2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE SECOND DRIVE

Refinement and roominess mark Chevrolet's Impressive Civic-fighter

By Michael Bettencourt, MSN Autos - With the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback having just been shown at the recent Paris motor show, perhaps it was a compliment that GM Canada's press review of the Cruze sedan was peppered with so many questions about when - or if - the stylish compact five-door would also arrive on our shores. But by the end of the event, it was clear that such questions had become the equivalent of the mosquito swarm threatening a proudly prepared BBQ lunch.

"Launching the hatchback here would be much easier if our American friends wanted one," lamented Paul Hewitt, GM Canada's Cruze manager. "We're hoping to bring it to fruition," he said, but if the hatchback does come to Canada without it being offered in the U.S., it would likely have to come from Korea, instead of the Lordstown, Ohio plant.

As GM realizes, all this hatchback talk obscures the fact that this all-new (to North America) Cruze has now leapfrogged up to battle at the front of the compact class, offering enough room, fuel economy, refinement and safety features to make any potential small car buyer sit up and take notice.

Cruze stacks up well against the kings of the compact class: GM is so confident that its car stacks up well to the most popular cars in its class that it brought out its three closest rivals for back-to-back drives; the Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and the Mazda3. The Mazda is the only car with a realistic shot of conquering the Civic's long time best-selling car in Canada crown this year. It also happened to clean up at last year's AJAC Car of the Year awards, winning the title of Best New Car Under $21k and Best New Car over $21k.

The reason behind GM's confidence is clear. After comparing these four sedans on the street as well as on a closed cone course, the Chevy's more mature personality shows through. It is the quietest one of the group, followed by the Corolla. And though it's true the Mazda has a slight edge in handling and overall fun factor, the payoff in spaciousness and a more comfortable ride that the Cruze offers is a tradeoff that most consumers are likely to buy into.

Right, but what about the Honda? The Civic feels modern inside at first, with its unique high-mounted digital speedometer, but once underway its road noise, ride, and handling all feel a generation behind the Cruze. This is pretty big news. When was the last time a Chevrolet made a Honda feel old?

Reliability will be a key question: The Civic's driving manners are not the only aspect of the car that has won it many fans. Fuel efficiency and reliability have always been major parts of the Civic's widespread appeal, and so GM has gone a long way to address the mediocre scores of the Cruze's predecessor - the Cobalt - on both measures.

GM says the Cruze underwent six million kilometers worth of durability testing, giving the uplevel (but smaller sized) 1.4-litre turbocharged four specific oiling and cooling measures to ensure reliability. Thile the lack of any squeaks or rattles suggests robust quality, we did hit one electronics glitch.

On the highway, our engine temperature needle hit its lowest point, lighting up our Cruze's instrument panel with a warning that the air conditioning would be turned off due to high coolant temperatures, suggesting it was overheating. As there was no change in performance, smoke or any other signs of engine distress, we carried on normally. Even through thick traffic, our confidence in the car's ability to get us there reassured by our OnStar advisor, who we consulted for a remote engine diagnostic and confirmed that the car was safe to drive.

To sweeten the deal for potential early Cruze buyers, GM Canada is offering a unique buyers' choice: free winter tires, or a free 16-gig Apple iPad, for those who buy or order a Cruze before January 10. In addition every iPad and iPhone user will be able to use MyLink by the end of the year, a new OnStar mobile app that allows you to unlock your doors or start your car (for remote-start equipped models) with your mobile device.