Chevrolet Cruze is Chevy’s answer to improving the car manufacturer’s market share in the mid-size sedan segment. It offers a good balance of performance, efficiency, and overall value. However, is it really what everyone needs? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons to find out.
Pros
1. Fuel economy
The Chevrolet Cruze has a fuel-efficient engine, which means that you’ll keep spending less at the gas station. The sedan’s 4-cylinder, turbo gas engine gets 28 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and a combined rating of 32 mpg. The diesel engine gives you an impressive 31 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The hatchback model is slightly less fuel efficient because of its less aerodynamic body shape.
2. Interior design and comfort
The Chevrolet Cruze is a comfortable ride, thanks to its smooth-running engine, suspension system, and quiet cabin. It is also roomy inside, with comfortable seats and plush interiors. Heated front seats add another layer of comfort on cold days. The dashboard and controls are well designed, too. You can choose from a wide range of colors and materials to amp up your car’s interiors.
3. Safety features
All models of this compact car come standard with ten airbags. Additionally, StabiliTrak—Chevy’s technology for rollover safety, stability, and traction control—comes standard too. On upgrading the trim level, you can also get parking assistance, front collision detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-zone alerts. Lane-change alert and following-distance indicator are included in the Premier package.
Cons
1. Slow base engine
The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze has a 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder turbo engine as its base option. The acceleration of this option is a little slow, but once it gets moving on a clear stretch of road, it performs well. However, passing and starting acceleration should be improved. If this is important to you, you may consider choosing the diesel engine instead. It offers significantly improved acceleration over the other engines available in this model.
2. No manual transmission
The base model and most trims no longer have a manual transmission option. This may be frustrating for drivers who like the handling of the Cruze and want more control over gear selection. The automatic transmission in the Cruze works well enough. If you buy a Cruze with a diesel engine, you can also opt for a manual 6-speed transmission.
3. Lift-over height complicates loading.
The Chevy Cruze provides above-average cargo space compared to other compact cars. However, its high lift-over height makes it more difficult to load heavy goods. This shouldn’t be an issue if you only use the cargo area for groceries and lighter goods.