Overview & Reviews

The Chevrolet Cruze does not have history on its side. The Chevrolet division of General Motors has historically done "big" well: big trucks, big family sedans and big V8 muscle cars. When it comes to small cars, though, the General hasn't been so good, with the lamentable Cavalier and Cobalt being the two most recent examples. But that's changed with the compact Chevrolet Cruze sedan, an honest first-class upgrade that meets its world-class competition head-on.

The Cruze's handling is sharp and precise, and its fuel economy is potentially quite high. There's even a diesel version that should give Volkswagen Jetta fans something to think about. With a variety of truly impressive competitors available these days, we wouldn't exactly call the Cruze a class leader, but its well-rounded nature shows that Chevrolet can now do "small" as well as "big."

Current Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a five-passenger compact sedan offered in LS, LT, LTZ, Eco and Diesel trims. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine generating 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque motivates the Cruze LS, while the LT, LTZ and Eco models upgrade to a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 138 hp and 148 lb-ft. The diesel features a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder rated at 151 hp and a formidable 264 lb-ft. The LTZ and Diesel come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission; the other trims have a six-speed manual, with a six-speed automatic as an option.

Regardless of trim, the Cruze is well equipped, as even the base LS gets air-conditioning, full power accessories, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker sound system. Like many modern compact cars, the Cruze can be equipped with a variety of comfort and convenience features previously reserved for luxury cars. These include blind-spot monitoring, leather upholstery, heated seats, a power driver seat, a rearview camera and a 7-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration. Just because you're buying a small car doesn't mean you can't have all the bells and whistles.

In reviews of the Chevrolet Cruze, we've praised its athletic handling, even on standard-suspension cars. The available sport-tuned suspension predictably provides a firmer ride, but it compensates with downright sporty responses on winding roads. Less appealing is the regular automatic transmission; it's reluctant to downshift at times and not particularly smooth. Happily, the torque-rich Diesel gets a different six-speed automatic that's more responsive -- this is one of our favorite Cruze models due to its excellent fuel economy and spirited acceleration.

Taking center stage inside is a dual-cowl dash layout seen on some other Chevrolets, combining with two-tone color options to create a stylish environment. However, the Cruze uses some plastic trim that seems cheaper and harder than that of its competitors. The Cruze's front seats are a bit narrow, which might be an issue for some drivers, but they offer plenty of adjustment and are both supportive and comfortable. A low cushion for the backseat diminishes comfort for longer-limbed riders, whose thighs will have minimal support. Actual legroom is average for the segment, but the trunk is surprisingly large.

Used Chevrolet Cruze Models
The current, first-generation Chevrolet Cruze was an all-new model for 2011. A few new features arrived for 2013, including a rearview camera and Bluetooth streaming audio. The Diesel model didn't debut until the 2014 model year.

User Reviews:

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  Best car ever owned. - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By 100inchhammer - March 31 - 9:50 pm

  From the moment I picked up my car to now, it has reliably exceeded my expectations. The quality of the design, workmanship and assembly is beyond expectations. The car has no squeaks or rattles, it performs better than any expectations.

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  Disapointing gas mileage - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By bob483 - March 31 - 8:26 pm

  Have had my cruise for about five months. It seems like a pretty decent car. It has great power with the turbo in it, and it rides quite nice. My biggest complaint however without a doubt is the gas mileage. The claims that GM makes of high 30s to 42 mpg are completely false. The best I have ever done with the car is about 32 mpg. Very poor for a car this size, and I have an eco model with an automatic. If your after a high mpg car this isnt it.

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  Eco Absolutely BLOWS ME AWAY! - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By mikedeanvero - March 21 - 2:45 pm

  This Car FEELS perfect! The manual shifts are Camaro type fun for me. Handling, Braking, Acceleration are above what I thought would be received from a compact American maker. I gave up a BMW 328 (Service Nightmare), and dont miss that car AT ALL!

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  GMC should take it back!! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By goosman68 - March 9 - 11:17 am

  I got my new Cruze in Mar. 2011 and have since put 5,000 mi. on it. It is not comfortable on a longer trip. Gas milage sucks. I was under the impression that Chev. had tested the car over 1,000,000 miles, it should be a good car, wrong. I have done my own testing and come to the conclusion that 63mph is its sweet spot to get 36mpg. Thats to slow to drive on an interstate with a 75mph speed limit. I tried 75mph and got 26.6 mpg. My last car was a Vette and going slow is not an opption! Dont even check your in-town mpg, it will scare you.

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  Cruze Eco Automatic, 2012,CJ - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By cjcruze - March 5 - 12:24 pm

  I have had the Cruze for 5 weeks and driven 1500 miles. Very pleased with the car on all fronts--comfort, quietness, handling, economy, and available trunk space. No defects on delivery no problems encountered thus far. So far I have averaged 38.3 mpg in a combination of interstate, urban, and exurban driving.

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  Great Car! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By gwengee - February 26 - 8:30 pm

  I needed a new car and had great luck with a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. Originally I headed out to get a new model Elantra. Somehow I ended up on a Chevy lot and am glad I did! The Chevy Cruze is a solid car. Drives well, little road noise - feels like a higher end car. The engine has been designed to give you the best opportunity for great gas mileage. All in all this is a great car!

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  As expected - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By ripriley - February 26 - 11:58 am

  15K miles and going with no issues. I get an actual 41 MPG combined...on board computer is usually 2-3 MPG optimistic. Quality is much better than expected. Very pleased.

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  Theres Hope For GM - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By gep10 - February 24 - 2:36 pm

  IMHO, this is the best compact car GM has ever made (been 25 years since I bought a Chevy compact). A friend (BMW 5 series owner) asked if I wanted to trade cars after he drove it. It is fun to drive, looks contemporary, has outstanding features for the price, and is averaging over 34 MPG for the first 1,400 miles of mostly city driving (47 MPG is best 50 mile average). The Eco 6M is one of the most sophisticated cars GM makes virtually every aspect of the car was optimized for (MPG) performance to make it lighter, more efficient and more aerodynamic. These changes also improve handling. My only problem with the car is that my wife wont give it back after driving it for several weeks!!

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  I love this car! - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By dr_jim1 - February 17 - 4:41 pm

  My previous car is a Volvo C70. The Eco had a lot to live up to. I have 16,000 miles with a lifetime average of 44 mpg. I commute 250 miles (RT) over mostly two lane highways in the frozen North. The acceleration makes passing easy, the car is beautiful and comfortable. I went to the test drive expecting to be under awed, but I had to get better gas mileage. A hybrid was not going to do it with my driving conditions. The car impressed me at every turn. It still does.

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  Beats the imports - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By regular_renter - February 14 - 7:40 pm

  I travel on business frequently and rent lots of cars in this category. The Chevy Cruze beats the pants off the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra in EVERY area. It looks and handles great. It has excellent pickup. The interior seems much nicer than its class and way more comfortable too. I wish the rental company would dump the imports and only carry this car. I choose it over the Malibu too. Way to go Chevy.