2011 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback revealed

An all-new iteration of the Chevrolet Cruze is set to be unveiled at the Paris auto show with the launch of a new five-door hatchback model.

The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback will compliment the current sedan model and is expected to enhance Chevrolet’s mainstream appeal in European markets where it will go on sale around mid 2011.

While Chevrolet has no plans to release the Cruze hatch in the US, the car will be introduced into “other global markets” in mid-to-late 2011 with Australia likely to be included this category.

“Hatchbacks play a critical role in many markets. For instance, the total compact segment in Europe represents around 4.8 million units which is over a quarter of the total market, with hatchbacks representing around 65% of that volume,” Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe said.

The Chevrolet Cruze hatch is rather attractive with its sweeping coupe roofline, short overhangs and same strong stance as its sedan sibling.

It will benefit from the same dynamic abilities as the sedan since it is based on the same body-frame integral system (BFI) which results in high levels of stability and taut body feel on the road.

The luggage capacity of the hatchback is close to 400 litres when taking into account the 60/40 split rear seat design.

Jabba the Hutt

Whether you’re a holden fan or not I think people would agree that is a good looking car.

http://zuboora.com mohamad is right when he

whats so HOLDEN about it??… id rather the opel astra anyday

Golfschwein

Um…this is the one that was designed in Australia by Holden, it seems. Other web sites reporting this car are less shy about its origins.

Car Enthusiast

Obviously, Americans, they can never conseed defeat or consider taking second place to others.

Example, With the Camaro, very little americans know that it was built on the Commodore Zeta platform.

andronicus

Yes it is a job well done…..BUT like the current Impreza I just dont like cars coming out where the rear light configuration does not seem to match the front lighting design. It is the same thing with the current Cruze sedan but less obvious. The front light housing is angular and aggressive while the rear lights have a softer, curved housing. Just doesnt match. ALTHOUGH its no where near as bad as the disparity between the Impreza front and rear and then again from hatch to sedan.

maximark

Look like the impreza from the side, but it’s good that the Cruze will be built in Australia.

qwerty

Spot on about looking like an Impreza!

Squeek

Looks vaguely like an Impreza…more accurate would be to say it looks like an Impreza syled by a competant styling team.

Joel

first thing i thought when i saw the side profile was imreza….. but ths is an excellent looking vehicle, i think it looks better then an impreza and the cruze sedan which lookd like a squished commodore,it needs a way more powerfull engine before i think about buying one.

davie

Looks like what the impreza should have looked like.

The impreza looks like a 90′s Daewoo Lanos 5 dr hatch
jojo

Agee…with an Alfa Mito rear end with different tailight design.
Dave S

Ther Cruze hatch looks great. It’s kind of a impreza meets new Astra (with the best bits of both). Big circle tail light seen in many holden from Monaro, Epica, Captiva to VE SS models. Thumbs up.

Opelman

Good looking car. Well done Holden. Still want my Opel Astra, the front does not suit the rest of the cars flowing lines. Looks like the front of a different car has been attached to the rear of another car

Andrew M

I agree.

The nicely flowing rear of the car has dated the front.

Nothing wrong with copying the Astra cross Impreza rear because they are probably the 2 sleekest out there.

But yeah, a new front is needed to get it to really flow

Baddass

I think it looks really good, fixes what was stylistically wrong IMO with the sedan, namely the tail lights and strange proportions. The McLaren SLR tail lights are a nice touch too.

TomJ

VERY good looking

it combines the muscular cruze front end and removes its awkward back.

D

Agreed. I think I have found my Mazda3 replacement for when the time comes.

aurion lover

Stick to your mazda , remember this will be built in oz .

Dennis

Mate, So is the Aurion… LOL

Able

The rear is a bit… Odd… To me but otherwise it’s quite cool!
toxic_horse

Love the look of this . Even the LED’s look good unlike on the HSV.
I hope they make a Commodore Sportwagon inspired Cruze Wagon.
SCHUSS

It looks good because it looks similar to the Astra
Yianni

Good looking car for sure. I think it will be a winner.

The Cruze will be built here locally soon, right?

Joel

unfortunately yes.

TK

OPEL STILL BETTER LOOKING.
TuffGuy

Funny how all those confirmed Hyundai haters who claim they go around stealing everybodys designs are nowhere to be seen now that we have a Holden that looks like an Impreza. Of course they are too stupid to even realise that everyone steals design cues from everyone else. A recent prominent example is the LED driving lights first seen on an Audi. How many other brands are using those now????

chrisg

all euro cars now must have the daytime running lights, its a EU requirement

Joel

holden just does it too seem upmarket and cool

TuffGuy

As for the Cruze hatchback, with the exception of the ugly American grille it looks really good. Also a good foundation for HSV to maybe work on too, or Holden with some sporty or performance variants.
Byron

Holden Cruze hatchback looks awesome. Looks like an Impreza from the side, but back end looks heaps good.Looks better than a Corolla or Mazda 3 hatch. This will be a car that every Australian will be proud of & imagine how good it will look when HSV gets it’s hands on it. Can’t wait until it comes out, Go HOLDEN!

Devil’s Advocate

Do you mean just like how HSV have “improved” the look of the standard and quite good looking VE??!!!

Squeek

M yes well regardless of what Ford fanboys on the Car Advice comments section think of HSV E Series 2, it’s selling 67% more than this time last year. Guess those whose opinions REALLY matter (buyers) are voting with their wallets.

Frosty

Why has it not been mentioned in this article that this car is designed at Holden headquarters in Melbourne and will be built in Adelaide? There is also a strong Prospect of there being imports of the car from Australia to other markets. This is not only common knowledge of the fact that this is the 2nd car built at Elizabeth but is also mentioned in other car sites.

andronicus

Because the majority of the design is a carry over from the european designed Cruze sedan. They just added a hatch. But yes they did this well, so good on them.

Golfschwein

Holden deserves success with this. If this car retains the rear beam axle of the sedan and Opel brings itself and its Astras to town with the multi link rear suspension, there’ll be room for both.

Mac

No, the Astra uses a torsion beam rear end also.

Golfschwein

You made me research this, Mac. The Vauxhall web site says it’s a Watts linkage suspension. With no proud claim of it being fully independent multi link etc etc, would I assume that it’s still a beam rear axle with a Watts link?

Devil’s Advocate

From what I can gather from the “cutaway” picture I have seen on the www, it is basically a development of the torsion beam rear axle (they call it a ‘compound crank rear axle’) with a watts linkage added to it. It supposedly keeps the more compact packaging and camber control of a torsion beam whilst providing the lateral stability/control of a multi link. Wonder how it would go on a really rough road ie, most Australian highways!

Nath746

it looks a little bit like a BMW X6 that has been lowered (from the side) or a bit like the ugle 5 seried GT. front looks too american and rear looks too much like trying to imitate a volkswagen polo
Kris

I daresay the hatch could sell better than sedan. Looks pretty neat and the 1.4 turbo engine going in both cars should make it a bit more attractive for the semi-sporting enthusiasts out there.
http://volvoadventures.com volvoadventures

The best looking hatchback in its pricerange
myf20c

looks like a winner to me. hope they stick a nice engine in there
Robin Graves

Now, the design is handed to Daewoo to totally f&*k up the assembly to bring it in line with GM quality…

Bent 8 Brigade

Yes Robyn, if only every car was as reliable and as well built as your white automatic Toyota Corolla.
Now that’s quality, hey sistah!

Robin Graves

I guess driving a V8 must make you feel ‘bigger’ hey Bent Snagger Brigade?

A

I don’t think it looks bad, but I don’t think the back has been sharply styled enough for the front. The front and back just don’t quite match up. Also, as well as similarities to the Impreza, I think the back also looks an awful lot like the MG ZR/Rover 25.
Mike

Very nice looking car and sounds like it is going to arrive right when I am ready to trade in. Hope they throw in a couple of groovy colours.
http://volvoadventures.com volvoadventures

It looks like a very practicle vehicle that will become a top selling car in Austalia and NZ if the price is right. I want one.
Shak

A very nice replacement for my Cruze Sedan. I just hope it keeps the funky tailights, and the overall design. But it would be nice for them to do a couple of updates to the front end for the next gen model(aka Aussie made model). Good job GM Holden, keep it up making stunning concept cars like this.
bangel

Just another korean hunchback , nothing special .

GM playing catch up with the rest of the world .
birdie

i bet if this thing had a Chinese badge on it, the comments here would be a hell of alot different in regards to similarities

Robin Graves

Thats the whole thing with rednecks and their blind love with GM, if it’s got a GM badge on it they love it. Its just another polished turd from GM and Daewoo, it might look nice and shiny on the outside but its all faecal matter under the skin. The sad thing is how much our tax dollars will go down the gurgler propping up this rubbish.

bangel

Yes they dont stand the test of time , tend to loose the gloss very quickly .

Some actually believed that nova’s and apollos were made by GM .

Igomi Watabi

Bangel, nobody ever believed that Novas and Apollos were made by GM, what a ridiculous thing to say.

toxic_horse

Robin. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.
The Korean made Cruze has already proved itself to be a quality vehicle.
How can you claim that this is rubbish under the skin when it has not even been made yet ?
Why don’t you do yourself a favor and just go away. that way you will stop embarrassing yourself by advertising your obvious lack of knowledge.

Robin Graves

So you are trying to tell me the hatch will be vastly different mechanically than the current sedan? So it might have some half-ar$ed attempt at an ‘eco’ friendly 1.4 turbo, at least it might be a 20th century design unlike some other GM boat anchors. Its irrelevant whats underneath anyway because the ignorant rednecks will lap up whatever is fed to them from Holden anyway.

Captain Nemo

So come on Miss Graves tell me what automotive icon you drive. Probably a white automatic Hyundai Excel seeing Hyundai seems to be the only company you don’t bag.
toxic_horse

And you will blindly bag any car not made in Europe.
Bent 8 Brigade

I believe it’s been mentioned elsewhere that Miss Robyn drives a reliable white automatic Toyota Corolla

filippo

It will be interesting too see how much these will cost once they are built in Australia. If Holden want to make any money, they will need to charge more than what the current Daewoo factory sourced Cruzes go for.

birdie

Good point
Dom

If you knew some things in the world, it’s that South Korean labour isn’t cheap. It’s not like the Chinese, it’s equivalent to England’s.

nolemonplease

Opel Astra? Ha…Ha..Ha…

Opel is infamous for producing unreliable cars…Wake up Guys…
Car Fanatic

It’s not a bad looking car, but it doe look like an Impreza from the side. As for the Opel Astra, it has the same torsion bar rear that will be used in this Cruze, intact Bob Lutz has openly admitted to heavily raiding the Opel Astra parts bin to put the Cruze together. Does this mean the Cruze will be no more reliable than the Astra?
Mythfrances

Its good looking, but not that overwhelmingly charming for me. It looks like a mixture of many cars (impreza, focus, vaguely i30 etc) , which is not a bad thing in this case.