- Spacious interior
- Noisy 1.5-litre engine lacks low-rev torque
- Noisy manual transmission has loose shift action
- Low-speed ride lacks compliance
- Body is buffeted by cross winds
Overview
Released in June 2002, the Holden YG Cruze was a compact, all-wheel drive SUV. Although sold in Australia as a Holden, the Cruze was manufactured in Japan by Suzuki and based on its HT Ignis . The YG Cruze was powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder – that was mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
Compared to the five-door Suzuki Ignis , the YG Cruze was 10 mm longer (at 3625 mm), 45 mm wider (1640 mm) and 20 mm taller (1605 mm), though wheelbase length (2360 mm) was unchanged; ground cleararance was also increased to 180 mm. The Cruze had MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle with two trailing links.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YG Cruze | 1.5-litre petrol I4 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
74 kW at 6000 rpm | 138 Nm at 4500 rpm |
All-wheel drive system
The Cruze had an all-wheel drive system which utilised a viscous coupling that was connected to the front and rear drive shafts. In normal conditions, drive was directed to the front wheels. In the event that the front wheels rotated faster than the rear wheels, the viscous coupling would automatically engage to direct torque to the rear wheels.
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the YG Cruze included dual front airbags and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters. From April 2004, ABS was also fitted as standard.
ANCAP crash testing
In ANCAP crash testing , the Cruze received a three star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 19.53. In the offset crash test, protection from serious chest and leg injury was marginal for the driver. In the side impact test, protection from serious head injury was also rated as marginal.
Features
Standard features for the Holden YG Cruze included 15-inch alloy wheels with 175/65 R15 84T tyres, a four speaker sound system with a CD player, air conditioning, front fog lights, 50/50 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a tilt adjustable steering wheel, tinted side and rear windows, a cargo cover, roof rails and an immobiliser.
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