Chevrolet Cruze edges out rivals to take crown

• Vehicle designers strive to create a unique design. Each market has specific preferences. Chinese, for example, love lots of chrome while Europeans take a more subtle approach with colour coded bumpers and door handles.
• Chevrolet’s Cruze design, which took over two years and cost $4 billion, was spearheaded by the South Korea and German divisions. It has won the hearts of many to become a top seller in the Chevrolet brand portfolio helping GM claim the number one automotive manufacturer in the world.
• The pointed headlight cluster and concave shoulder line sweeping across its side are its main source of beauty. It is compact and dynamic with a wide stance that gives it a sense of stability on the road.
• In terms of look and feel the Chevy has successfully linked its steering wheel design to the centre console, elegantly flowing down to wrap around the gear level.

Is the Cruze Kenya’s best kept secret? This little known model from GM has a host of qualities worth exploring.

Last week, we drove for more than 200km and discussed how each of these contenders handled the ever varying road surfaces. Today, we will look at the softer issues of design and ergonomics.

What makes one car better looking than the next? While good design can be a very personal issue, its effectiveness is determined by one’s preference and specific needs. For instance, are you looking for a family car or strictly a round-around vehicle ideal for a salesman?

The former would easily get away with a single air bag and good stereo while the latter certainly needs air conditioning, child-seat harnesses, cup holders, cubby holes and a host of safety features including curtain airbags.

The modern car designer has a tough task of determining who will be driving their future vehicles. What their dynamic needs are and very importantly, their aspirations.

They must look into the crystal ball and predict what we all shall need in five to seven years from our vehicles. Today, we shall analyse the exterior and interior design as well as the aesthetic appeal of these budget five-sitter saloons.

Exterior Looks

While none of these cars are premium models, everyone aspires to drive an “expensive-looking” vehicle without having to pay the world for it. That’s why most car makers attempt to give vehicles a visual premiumness.

We lined all four vehicles and debated at length on the merits and demerits of each car’s design language. Vehicle designers strive to create a unique design.

Each market has specific preferences. Chinese, for example, love lots of chrome while Europeans take a more subtle approach with colour coded bumpers and door handles.

Ford’s creatives speak of their kinetic design language that uses creases and lines on the side to give their car an illusion of forward motion even when it is parked.

Chevrolet’s Cruze design, which took over two years and cost $4 billion, was spearheaded by the South Korea and German divisions.

It has won the hearts of many to become a top seller in the Chevrolet brand portfolio helping GM claim the number one automotive manufacturer in the world.

Listening to Ed Welbum, vice-president for global design at GM, it was obvious that they chose to look outside the US to find the winning formula that has made the Cruze the success it is.

The pointed headlight cluster and concave shoulder line sweeping across its side are its main source of beauty. It is compact and dynamic with a wide stance that gives it a sense of stability on the road.