Chevy's Crews Prove GM Can Build a Decent Small Car

Chevy's crews have proved that General Motors can build a decent small car, one that has erased years of bad memories of lousy Cobalts and Cavaliers. The 2016 redesign of the Cruze aims to make it more competitive in a compact car segment that is trying to feel all grown up, just to make things confusing. The old Cruze remains on sale for a while, dubbed Cruze Limited.

The second generation Cruze has lost its body fat, weighing 225 pounds less than the equivalent last generation Cruze. We tested it and found that styling is less pudgy than before, with a more streamlined look that's very similar to the concurrent Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. However, there are sacrifices for that styling, as seen in the rear window base which is really high at least - and a rear camera is standard, while blind spot monitoring is optional.

Don't think that the Cruze shrunk just to lose weight; it's actually three inches longer much of that length went into the back seat, which now fits adults with reasonable comfort. This is a big improvement over the cramped seats and previous cruises, putting it on par with the roomiest cars in the segment. Another stretch goal for the Cruze is improved fuel economy.

The last generation Cruise could only manage 26 miles per gallon overall with its gasoline engine in our tests. However, the new cars reduced weight should help, as well as a new 1.4 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 153 horsepower. Most will have a 6-speed automatic, but you can still get a manual car. Cars with the automatic also come with a standard start/stop system that shuts off the engine when stopped at traffic lights to save fuel.

Power is certainly adequate and the engine is reasonably refined, despite Volkswagen's diesel emission scandals putting a cloud over the sale of diesels here in the state. Chevy plans to sell a diesel Cruze here once again, which is something of a surprise because the last generation diesel crews really didn't sell that well. Diesel's appeal to European loving car buyers has also been impacted, so do hatchbacks and Chevy plans to sell a hatchback version of the Cruze here.

There are certainly other car companies that sell globally inspired and globally sold compact cars here in America like the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf. Those cars are more fun, with sharper steering and more nimble reflexes. Not that the Cruze is bad to drive; it rides well, calming down bumpy roads and road noises pretty well kept in check.

This mid-level L team includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a convenience package that brings a power driver's seat and heated seats. The sticker price comes to $23,145, which is about one to two thousand dollars more than a Hyundai Elantra or Honda Civic after adjusting for equipment differences. Again, we got a pretty good deal on this car, as it was the first one to arrive at the dealership, suggesting that you can probably haggle down the price.

The Cruze's newfound style aims to make the car feel more desirable while also addressing the car's previous weaknesses. Chevy's ambitions for this car are similar to those of the redesigned Malibu, viewed at the same time. For more on compact sedans, check out Consumer Reports.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enChevy's crews proved that GM could build a decent small car one that erased years of bad memories of lousy Cobalts and Cavaliers this 2016 redesign aims to make the Cruze more competitive in a compact car segment that is trying to feel all grown up just to make things confusing the old Cruze remains on sale for a while dubbed Cruze limited the second generation Cruze has lost its body fat it weighs 225 pounds less than the equivalent last generation Cruze we test it styling is less pudgy than before - with a more streamlined look that's very similar to the concurrent Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra there are sacrifices for that styling though the rear window base is really really high at least a rear camera is standard blind spot monitoring is optional don't think that the Cruze Shrunk the lose weight it's actually three inches longer much of that length went into the back seat which now fits adults with a reasonable comfort that's a big improvement over the cramped seats and previous cruises and it puts it on par with the roomiest cars in the segment another stretch goal for the Cruze is improved fuel economy the last generation cruise could only manage 26 miles per gallon overall with its gasoline engine in our tests the new cars reduced weight should help as well as a new 1.4 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 153 horsepower most will have a 6-speed automatic but you can still get a manual cars with the automatic get a standard start/stop system that shuts off the engine when stopped at traffic lights to save fuel power is certainly adequate and the engine is reasonably refined even though Volkswagens diesel emission scandals put a cloud over the sale of diesels here in the state chevy plans to sell a diesel Cruze here once again that's something of a surprise because the last generation diesel crews really didn't sell that well just as Diesel's appeal to European loving car buyers here so do hatchbacks and chevy plans to sell a hatchback version the Cruze here - there are certainly other car companies that sell globally inspired and globally sold compact cars here in America like the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf those cars are more fun I've been the cruise they have sharper steering and more nimble reflexes not that the cruise is bad to drive it rides well calming down bumpy roads and road noises pretty well kept in check this mid-level L team includes apple carplay and android auto and a convenience package that brings a power driver's seat and heated seats it's sticker price comes to twenty three thousand one hundred forty five dollars that's about one to two thousand dollars more than a Hyundai Elantra or Honda Civic after adjusting for equipment differences then again we got a pretty good deal on this car and it was the first one to arrive at the dealership that suggests that you can probably haggle down the price maybe the premium price hence it's Chevy's ambitions for this car like the redesigned Malibu that they viewed at the same time the cruises newfound style aims to make the car feel more desirable while also addressing the car's previous weaknesses for more on compact sedans check out consumerreports.org youChevy's crews proved that GM could build a decent small car one that erased years of bad memories of lousy Cobalts and Cavaliers this 2016 redesign aims to make the Cruze more competitive in a compact car segment that is trying to feel all grown up just to make things confusing the old Cruze remains on sale for a while dubbed Cruze limited the second generation Cruze has lost its body fat it weighs 225 pounds less than the equivalent last generation Cruze we test it styling is less pudgy than before - with a more streamlined look that's very similar to the concurrent Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra there are sacrifices for that styling though the rear window base is really really high at least a rear camera is standard blind spot monitoring is optional don't think that the Cruze Shrunk the lose weight it's actually three inches longer much of that length went into the back seat which now fits adults with a reasonable comfort that's a big improvement over the cramped seats and previous cruises and it puts it on par with the roomiest cars in the segment another stretch goal for the Cruze is improved fuel economy the last generation cruise could only manage 26 miles per gallon overall with its gasoline engine in our tests the new cars reduced weight should help as well as a new 1.4 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 153 horsepower most will have a 6-speed automatic but you can still get a manual cars with the automatic get a standard start/stop system that shuts off the engine when stopped at traffic lights to save fuel power is certainly adequate and the engine is reasonably refined even though Volkswagens diesel emission scandals put a cloud over the sale of diesels here in the state chevy plans to sell a diesel Cruze here once again that's something of a surprise because the last generation diesel crews really didn't sell that well just as Diesel's appeal to European loving car buyers here so do hatchbacks and chevy plans to sell a hatchback version the Cruze here - there are certainly other car companies that sell globally inspired and globally sold compact cars here in America like the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf those cars are more fun I've been the cruise they have sharper steering and more nimble reflexes not that the cruise is bad to drive it rides well calming down bumpy roads and road noises pretty well kept in check this mid-level L team includes apple carplay and android auto and a convenience package that brings a power driver's seat and heated seats it's sticker price comes to twenty three thousand one hundred forty five dollars that's about one to two thousand dollars more than a Hyundai Elantra or Honda Civic after adjusting for equipment differences then again we got a pretty good deal on this car and it was the first one to arrive at the dealership that suggests that you can probably haggle down the price maybe the premium price hence it's Chevy's ambitions for this car like the redesigned Malibu that they viewed at the same time the cruises newfound style aims to make the car feel more desirable while also addressing the car's previous weaknesses for more on compact sedans check out consumerreports.org you\n"