CHEVROLET CRUZE 1.6 124 LS 4dr Auto (2011)

Nothing like the BTCC car

Fact: The road-going Chevvy Cruze is nothing like the BTCC car driven by Jason Plato. Chevrolet may put that car in the championship to try and promote the Cruze, but the fact is, it couldn't be any further from the standard car.

Thankfully, however, I'm not as good a driver as Plato, and thus, I don't need the power and handling- hence why I drive a Cruze. It's been in the family for two years now and has impressed and disappointed.

I think it looks pretty cool. It's not as ugly as previous Chevrolets, and while it's no Jaguar, it's not bad for the money. Where it all goes wrong is with the build quality. It really is shockingly poor. We're all used to badly made American cars, but this one really does take the biscuit.

The engine isn't great either. Compared to European models, the Cruze just doesn't feel powerful. It feels lethargic and seriously underpowered.

Would I recommend one to a friend? Probably not. But for anyone who wants a car with some room, the Cruze is perfectly fine.