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10/11/2008
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Though Holden's Cruze is built in Japan, by Suzuki, quite a bit of what you see is Australian in design not Japanese. Its styling comes from the same team that designed the third generation Monaro and began its life as a concept car based on the Suzuki Ignis.
Chunky looking body panels increase its visual appeal and suspension specifications were put together by a team that contained several Australians. These resulted in greater ground clearance as well as a wider track, the latter done to improve on-road handling.
 Handling is surprisingly good for a vehicle in this class and the little Cruze can be tossed around on dirt or bitumen roads safely and comfortably. Bear in mind though, that it’s a 4WD not a car, with all that means in the way of a higher centre of gravity and a greater likelihood of rolling over in extreme conditions.
Interior styling of the Cruze is as adventurous and appealing as the exterior, with chunky controls highlighted by bright alloy-style inserts.
Seating is fine for four adults and three children can be carried in the back seat if the one in the centre is of an easygoing nature. However, most owners regard the Cruze as a two-seater. Boot space is compromised to make room for passengers. One big suitcase just about fills it so you will soon get used to folding down the 50/50 backrest if you have a lot to carry.
Though what you see is Holden, what you don't see under the skin is virtually all Suzuki. Which is certainly not a drawback because the Japanese marque is thought of by many as building the finest of all small affordable vehicles in many classes.
This little Holden fun car is powered by a 1.5-litre engine. It’s barely enough if you are doing serious on-road hillclimbing with a load on board. There's not a huge amount of torque and it tends to be developed higher in the rev range than you would expect from a small 4WD. Remember that this is a passenger car with an extra pair of wheels connected to the engine and it all makes sense.
 On the beach the lightweight Holden Cruze is in its element, although it’s not too bad in the bush, or even on rock shelves. Good clearance angles front and rear and a compact body can take you a long way (literally) in the 4WD scene.
The five-speed manual is better than the four-speed automatic, though the latter isn't as bad as you might expect as Cruze doesn’t have a lot of mass to haul.
Holden Cruze was launched in Australia midway through 2002 and was imported until 2006. It didn’t enjoy the success anticipated for it, partly because most buyers in the 4WD class were looking for medium to large vehicles during that period. The final shipment arrived here in June 2006, but some may not have been sold new for several months afterwards. Be wary of any advertised as 2007 models, it’s the build-plate date that counts, not the year of first registration.
There's good underbonnet and under car space so a good amateur mechanic can do a lot of their own routine servicing. Safety related items should be left to the professionals. And we highly recommend you have a repair manual at your elbow before lifting those spanners for the first time.
It almost goes without saying that there are Holden dealers all over Australia. However, not all carry spare parts for the Cruze, that’s because 4WDs aren't as common in the bush as in the suburbs (silly, isn’t it!). Holden operates an efficient parts delivery network and you’re not likely to be waiting for more than a couple of working days before parts arrive at your dealer in the remote outback.
 Parts prices and servicing costs are reasonable, though not always as low as for locally-made Holdens.
Insurance generally sits towards the bottom end of the scale, though, for some reason, there's a fair bit of difference at times between one company and another. So shop around rather than opting for the first insurer suggested by the sales guy. But make sure you are comparing like with like.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Check over the complete body inside and out as well as underneath and be suspicious of any damage caused by off-road use.
In particular look for dents at the lower corners of the bumper, in the door sills and underneath the engine and transmission.
Salt water is a no-no in a light vehicle as it can cause serious rust. Rust that can cause the body to be written off in very short time if repairs aren't carried out promptly. So taste any sand you find under the Cruze for signs of white salt.
Go for a professional inspection if there’s the slightest doubt about the condition because repairs to small off-roaders can cost more than you might expect.
Other than that, make sure that the engine starts easily, runs relatively smoothly, and that the transmission works quietly and shifts gears with no fuss.
If the Cruze pulls to one side under braking, or even locks one of the wheels, it could spell problems.
CAR BUYING TIP
Four-wheel drives that go off road in serious conditions are a rarity and should be treated with suspicion. Unless the price is right on a roughie it’s best to keep well away from it.
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