If not for its low towing limit, the Chevrolet Cruze would have been one of this year’s surprise packages. However, a restrictive maximum towing weight of just 1200kg rules out pulling an 85% match.
Yet from the way it performs you’d swear the Cruze could easily pull more. The 30-60mph time of 16.3 seconds is helped by towing a lighter caravan but is still impressive.
It only struggled in the emergency lane-change on the final high-speed run. As it slowed from over 60mph, the Al-Ko ATC showed some caravan movement but nothing alarming.
The Cruze took the reversing test in its stride. The handbrake needed a firm pull before it would hold on the 1-in-6 hill but the Chevy pulled to the top with some clutch slip.
The list price of £14,995 is cheap for a car with this much space but it’s a shame there’s no hatchback version.