Hello All,

This thing was not the most attractive car in person at Detroit even though they had all the right kind of kit on it. I cannot help but wonder how GM will do with it if the bean counters “tone it down” to make it cheaper for production. GM is still very conservative, point in fact, the Chevrolet Cruze. They intend to sell it for very similiar prices to the outgoing Cobalt from what my Dealer sources are telling me, this is a mistake. Look at what Ford is doing with Fiesta and what it will do with Focus, Fiesta will top out at 23K for a subcompact, and Focus is rumored to cap out at near 30K in the US market! Even if Ford doesn’t sell many topspec models here the costs of having a top spec model in the range are easily amortized by tthe fact that Focus is a true world car with 85% parts commonality from region to region. GM needs to show some balls, offer this and Cruze with optional Nav, HIDs, Leather, and other features so they will at least have the option of selling a few high end LTZ/RS/SS models.

Thanks, Invictus

Why do they continue to cammo the prototypes when they’ve already shown the world the near-production show car? We already know what it’s going to look like.

I will see the Aveo in person Friday but the pictures on line make it look better than any other B segment car out there.

Has GM said they are not offering leather on the Cruze? Missed that. In fact I keep hearing that it will be more highly featured than the Cobalt and if the Cruze sells for the same price as the Cobalt they will sell a lot of them.

Invictus, name me one ‘b’ segment car that can honestly be described as attractive. The Fit may be the best so far and the Fiesta may even raise that bar but just because they’ve managed to cast off the inherent dorkiness associated with the class doesn’t mean Maranello will be borrowing styling cues anytime soon.

carstuff, let us know what you think. I thought the pictures looked pretty good.

I think this will be the class-leader when all the dust settles
DrFill

fiesta ftw…i’ll put money on it…and by money, i mean, “i’ll say a lot of crap on the ‘net about it, but won’t ever pay up if i’m wrong, or even admit that i ever made this post”…

CajuRican – its probably because there are some design changes that are quite different from the concept that could not make it to production…. they’d prefer if you were disappointed later, rather than now =P

Hopefully this car being made in America will help its “Daewoo” quality concerns.

@Lefty, next to Fit Fiesta looks like the first cousin. Very similar, I saw them next to each other during summer (Fiesta was one of 100 spawn by Ford to Fiestasize the continent). In side, I would give point to Fiesta, but I think because it is new. I don’t believe materials were any more expensive then in Fit.

@85ZingoGTR, yep Daewoo have not made semi-quality car since Earth cooled off, but who can name small quality car made by GM on our continent? Even patriotic Saturn took a dive after the first model.

@Johnny, you know I like the looks of Yaris, especially 5door hatch, not that dorky speedometer in the middle of the dash, but we to thank Saturn and French designers for that fad. Also, in Europe there are lots of small very attractive cars (and don’t call me fag, I am not the one agreeing to wear a skirt even for free booze).

Ah, our daily GM fantasy car…….Where’s the Cruz??

Actually Borat I think you have to thank those manufacturers who are too cheap to build a proper dash no matter which side the steering wheel is on. As for the skirt thing… well I’d like to blame it on the Scottish heritage or the Scotch but even I’ll admit that if you took away both of those factors the outcome would probably be the same.

i like the fit too, don’t get me wrong…but ford has the momentum right now (honda certainly doesn’t)…from what i understood, the interior of the fiesta was probably a smidge higher grade than the honda (especially with sync involved), but the honda was better as far as cargo carrying with the fold-flat seats, etc…i think the hp advantage going to the fiesta helps, since it’s supposed to drive well too…the fit could use an si version…

Wow….I just saw this car online and all I have to say is that GM is making some badass cars these days. This is the most aggressive looking car in it’s class. I’m not sure whether I like this more than the Fiesta (the Fiesta’s interior looks a little better), but both cars are much much better looks-wise than the Honda Fit.

Whoever talks trash about GM and Ford now is a fool.

Borat – And Saturn supposedly were resilient and lasted long or so Ive been told by several people.

@Borat – I suppose I can understand the Daewoo bashing based on the stuff they sold under their own name here a few years back, but I have to say, they must have gotten better while no one was noticing. I just bought a Pontiac G3 a few weeks ago when they were at fire-sale prices and this car is as well-screwed together as anything else out of Korea. Interior materials are pretty nice, panel gaps are tight, no rattles or issues. I’ve already got 2200 miles on it, so I guess we’ll have to see how it holds up over time, but I think your perception of Daewoo-made cars is somewhat out of date.

The Fit is one of the best looking B classers out there – in its international form. The N. American version is badly deformed by an extruded 8″ longer nose, making the proportions cartoonish and totally out of whack.

Well I am back from the auto show. MY exterior styling opinion of the 4 sub compacts(since you asked). Again my opinion.

Aveo RS is hands down best looking
then Fiesta
Fit
Yaris.

Fit and Yaris look old and plain. Fiesta just did not have the punch that the Aveo has.

In the compact world. Focus is sharp, Cruze is nice but does not stand out. I predict an exterior revision in two years. Civic nice but out of date and Corolla plain Jane:
Focus
Cruze
Civic
Corolla

And in value Midsize, again the bottom of the list vehicles are getting old and show it:
Regal -wow
Malibu-looks more expensive than it is
Accord-nice but old
Fusion-nice but plain
Camry-tried too hard to be cool/edgy and old

Thanks carstuff, I think you have the Fusion a little low in the pecking order but other than that spot on.

I just think the Fusion has no real style. Nothing new. Could have been made 10 years ago and fit in with the line up just as plainly.

Malibu looks Audiesque, which is a good thing. Cruze tries the same thing but does not pull it off as well.

I used to like the Civic but it got tired and the Focus makes the Civic look old.

You bought a Pontiac G3? OMG. Hope it’s worth something in like 2 years LOL.

The Malibu in LTZ trim is sharp. Lesser trim packages barely look like the same car. To be perfectly honest, and this may make you laugh, but I think the current Malibu bears a striking resemblance to the old Sebring/Stratus… especially the profile.

This is not bad, from the camouflage it looks sporty! Hopefully the looks, drivetrain and refinement are there.