Lacetti Premiere brings diesel to the masses
Lacetti
With the government pledging major support to environmentally-friendly green growth, now may be the perfect time to reintroduce diesel vehicles to the average Korean consumer.
At least that’s what local carmaker GM Daewoo is hoping with the diesel version of its Lacetti Premiere sedan, the latest entry on a short list of diesel passenger vehicles smaller than SUVs and trucks.
Although the gasoline version of this vehicle, which will be sold in some overseas markets as the Chevrolet Cruze, has been on the market since November last year, the diesel version has been available since only last month.
Daewoo has high hopes for the new sedan, which is meant to stand up to competitors such as Hyundai Motor’s i30 diesel and Volkswagen’s diesel Passat.
Though the diesel Lacetti/Cruze mainly targets the European market, where diesel-fueled vehicles are more popular than in Korea, Daewoo believes they will find success in the local market as well, noting that diesel technology has advanced to match the performance of gasoline vehicles.
The new Lacetti’s biggest strength: its fuel efficiency, rated at 19 kilometer per liter (44.6 miles per gallon) on a five-speed manual transmission and 15 kilometers per liter for an automatic six-speed transmission, which gives the Lacetti a leg up on its local competitors’ automatics, most of whom feature just four speeds.
European automobiles such as the Passat TDI are equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The Passat can run at 15.1 kilometers per liter. The Volkswagen Golf has an even more complex transmission and higher fuel efficiency.
But the Hyundai Sonata diesel has a four-speed transmission and is rated at just 13.4 kilometer per liter. Hyundai’s i30 has a slightly higher efficiency at 16.5 kilometer per liter but also features just four speeds.
Hyundai Motor i30CW
The transmission is one feature of the Lacetti Premiere designed to give it a chance against expensive European vehicles, by offering a lower price but comparable performance.
The six-speed transmission definitely gives the vehicle a smoother, more efficient ride. On the road, the brief jerk that sometimes accompanies shift changes is completely absent in the Lacetti Premiere.
One common criticism of diesel vehicles is that their automatic transmissions are not able to shift quickly enough to keep up with the car’s speed. But the Lacetti Premiere’s diesel transmission clears this hurdle.
Its weight, 1,300 kilograms, or roughly 100 kilograms more than similar-level vehicles such as the Hyundai New Avante or Kia Forte, also contributes to its outstanding performance, helping the Lacetti provide a smooth and well-balanced ride even at speeds of 140 kilometers per hour (86.9 mph).
The Lacetti still feels stabilized and balanced rounding corners.
Although accelerating sharply from a stop does cause the car to jerk a bit, it really gives the 150 horses of the Variable Geometry Turbo Charger Common Rail Diesel Injection engine a chance to show off its power as the dials on the instrument panel shoot up.
Peugeot 370SW HDi
But the overall feeling of the vehicle even at high speed was relatively smooth, and the steering wheel felt firm.
Daewoo’s other major marketing push for this car is its environmentally-friendly statistics and features.
The vehicle meets strict European environmental quality standards thanks to its diesel particulate filter and exhaust gas recirculation systems, which reduce nitrogen oxide emissions to under 50 percent those of other diesel vehicles.
The exterior of the Lacetti Premiere is bigger than some of its competition, such as the New Avante, whose overall length is 4,505 millimeter and wheelbase is 2,650 millimeter compared to the Premiere’s 4,600 millimeters in length and 2,685-millimeter wheelbase.
Larger than other compact vehicles yet smaller compared to a large-size sedan, it hopes to fit the demanding style sense of young female drivers.
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI
The dashboard display aims for a classic appearance with circular, even cute, features. The systems are very simple and neat. Other convenient features include a three-level driver and passenger seat heating system.
The noise of the diesel engine is one problem that future Lacetti Premieres will have to solve. Though quieter than other diesel vehicles, the Lacetti’s engine will unnerve those who are accustomed to driving with gasoline, and the noise of the diesel engine can be disturbing especially when the car is idling.
But on the road the noise is muffled and barely audible.
By Lee Ho-jeong Staff Reporter [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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