should be standard, though.

 

2. Chevrolet Cruze

Practical hatch adds another string to the Cruze’s bow, and the price makes it hard to resist. Diesel engine is strong, while the five-year warranty, fixed-price service deal and generous equipment list make the Chevrolet a great choice. Yet driving dynamics let it down.

 

3. Mitsubishi Lancer

Great performance, aggressive looks and decent value mark out the Mitsubishi. But that’s about it. Put simply, the Lancer feels a generation behind its opponents here in terms of road manners, refinement and engineering.

Skip advert
Advertisement

More reviews

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £16,850
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,161 off RRP*
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,776 off RRP*Used from £13,850
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,063 off RRP*Used from £14,910
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k
Geely EX5 - front

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k

This new electric SUV is coming soon to the UK from Volvo and Lotus parent company, Geely
News
15 Sep 2025
Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain
Nissan Qashqai electric render Avarvarii - front 3/4

Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain

There will be an overlap of powertrains for the big-selling SUV
News
15 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month
Polestar 4 - cornering, low shot

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month

Fancy something smart and sophisticated? You won’t look back with the Polestar 4. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 13
News
13 Sep 2025