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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  Overall a great car - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Anthony Nuno - October 20 - 4:28 am

  Great car just know what you’re buying before you buy it, as with any new car purchase.

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  Leasing this vehicle was awesome! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Jen Nicolia - September 28 - 4:14 am

  Love my cruze

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  A Real Winner! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jtisch - September 12 - 6:41 am

  I owned a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, the best car I ever owned. Someone once asked me why I bought Japanese car. I said that when an American automaker can build a car as good as my Civic I will buy it. Chevy did it with my 2011 2LT turbocharged Cruze. As a matter of fact, it exceeds the Civic in every way. I am amazed at the automatic and standard transmission of this car. Every once in a while I shift over to the manual tranny and feel like a 20-something again. I only miss the 47 mpg I got with my hybrid, but paying $6,000 less for the Cruze more than makes up for it.

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  Home Run! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By cyper2002 - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I was hesitant about purchasing a Chevy, but I hope this car continues to impress! I have to say I really hope people start taking a look because this car blows the Corolla and Civic out of the water. Not sure about Chevy reliability, but I am impressed with the fit an finish of the car. Hopefully what seems to be great build quality will translate into great long term reliability and decent resale value.

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  Great car, low cost, awesome tech. - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Mike Murphy - July 3 - 6:06 am

  Buy the gen 2 Cruze, 2017 or newer. Youll also want the 1.4L turbo engine, my last Cruze had 181k trouble free miles on that drive train. If your budget allows definitely get the premier trim, its well worth the cost. I really have no negative comments on this car. If you are looking for a vehicle that offers many high end options at an inexpensive price while returning impressive fuel mileage, low operating cost and outstanding reliability, then this is your car. I chose the 2017 premier hatchback, it comes equipped with heated front & rear leather seats, heated steering wheel, 8 inch touch screen my link radio, Bose sound system, turn by turn navigation and too many other options to list.

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  My New Cruze - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By ck1951flint - June 13 - 10:00 am

  In 1999 I purchased a new Olds Aurora-I fell in love with that car and everything about it and swore I would drive it until GM came out with something as good or better. My new Cruze LTZ has accomplished that and more. I am 61" and it is as comfortable as it is fun to drive. I have every option save the Nav. system, they have thought of everything and at a very modest price. One of my friends has a 2010 CTS and said mine has more equipment and technology and rides and performs like a twin for a lot fewer dollars. Chevy knocked this one out of the park.

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  Smart Hatch - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jlo30324 - May 24 - 11:16 pm

  I was in the market for a car with a great cargo space and good gas mileage. The Cruze Hatch met those requirements plus it has a great interior. The road noise is minimal and after a 600 mile road trip, it got great gas mileage that equaled the EPA numbers. Yes, the auto start-stop does take some time to get used to but it is not intrusive and does not engage in stop and go traffic. Surprisingly the back seats has more leg room than the SUV I traded in, even for someone sitting behind me with my long legs. The one issue is that the headrests do block a lot of the rear vision out of the back window. I really did not notice this in the daytime but at night on the expressway, it is something to be aware off. But all in all, I am happy with it and one of my coworkers liked it so much he got one too.

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  52 MPG HA!! (try closer to 60 on the highway) - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Rexford L - May 15 - 10:18 pm

  Well, the EPA says its rated at 52 mpg highway and 30 city. I dont do that much city driving, but in the month that Ive had it, Ive put over 5000 miles on it (Sacramento CA to Williston ND and back, with another trip back to Williston. (Ill be doing that once a month) If you keep the speed under 70, on flat ground it easily averages 65 mpg, and at 85 mph its averaging about 50. The only thing holding you back from hour after hour of driving is having to use the restroom, the car is more than willing to keep on going. Its been 100% reliable in the time that Ive had it and a while it doesnt have a built in navigation system, the Android Auto is as good or better than any OEM navigation system Ive used (it uses Google Maps, displayed on the 7" center screen)

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  Oh, the irony - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Author Name - May 4 - 4:03 am

  I bought this car as a cheap commuter. I have about 60 miles, round trip, of commuting daily and wanted a basic vehicle with good mpg. My only real complaint with the Cruze is that there is no cruise. You would think that even in the base model, you would get the vehicles name sake as a standard option. Other than that, Ive put about 30,000 miles on the vehicle and required no maintenance other than oil changes and other routine work. Its not slow, but its not fast. It gets competitive gas mileage. It does well in snow and icy conditions, for a front wheel drive vehicle. For the level of options, the price was competitive, except the lacking cruise control. Overall, its been a great little a-b car that I plan to drive until it blows up. At the rate the car is going, that will probably be a while.

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  Solid Auto - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By bradley2 - April 1 - 1:41 am

  Good Car.