Chevrolet Cruze - 2o6 Review

[2o6]

I have a 2016 Cruze as a loaner awhile my car is yet again in the shop.









+ good interior space

+ new 1.4T is more economical and gets better economy

+ GM MyLink works well, albeit not as responsive as a whole as the Malibu I had

+ whisper quiet

+ smooth ride

+ good interior


- not memorable whatsoever. The old car drove better, and was more interesting to drive

- kinda lame. Exceptionally lame.

[CALL_911]

Seems like it's good for its intended purpose. Shame about the driving experience, the last gen Cruze was quite good (albeit slow). I remain a fan of that car

[12,000 RPM]

Lol what is lame about it?

Hopefully they bring back the SS

[2o6]

Lol what is lame about it?

Hopefully they bring back the SS

The Chevy SS is still on sale....and the Cobalt SS (albeit fast) never ceased to remind you it's a Cobalt.



It does everything 'well', but there's no verve or zest to the car at all. The suspension is compliant, but not sporty. The transmission is smooth. The 1.4T isn't as breathless as the old 1.4T, and the steering is whack, although less whack than most HK products.


I can't remember it. The old Cruze seemed to have more personality, I liked it over the Focus. This car, I'd take a Focus every day.

[12,000 RPM]

I meant the Cruze SS. And I guess I meant make it period since it never existed.

I recently watched a review that made an analogy of a Corolla to something... a cell phone? Something you use and literally don't remember immediately after you are finished with it. I guess that is what Chevy went for here.

[Char]

MY feelings on the Cruz

"I have a Chevy Cruz as a rental - literally one of the worst cars I've driven. The brakes are spongy, and really don't grab unless you step into it like a panic stop, the steering is typical FWD light and darty and the engine - oh wow. Literally the worst part about this car is the hamster under the hood, it's unimpressive my all metrics. It vibrates so much with the A/C on, I rather be hot than deal with it, not to mention it drains all 5hp the gutless wonder has to spare.

I stood on the pedal and watched the car accelerate 1 mph per second from 60-70mph. There is no power anywhere except for the first 10-20mph amd it falls on it's face. The car is so gutless, you cant overtake anyone anywhere -ever. The transmission is constantly downshifting to put you somewhere in the 'powerband' (I use that term very loosely) and never finds it. The car requires almost full throttle for any manuver, and as a result turns WORSE fuel economy than my 3er.

Windows have no auto up feature and it sits too high up. What an epic pos."

I did NOT like that car. I don't remember my rental Sonic being as annoying.

[2o6]

I (and most here) didn't really experience any NVH harshness of the old 1.4T Cruze, if anything the car excelled at being exceptionally quiet and refined. It's not a fast car, but idk what you expect a car with 138HP and 3100lbs to do. The steering was light - but Idk What "fwd light" means....I've driven a lot of FWD cars with heavy and slow steering, and a lot of RWD cars with very light, over assisted steering.



The braking I do remember as being odd in the old Cruze - the pedal takes a lot of travel to engage, but that seemed to be a characteristic of the car. The transmission is geared for economy and its supposed to run to 6th and basically never come out; most cars these days do this so I can't fault GM for this. I don't mind, the car is relaxed and meant to be a relaxed car to drive.



No auto up isn't a feature to complain about, but the driver's Window should have auto up (my sonic does)

[12,000 RPM]

Heavy steering is not necessarily good steering. My Z had steering that was heavy AF but it gave no feedback. Civic steering is light but very communicative. I'd rather have communicative steering than heavy steering, though a little damping in the steering action can help with stability.

[ifcar]

The main issue I have with the new Cruze (haven't driven it yet) is that it's so expensive compared to the competition. I'm not sure how Chevrolet thinks it has the cachet to be more expensive than a Civic, but I don't foresee sales figures supporting that optimism.

[MX793]

The main issue I have with the new Cruze (haven't driven it yet) is that it's so expensive compared to the competition. I'm not sure how Chevrolet thinks it has the cachet to be more expensive than a Civic, but I don't foresee sales figures supporting that optimism.

They'll discount it heavily so buyers will feel like they got a great deal.

[ifcar]

They'll discount it heavily so buyers will feel like they got a great deal.

With a number of recent Chevrolets, transaction prices seem to remain on the high side. So the result is just that GM is consistently outsold in many key market segments, including this one.

[MX793]

With a number of recent Chevrolets, transaction prices seem to remain on the high side. So the result is just that GM is consistently outsold in many key market segments, including this one.

As long as they're making a profit...  There's more to success than marketshare.

[ifcar]

As long as they're making a profit...  There's more to success than marketshare.

That's one thing that's hard to know. It certainly doesn't seem that GM was very happy with the success of the previous-generation Malibu, for instance, which is one of the examples. Besides, few sales means more people who can potentially become loyal long-term to a competitor.

[12,000 RPM]

Yea, GM def needs some converts. With misadventures like BGK's I don't see that happening much.

[2o6]

Yea, GM def needs some converts. With misadventures like BGK's I don't see that happening much.

Mine seems to be a fluke - Sonic sales are still pretty OK, and most of the guys on the Sonic forum are baffled that this is happening.


Having worked for two, GM dealers def need help more than their product does.

[AutobahnSHO]

Amazing how much a dealer experience influences.

I'm kinda somewhat soured on Subarus after the Impreza fiasco...

[Madman]

Hey, nice Dodge Dart.  No wait, that's a Hyundai Elantra, right?  Or is it a Honda Civic?  Hold on, I've got it.  It's the new Kia Forte!

Seriously, remove the Chevy badges and it could be something from at least half a dozen different manufacturers.  Say what you will about the old Cruze but at least there was no mistaking it for anything else.  Could they have made this car look any more generic?

[Speed_Racer]

Hey, nice Dodge Dart.  No wait, that's a Hyundai Elantra, right?  Or is it a Honda Civic?  Hold on, I've got it.  It's the new Kia Forte!

Seriously, remove the Chevy badges and it could be something from at least half a dozen different manufacturers.  Say what you will about the old Cruze but at least there was no mistaking it for anything else.  Could they have made this car look any more generic?

Looks like a Fiesta from the backend

[12,000 RPM]

Hey, nice Dodge Dart.  No wait, that's a Hyundai Elantra, right?  Or is it a Honda Civic?  Hold on, I've got it.  It's the new Kia Forte!

Seriously, remove the Chevy badges and it could be something from at least half a dozen different manufacturers.  Say what you will about the old Cruze but at least there was no mistaking it for anything else.  Could they have made this car look any more generic?

Hahaha this is very true and pretty sad. I'm also bummed at how much this plays on the "small cars grow upward, midsizers grow long" trend- look at all the sheetmetal between the C-pillar and the back wheelwell!

[Rich]

I loved it when small cars looked like these

[Rich]

now they look like this

[MrH]

The worst part about the new Cruze is the rear bumper.  It's so bad.

[2o6]

Blah blah blah old man nostalgia

[CaminoRacer]

Hey, nice Dodge Dart.  No wait, that's a Hyundai Elantra, right?  Or is it a Honda Civic?  Hold on, I've got it.  It's the new Kia Forte!

Seriously, remove the Chevy badges and it could be something from at least half a dozen different manufacturers.  Say what you will about the old Cruze but at least there was no mistaking it for anything else.  Could they have made this car look any more generic?

Looks like a Fiesta from the backend

[Char]

I don't even like hatches, might as well have a station wagon (which is essentially what they are.)

[2o6]

What's wrong with hatchbacks?? They're more useful of a shape, and usually  the design is better than a boot slapped on a too-short car....

[MX793]

I generally like hatches.  I like sedans that are actually designed from day 1 to be sedans.  I don't like sedans that are hasty design conversions of hatches that basically tack a small growth on the back to serve as a trunk.  Most small sedans these days fall into the latter category.  Fiesta, Versa, Impreza, Mazda2/iA, Mazda3 (though this looks better than most), Sonic...

[2o6]

True. It's the reason why I refused to buy a Sonic sedan.

[ifcar]

I don't even like hatches, might as well have a station wagon (which is essentially what they are.)

A station wagon is essentially a longer version of a hatchback, yes -- bulkier but roomier. Of course, in the U.S. market, you don't usually get a choice between the two.

[Laconian]

I freaking hate the stubby trunks of C segment sedans. Useless and fugly!