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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  One thing after Another - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Emily - January 31 - 11:36 pm

  I purchased my 2013 Cruze (automatic) brand new from the dealership. First service on the car, my transmission was black, and i was almost out of coolant. the car constantly sucks down coolant, and the recall on transmission makes it worse. continously have problems with electrical wiring. bulbs in headlights constanly explode because of overheating because of bad wiring. had to pay $200 to replace the whole wiring harness on one side because the wiring caught on fire. Interior of car is worthless. first cleaning i used name brand (and expensive) car interior cleaner that scratched away the cheap paint by the volume controls. the steering wheel material is wearing off after only 3 years of owning the car. the carpeting on the walls of thr car and dashboard are difficult to keep clean. cup holders are in an odd place, you can ONLY open the trunk with you key fob. and your car has to be off to open the trunk. acceleration is jerky, car locked itself one time on its own (typical pass lock system of Chevy). oh not to mention the outer plate of my gas flap fell off (it was poorly glued on?) the little adjuster knobs on the ir vents broke and fell off. overall, the car was cheaply made, and a fast dollar for the company.dont get one youll thank me.

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  Cruze is nice, but real mpg very disappointing - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By chevy68 - January 11 - 10:24 am

  The Cruze LS 1.8L with 6-speed auto trans is a solid car. Nice styling, interior, features, ride and handling. However, highway mpg is not as advertised. I am only getting 28-29 mpg on 98% highway driving. By comparison, I always get the EPA mpg on my other vehicles. 6-7 mpg below the sticker value does not cut it. I made a decision to buy the Cruze over the Civic because of the great styling and features along with an advertised 35 mpg highway. I am now second guessing my decision based on the poor numbers.

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  Very Very Safe car - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Dylan - January 9 - 1:38 pm

  This is my second 2017 cruze.It is my 2nd because i had totaled out the first one after only having it one month. I wreaked it into the back of a completely stopped semi (impact on semi trailer) going 60mph. I walked away from the accident at my own free will with only a few cuts on my hands and a lot of post adrenaline. I have no clue how i wreaked because i blacked out for a min, but needless to say if i was in my truck and not this car i would be dead today most likely. So thats why i leased another one! I dont like however that the fully loaded version does not have a door cupholder like ever other chevy 17 model. I also do not like that they did not put in led lights in the dome lights like the 2016+ malibu base model. Also, i wish you could charge your devices with the usb port without entering andriod auto or apply car play. Lastly, i hate the lag in acceleration after leaving auto stop. The auto stop feature has also caused my car to stall once at a stop light after trying to go on green.

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  dont trust - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By dont trust - November 26 - 8:34 am

  getting 40-50+ mpg worcester to boston 55,000 miles on car acceleration to good at 60 mph on wet roads now at 58,000 miles over 2 hour oil @ gm reprogrammed ecm per recall getting 28-39 mpg acceleration no good at all thanks to gm and their dealer

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  Honeymoon Is Over - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By John Philips - November 10 - 9:11 pm

  I have owned my 2012 Cruze Eco since 2012 and it now has 75,000 miles on it. Until recently I did not have one issue with the car that wasnt covered under warranty. The car has also been recalled about 5-7 times, again for free repair and not for anything that ever impacted the way the car operated. Recently I had a pool of oil under the car and was told it was a broken oil line which connected to the turbocharger. This in my opinion is that infamous Chevy "quality" rearing its ugly head. Something like this should not fail in any car with my mileage. This repair was not covered under warranty (it really should be!), but was relatively inexpensive to fix, only $120. I have owned two Chevys in the past (late 90s/early 2000s) and had horrible quality problems. It took me more than a decade to get back into my Cruze, which I still enjoy. Its fun to drive and has some points to it that are much nicer than any other car in its price class. The electronic button that opens the trunk has also failed recently, so there isnt any other way to open the trunk except for the button on the key fob. Again, this is a quality problem that should not be happening to any car. My friend owns a 2012 Cruze and his button has also failed as well. Not covered under warranty, and the quote I got to fix it was $360. Its more of an inconvenience than anything else, and I elected not to spend (waste) $360 on a simple button replacement. The recall letters keep coming fairly steadily, but the ones I am getting recently ask me to bring the car in only if I should start experiencing certain problems. I am afraid that I have more quality issues on the horizon. Im beginning to question whether I should trade it as I am nervous that more repairs and out of pocket expenses are coming. Ill probably just drive it until thats not possible any longer. The fact is I have over 75,000 miles and it has run really, really well. I think that 100,000 miles will be easily achieved within the next few years. Well keep our eyes on it and see what happens.

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  Great Car for Price - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Shell - October 26 - 6:55 am

  I am already at 50k+ miles in 2.5 years and have had no issues with this car. It is a basic car - no frills. It drives smoothly and is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. My only complaint is that the interior materials are cheap. One mirror cover broke off already with basic use and the metallic coating on a door handle is peeling off already. The door locks are kind of weird (the only autolock button is on the dash) and the basic model lacks many modern features such as keyless entry/start-up or a back-up view camera. The USB connection can be finicky, and I had to have it replaced when it was new, but now it usually works as long as the USB cord is good quality. The backseats are a little cramped when people sit behind someone tallish (I am 57). I average around 35mpg, which is awesome. Sometimes I go 40m on 1 gallon. I only paid $15k for this car, so I am very pleased with it overall.

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  Great Car for Price - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Shell - October 26 - 5:56 am

  I am already at 50k+ miles in 2.5 years and have had no issues with this car. It is a basic car - no frills. It drives smoothly and is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. My only complaint is that the interior materials are cheap. One mirror cover broke off already with basic use and the metallic coating on a door handle is peeling off already. The door locks are kind of weird (the only autolock button is on the dash) and the basic model lacks many modern features such as keyless entry/start-up or a back-up view camera. The USB connection can be finicky, and I had to have it replaced when it was new, but now it usually works as long as the USB cord is good quality. The backseats are a little cramped when people sit behind someone tallish (I am 57). I average around 35mpg, which is awesome. Sometimes I go 40m on 1 gallon. I only paid $15k for this car, so I am very pleased with it overall.

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  Do Not Purchase if you Live in Your Car - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Kim D - October 24 - 7:34 pm

  I bought this car because it was a good deal and had good ratings. However, I drive a lot and thus have made a lot of repairs to this car. In its first five years, I had a sensor go out, a major oil leak, a major radiator leak, and a passenger windshield wiper quit working. I was recently in a minor car accident, and while I would consider this car a safe car, it basically folded in the trunk and was deemed a total loss. I think the MPG was great, and the car was roomy--especially the trunk. The car is NOT good in snow. I always fishtailed. Keeping a bag of kitty litter or sand in the trunk during the winter months is a must.

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  What moron forgot the spare tire? - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By J. T. Solomon - August 5 - 10:16 am

  No spare, no jack, a can of fix-a-leak "good luck" once you fill the tire with that fix-a-flat the tire and rim become one. Sure you need room for the "DEF" tank but there sure is enough room for a donut and tool kit. Another thing , try to find the correct wheel. The diesel wheel is different from the regular gasoline cruze due to the larger calipers. Other then that the Chevrolet Cruze is a damn good car...

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  Worse Idea Ever - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Ella - July 22 - 8:18 am

  The "auto stop" feature on my new 2017 Cruze is the most annoying thing I have ever seen in a car. When trying to get out of the parking lot at work every afternoon, my car engine turns itself off and then back on 4 or 5 times every day depending on how many cars are ahead of me. Same thing happens in a turn lane or when driving behind a school bus in the morning. Ive contacted Chevy and was told that there is no wat to by-pass or disable the auto stop so I am stuck with it. My last 5 cars have all been Chevys and Ive been happy with them until now but this auto stop is so inconvenient that I will probably never buy another Chevy.