Overall rating: 3/5
The Cruze Station Wagon is another string in the bow for Chevrolet as it starts its assault on the Irish market. While falling short of the Ford Focus Estate in terms of quality and drivability the Cruze is more than a match for its Korean rivals. The 1.7-litre diesel may be the only engine to be offered in Ireland but in truth it is all that you need.
In the metal 3/5
To appeal to buyers who would normally shy away from estate models Chevrolet has followed the lead of manufacturers like Kia and Ford by styling the Cruze SW as more of an extended hatchback than a straight out estate. A shallower rear window than the five-door hatchback hides the fact that the SW is over 10cm longer. Despite the more generous rear overhang the SW still maintains a nicely balanced profile. At the front the SW is identical to its hatchback and saloon stable mates so wears the family face and trademark Chevrolet bowtie logo. We are not too sure about the split grille though as it overcomplicates the shut lines around the bonnet.
While a lot of the switchgear inside the Cruze will be familiar to anyone who has driven an Opel recently the Chevrolet has a style all of its own. The cowls around the instrument cluster are said to have been inspired by those in the Corvette and while fabric trim on the dashboard should not work in theory, the reality is it breaks up an expanse of plastic that verges on Focus levels of quality, but ultimately falls short. Supportive seats up front offer good bolstering for long journeys while the rear seat can hold two adults with ease or a third at a squeeze over a shorter distance. With the seats in place there is an ample 500 litres of boot space on offer, growing to 1,478 litres with the rear seats collapsed.
Driving it 3/5
Only one engine - a 1.7-litre VCDi diesel unit - will be offered to Irish buyers. Thanks to a standard stop-start system it produces just 119g/km of CO2, meaning it scrapes into tax Band A - crucial to a car's success in the market right now. Mated to a six-speed manual transmission the engine lacks some of the refinement offered by rivals like the Focus but it is a strong unit that puts out 130hp and 300Nm of torque. Capable of completing the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in 9.4 seconds, the low down grunt is more than enough for overtaking but it does struggle a little to shift the SW's heft (it tips the scales at just shy of 1.5 tonnes) when driving uphill, necessitating a drop in gears. Handling wise the SW, like its hatchback sibling, is a bit of a mixed bag: vague steering offers little in the way of feedback but the chassis offers decent grip, body roll control and ride quality. Only larger road imperfections find their way into an otherwise refined cabin. It will certainly not challenge the Ford Focus in the driving involvement stakes but is more than a match for some of its over main rivals like the Kia cee'd SW.
What you get for your money 3/5
Chevrolet Ireland has yet to finalise prices and specifications for the Cruze but it is likely we will be offered the mid-range LT model that includes air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking sensors, roof rails and electronic boot release all as standard. ESC and traction control are fitted across the whole of the Cruze SW range.
An infotainment system, known as MyLink, is likely to be offered too, bringing smartphone capabilities to the car. Manufactured by LG electronics the system includes a seven-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth and USB connectivity for smartphones and MP3 players. The unit will allow owners to download special apps and will include a rear-view camera that supplements standard parking sensors.
Worth Noting
The station wagon model will join the five-door hatchback and four-door saloon in the Cruze line-up in Ireland along with five other Chevrolet models ranging from the Spark city car to the Orlando seven-seat MPV. All are available to order now from the ten-strong Chevrolet dealer network and will come with a five-year warranty.
Summary
Chevrolet Ireland has a difficult task at hand convincing buyers to go for a brand that has not been around since 2008. The economy and efficiency of the new 1.7 VCDi engine, combined with a generous standard equipment count and decent space make a compelling case, but are these enough to tempt buyers out of their crossovers and into a body style that they notoriously shy away from? Until Irish prices are announced I'm afraid we will have to reserve judgement.