CRUZE LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

By Harry Pegg, Autonet.ca - The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, named Canadian Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, has a new tree-hugger sibling.

It's named Eco and, aside from the badge, you have to look closely to find any differences between this and the regular Cruze.

Aerodynamics is high on the difference scale. For instance, the upper grille has more "closeouts", the lower front air dam extension is lower, ride height is lower, underbody panels have been added to smooth airflow and there's a rear spoiler that actually makes a difference.

Look closely, and you'll see a lower front grille air shutter that closes at higher speeds to reduce drag and opens at low speeds to provide better engine cooling. Finally, the light polished-aluminum 17-inch wheels are fitted with ultra-low rolling resistance tires.

It all adds up to a 10% reduction in drag compared to the regular Cruze.

The green gang of engineers also cut back on fat, making more than 40 weight reducing changes on the Eco, bringing the weight down from 1,462 to 1,365 kg.

They made weld flanges a mm shorter and used sheet metal 0.1 mm thinner in some components -- all without sacrificing strength. Wheels and tires weigh 16.6 kg each, 2.4 kg less than the regular Cruze's 16-in wheels.

Inside, there's ample room for four to ride in reasonable comfort. There's more tire noise than I like, but put that down to the low rolling resistance rubber. Wind noise is not an issue.

From the driver's seat, visibility is excellent and gauges and switches are intuitive and easy to see and to operate. Seat adjustment leaves something to be desired and the split rear seatback does not fold flat.

My tester comes with the Cruze connectivity package that hooks easily to Bluetooth devices and has a driver information centre that provides plenty of data. I like the included steering wheel-mounted controls. The package is $745 well spent -- besides, you can make that up in a hurry with the fuel dollars you'll save.

Under the hood is a 1.4-litre Ecotec four-cylinder engine that uses turbocharging to produce 138 horsepower. I like the idea of having 148 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm.

Hooked up to the standard six-speed manual transmission, the little four-banger puts a lot of fun into being green.

Aggressive first and second gear ratios give the Eco a satisfying burst off the line although there is some turbo lag. Sixth gear is too high to be useful in passing, but it sure is economical. Downshift a couple of gears and the torque reappears once the turbo spools up to make getting past slower traffic a snap.

While all this is going on, the Cruze Eco scoffs at service station stops ... who needs 'em when you're cruisin' along sipping fuel at a rate of 5 L/100km? In an automotive version of a tummy tuck, an electronic returnless fuel system manages fuel delivery to the engine. It raises or lowers fuel line pressure by speeding up or slowing down the fuel pump to prevent excess fuel delivery to the engine. Standard fuel systems have fuel pumps that run full speed continuously.

(I do find it interesting that the Eco doesn't shut down at intersections.)

The six-speed transmission is slick and smooth, handling is crisp and the suspension affords a comfortable ride even on rough roads.

And there's one more plaything: the fuel economy read-out. In an "eco" car, it's a bit of a challenge to see just how low you can get the reading.

At the risk of infuriating other motorists, I take the Cruze out for a cruise. At the speed limit. On a busy four-lane highway.

The result? A reading on this outing of about 100 km of just 4.9 L/100km.

There's something to be said for life in the slow lane.