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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  The hidden gem of the automotive industry - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Richard T - November 22 - 2:06 am

  I rented this car for two days and it was amazing! At 50mpg the cruise control indicated 60mpg and at 70mph it was 42mpg. The claimed 47mpg highway entirely believable if a bit conservative. The range with a full tank (13 gallons) was an indicated 538 miles. These are incredible numbers for a vehicle that is not a diesel and is of this size. The seats were very comfortable. I drove non-stop from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville without a single ache or pain. The cabin was very quiet. I carried on several conversations while on the move and not once did exterior noise interfere. Which gets me to the Bluetooth connectivity. The pairing to my LG Aristo was effortless and connections to it once I started the car were instant. The backup camera was clear with the display being large enough to be effective. The steering assist lines on the display curve as you turn the steering wheel and while I never really got accustomed to them enough to trust what they were telling me, they seemed to be accurate enough. The stereo had easy-to-use controls and had very good sound. The 1.4L turbocharged engine was smooth, quiet and eager to please. Flooring the pedal brought decent acceleration that surprised me every time I did it. The 6 speed automatic shifted crisply and smoothly and never hunted for gears. The brakes were firm, linear, and positive. I love them if only because they are discs front and rear, a feature thankfully becoming the norm, even on small, economy cars. What didnt I like? To be fair, the following will be mere quibbles and nothing in the list would prevent me from buying one or renting one again. My biggest problem with this car was the parking brake. Located as a pedal on the floor, that was at first a nice touch. I like pedal-operated parking brakes because they keep my hands free to grab my belongings in a hurry. But this one was a bit unpleasant. It was mounted fairly high, had very little travel and was stiff. My wife has a 2011 Camry and by comparison that pedal,-operated parking brake is effortless. It was also difficult to tell if it was disengaged fully, forcing me to check the dashboard to see if the indicator light was extinguished. I suspect most owners will opt to not use it and just use the transmission to keep the car from rolling away (a practice I do not subscribe to). The next item on my list is the stop-start feature. This was a welcome feature in and of itself. The engine shut down and restarted so quickly and smoothly that it took several miles before I realized that it was happening! The tachometer does display when it is active by dipping below zero to an area labelled as "AUTO STOP". The moment the car comes to a stop the engine shuts down. Release the foot brake and the engine comes to life before your foot gets back on the gas and off you go. Nice. But my problem is that if you take your foot off the brake to creep forward a bit, the feature is disabled entirely and the engine restarts and remains on. Putting the car in Park also causes the engine to restart. If the air con was of and it is turned on, the engine restarts. The engine doesnt remain off for long and restarts (even with your foot still on the brake) after a few minutes. This is understandable because the battery is being depleted with the accessories still running. The windows are all one-shot on the downward travel, but must be held in the up direction. My wifes Camry has one-shot on all windows in both directions. I am yet to understand why other manufacturers dont see this as viable. Who wants to sit there holding window buttons when there are things in the world to be done?!? That manumatic shift feature. I had to Google it to figure out how it worked. And as far as I am concerned it should be deleted entirely. A total waste of engineering, if you ask me. You have to move the shifter down into L range and then press the "+" or "-" button on top of the selector to get higher or lower gears, respectively. It would be better to have a gate to the left or right of the selector and allow the shifter itself to be toggled...preferably like Mazda correctly has it: pull back for upshifts, push forward for downshifts. The steering was nicely weighted and felt direct, but was a little too sensitive at centre. That made keeping straight in a lane, particularly with crosswinds, a bit tricky. The stereo. Why are the volume up and down controls hidden on the underside of the right hand spoke of the steering wheel?!? And there are two other buttons under the left spoke that I am yet to figure out. What I hate: The reverse lights come on when you exit the car...a stupid and dangerous feature that all GM cars unfortunately currently feature. It gives the impression that the car is backing up and cause a panic situation which may lead to an accident. STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS, GM! Otherwise, this is an amazing little car that deserves consideration.

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  30K in the best car Ive owned - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Steve - November 21 - 9:14 pm

  Best features: fuel mileage, driver comfort, low interior noise, emergency handling, smooth handling of recalls and no surprise repairs. Worst: As delivered, trunk provides no way to restrain its cargo; difficulty gauging how close I am to objects behind me. The rating and the meager "worsts" tell the story. My "suburban" (i.e., a mixture of highway and stop-light ruled streets) gas mileage ranges from 30-33, highway mileage at 68-70 mph on cruise control often touches high 30s. The six-speed manual, combined with the turbocharger, takes some learning to get shift points right for performance and mileage. If I shift at around 2200 rpm and hit 6th by 40 mph, my mileage is excellent. The combination of the electric steering (which I learned to like in my 2003 Saturn Ion) and the suspension have let me react very quickly (e.g., when someone decided she liked my lane without asking) with no drama. My wife likes to drive, especially on long trips, and, except for the shifting in stop-and-go, has found her comfortable seating position and mirror settings and puts in hundreds of miles at a clip. The Value rating is my best way of describing my experience so far. At 2 3/4 years, I genuinely enjoy driving this car.

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  Bluez Cruze - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Caleb Allen - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Cruze last month, trading in a Toyota Sequoia. I needed a car that would provide the same quality ride with better MPG. I have to say, its wonderful! Sure, I lost a lot of space, but Chevy really set standards high with the interior styling. Very quiet on highway and in town, and engine noise only comes when really punching. Not as quick as youd expect, but for a daily driver you have adequate power. Reliability up to the powers that be, I only have 500 miles on her so far. But the 100,000 PT, and 3/36 warranties give me peace of mind. Good buy.

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  Concern Customer - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By darnellf5@gmail.com - October 20 - 10:44 am

  Purchase 2014 Cruz Diesel in 2014. Five months after purchase the check engine light came on, I thought this was odd. Well, I have had my car service 10 times. Spoke with GM about the problem but have not received support. Please reconsider before you buy.Maybe all the Chevy Cruz Diesels are not alike but I ended up with a bad one. I have had a Chevrolet car before with no issues.

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  Worst purchase Ive ever made - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Kc - September 21 - 10:50 am

  Ive had this car not even a week yet and its already in the shop for repairs. Im not satisfied with this car and wish I could go back and get my Subaru back that I traded. This car completely stalled out on me while I was at a red light causing me to have to push the car onto a side steet where I sat for a half hour before it would restart. Its now in the shop for who knows how long because the car is so new theyre having problems getting the part witch theyre saying is the module of the car that has to replaced and that its making all the signal lights come on and what not. This is a brand new car with only a hundred miles on it. What else is going to go wrong with it? This is ridiculous. I told them I wanted a different car, something and I got no where with that. They gave me a rental to use until they can get my car fixed. I wouldnt recommend anyone getting this vehicle.

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  2014 Cruze diesel Best mpg in my life! Fantastic! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Al - August 16 - 7:34 pm

  We have owned this car since Oct. 2014. It has done a mix of driving with some long road trips. getting 60 mpg with the low rolling resistance tires in the summer was a fantastic plus. But we have also seen 44 mpg mixed city driving. It goes down when we change to winter tires for driving conditions in Minnesota but is still 3 to 8 mpg above the EPA "estimates". The only way to get the mileage under 25 is letting it idle in the winter with the heat on while waiting for someone in a store! Getting into the car is a little difficult for a 62" tall man, it reminds me of my exotic sports car I used to own, but once in the car it is great! The handling is something other small car owners dream about for the engine gives the car just the right amount of weight. Acceleration is great for an economy car plus braking is great. the steering is a little twitchy at freeway speed but the driver is supposed to be paying attention at higher speed! I like the parking assist and backup camera. I have loaded all kinds of stuff in to the car through the backseat, even 8 foot 2 x 4s and 10 foot pipe. back seat room behind me is just not there. But it is ok when my wife is driving. I found when I was shopping cars in 2014 that this was the most comfortable inside for a large man. We have the leather interior and all the options but the price of the car new was not at all high. About $8k under the infamous car company that lied about their diesels. Chevy is up front about what the owner should do for maintenance and we like the 2 years free oil changes. I was waiting for a car that would get over 30 mpg in mixed city driving and our average of 38 is great. I knew I wanted either electric or diesel and diesel won in every way. Update 11-14-2016. This year this car hit a new milestone(pun intended) with its mileage at 61.3 MPG on a short trip of 150 miles. I had filled up before leaving and had to wait most of the trip to see the fuel gauge move off the full mark. OUTSTANDING!! Around town mileage for short trips has gone to about the EPA level of 26 mpg but the part of the system that measures fuel economy between fill ups is constantly showing 31 to 33 mpg average. A full tank of almost 15 gallons lasts a LONG time. We have yet to drive over 500 miles round trip with the car but highway mileage in the high 50s to low 60s is normal. If you balance this diesel with gas car maintenance and fuel costs compared to Premium gas required in lots of turbo engined small cars our costs are at least 25% lower but we are experiencing about 50% lower. I expect that when the 2017 1.6L diesel comes out I would think drivers could get into the 70s and if you tried really hard even to 80 MPG. GM is doing the right thing with their diesels.

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  Not very impressed. Preferred the VW Jetta - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Sam - August 14 - 10:42 pm

  Avis at OC John Wayne airport stuck me with a Chevy Cruze on my last trip to SoCalif in May 2017. Bummer. I had fun to drive VW Jetta the last time. The accelerator pedal on the Cruze felt like I was modulating a bungee cord with virtually no acceleration unless I floored it. The brakes were a little grabby but OK. Theres nothing special about this car, not especially fun to drive, not very nimble but acceptable. The auto Stop/Start was a royal pain. The only way I could disable it (sometimes) was if I left the air conditioner ON. Apparently the engine needs to be running in order to power the air conditioner - but that only worked sometimes. I thought I would get better throttle response by shifting the transmission out of Drive and into the next lower setting. If I did that while stopped the engine would just rev up to redline and wouldnt shift as I sped up. If I was already in motion then manually down shifted, it would sometimes stay in the lower setting with better throttle response and not rev up so high. It would shift. Weird. I say shift because Im not sure if this is a real transmission or a CVT. In any case, it was annoying! The VW Jetta is also an inexpensive sedan and I found it be a far better car all around, much more spirited, and no silly quirks like the Chevy Cruze. I ask Avis if I can get the Jetta again on my next trip. Ill try to avoid the Cruze.

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  My new chevy Cruze - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Brian Buzak - July 15 - 10:25 pm

  When purchasing or leasing a Cruze. Do all your research first , make sure that you can do all your negotiating over the phone and talk to family or friends that own one. First so you can get the feel of the vehicle. I had just leased my new Cruze and i love it very much it is a great car if you are in collage or just want something that will get you to a to b. Other than that Chevy did a great job on the design and it is a great first car.

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  Very impressed so far - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By abmwfan - June 29 - 7:13 am

  I purchased a 2011 Cruze 2LT as a commuter car and am very impressed so far. My benchmark for comparison is luxury brands like BMW and Volvo and this car measures up surprisingly well for a $20k vehicle. It handles well, steering is nicely weighted (at highway speeds), front leg room is excellent and the seats are very supportive. On-center highway feel is good. Body lean in corners is minimal. GM offers a nice choice of tech goodies for this segment. The vehicle is comparatively quiet at highway speeds. Keep in mind when you read reviews saying that this car is very quiet or "serene," its all in the context of the compact vehicle segment. Just dont expect a Lexus or BMW for $20k.

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  Much Better then Average - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Nicholas - June 29 - 2:58 am

  Have the Hatchback Premier the ride is quieter then Civic . More cormfotable the Madza 3. The Ford Focus needs a lot of improvement to even be in a class with the Cruze . For the money Cruze is a contender and you add the mileage savings that equals a winner