The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors (GM) automobile produced since 2001, encompassing two unrelated vehicles. The first generation, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan under joint venture with GM. This venture project derived from the 2000–2006 generation Suzuki Swift, known outside of Japan as the Suzuki Ignis. Australasian-market versions were badged Holden Cruze, and in Europe, the Subaru G3X Justy name was used—the result of a GM-Subaru alliance. From 2003, Suzuki in Europe utilized the Cruze rework as an updated version of the Suzuki Ignis—the Cruze’s donor model.
For the second generation GM-only model, the “Cruze” moniker has been applied to a globally-developed compact sedan. Compared to the original, the second series Cruze produced since 2008 is related only in name, and does not serve as its successor. Instead, the new car replaces two unrelated cars—the Chevrolet Cobalt and Daewoo Lacetti. Badged as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere, the South Korean-market Cruze entered production in 2008, partially replacing the Daewoo Lacetti sold since 2003. This previous Lacetti was sold internationally as either a Buick, Chevrolet, Daewoo or Holden, but for the Cruze, GM have retained the “Chevrolet Cruze” name for most markets. Australasian-specification cars are branded Holden Cruze, with Holden producing a more upmarket version of the Cruze from 2010. The North American Chevrolet Cobalt will also be phased out in 2010, replaced by the Chevrolet Cruze. Production of the Cobalt’s twin, the Pontiac G5 will also cease, coinciding with the Pontiac brand’s discontinuation after 2010.
