I get to test drive the Chevrolet Cruze

Given the winning form of the Chevrolet Cruze team last year in the WTCC in their factory-built cars, and their continued successes this year, it was a thrill for me to actually get the chance to drive the car myself, writes Trish Whelan.

I'd been invited by Chevrolet in the UK to test drives both their Cruze and Volt cars on a two-day drive around the flat Cambridgeshire countryside.

While the Cruze has been available in the UK in 5-door hatchback and saloon models, this occasion was to try a new and more efficient 1.7 VCDi turbodiesel engine outputting 130PS and 300Nm with C02 emissions of just 117g/km which across the pond qualifies buyers for free road tax for the first year. It has a combined fuel economy of 62.7mpg.

This race-proven Cruze can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.4 seconds, has a top speed of 124mph and comes with Stop Start.

The car I drove was the top trim LTZ packed with goodies like climate control, cruise control, automatic wipers and headlights, rear parking sensors and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The interior is smart looking, practical and functional.

Leather seats are very comfy, and can be adjusted to fit most 'frames' giving a really nice driving position. The whole interior seemed quite premium. The central console has been styled well and looks the part while the dials are easy to read at a glance.

This car proved quite a lively drive, especially along the motorway and also on some good straight country roads, with very decent punch from the 1.8 diesel engine which is mated to a slick six speed manual gearbox.

A Station Wagon variant of the 1.7 VCDi model will follow later this year.

In the UK, the entry-level LS comes with air con, ESC, remote central locking, follow-me-home headlamps, and is priced at £16,725 while the mid-range LT is £17,825.

The range topping LTZ at £18,685 has standard cruise control, 17-inch alloys, automatic headlights, climate control, automatic wipers and aluminium-effect interior detailing.

I look forward to enjoying the car on Irish roads later this month at a special Chevrolet event in Co Wicklow when we'll get to find out the Irish specifications and prices for the Chevrolet range coming to Ireland in the summer.