We've had our share of Daewoo-engineered cars in North America. There was the late-1980s Pontiac LeMans, the forgettable Suzuki Reno and Forenza, and Chevrolet’s uninspired Aveo econobox—all products of the Korean automaker. And don’t forget theactual Daewoo-badged cars that were sold here. Why give the Korean company another chance?
Unfazed by criticism of previous Daewoo-designed cars, GM gave the Koreans design leadership for the new Chevrolet Cruze compact car. A true world car to be sold around the globe, the Cruze will take the place of the Cobalt in Chevy’s U.S. lineup. Moreover, the Cruze is the first iteration of GM's Delta II platform, which will host a number of new, global vehicles, including the Chevrolet Orlando MPV, the next-gen Opel/Vauxhall Astra, and an upcoming Buick version of the Astra.
Heading to the Continent First for Its Shakedown Cruise
Europe gets the Cruze first; we’ll have to wait for another year. We drove the Cruze at the European launch in Spain on the Gulf of Biscay. It must be said that the Cruze is a relatively minor deal in the Old World, since GM generates big sales in this segment with the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, which is sold as a Saturn in America. In Europe, the Cruze merely replaces the Daewoo Lacetti and Nubira—two inexpensive and nondescript entries sold here as the Suzuki Reno and Forenza, respectively.
Keep Reading: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze - First Drive Review
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