IT MAY look odd up front, and the rear is almost comically Honda Civic-esque, but the Holden Cruze still has its own, and compelling, value story to tell. From the moment you open the door, all traces of the old ex-Daewoo Viva vanish. Only then does it become clear that the Cruze is an inexpensive – as opposed to a cheap – compact four-door sedan. We review the expected best-selling engine and gearbox combination, the 1.8-litre six-speed automatic, to find out what is right, what is wrong and what’s going on with this vital new small car contender.
The Road to Recovery podcast series

Holden JF Viva
Released: September 2005
Ended: May 2009
Family Tree: CruzeARGUABLY the worst new small car of its time, the “JF Viva” was actually a Daewoo J200 Lacetti, itself a rebodied version of the J100 Nubira sold successfully in Australia by the defunct Korean brand from 1997 to 2003 – and that car had roots in the 1980s GM J-car (Holden Camira, anybody?). So, against luminaries such as the Ford Focus and Honda Civic, the Viva didn’t stand a chance, and slow sales soon prompted Holden to price it in the light-car league. Three attractive body styles were offered – an Italian designed sedan, hatch and wagon – and all featured an 89kW/169Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a sticky five-speed manual or sluggish four-speed auto gearbox. Only reasonable sizing and sufficient safety spec – anti-lock brakes, dual front and side airbags – saved the unreliable JF Viva from being a no-star small car.
Facebook Twitter Instagram