Sedan Chevrolet Monza entered the Chinese market three and a half years ago and was initially positioned as a simpler and cheaper alternative to the Cruze model. However, the Cruze itself soon became history, so the Monza effectively became its successor. Now it is the most affordable Chevrolet sedan in China. And following the planned restyling Monza became even cheaper.
On the outside, there aren’t too many changes: new headlights, a different front bumper, and a larger grille make the sedan slightly more aggressive, but don’t change the overall feel. There are new wheels (16-inch for all versions), but everything else remains the same. Restyled plumage increased the length of the machine by 42 mm (up to 4656 mm). The Monza still has 405 liters of boot space.
But the interior has been completely redone. In the spirit of the times, the sedan has found a new front panel with two screens (10.25 inches each) without visors. The center console, steering wheel and gear selector are also changed. The parking brake is now electromechanical, and a platform for wireless charging of gadgets has also appeared on the central tunnel. Climate control never appeared: there is only a conventional air conditioner.
Technically, Monza goes back to the well-known Chevrolet Lacetti model: here is the same platform with rear independent suspension (McPherson struts). And the basic version also retained the elderly aspirated 1.5 (113 hp, 141 Nm), which was installed in China on various GM models. Only now it is aggregated not with the classic “automatic”, but with a six-speed preselective “robot”.
The manual gearbox was removed from the range two years ago, and now the Monza has also lost its “medium” engine – a 125 hp liter turbo three. But at the top of the range remained a three-cylinder 1.3 turbo engine (163 hp, 230 Nm) with a 48-volt starter-generator, which adds 11 hp during starting. and 40 Nm. The gearbox is a classic six-speed automatic. Up to 100 km / h, such a sedan can accelerate in 9.2 s.
The most interesting thing is the prices. If the pre-reform Monza cost in China from $ 16,200, then the restyled sedan will be cheaper even in the top version! They ask for cars from 13,700 to 15,700 dollars. They will be on sale this fall.
