With all of GM's recent promises of improved quality, efficiency, dependability and value, I was curious to see what the brand-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze would bring to the table.
At first glance, I was impressed by the well-designed body panels adorning the compact sedan's frame. There were points and curves in the panels to add dimension and style, something that previous renditions of economy cars deliberately bypassed to keep the sticker price low.
The five-seater performed well in the acceleration and maneuvering categories, and I'd even go as far as saying it was fun to drive in a weaving-through-traffic-and-squeezing-into-tight-parking-spots way. During my test week I was able to run the Cruze through some snow- and ice-covered roads and had to put in extra effort to get even the slightest sliding action.
While the gas gauge needle was slow to move, I was surprised to find I only averaged 17 mpgs with my city driving in the Cruze. The 15.8-gallon tank certainly made it seem like it was taking longer to empty, but the numbers don't lie.
With a starting MSRP of $16,275 for the base LS model, the Cruze delivers a great value. I test-drove a Cruze 1LT, which starts at $18,175, but my test car cost $20,240, so my experience certainly was anything but "base."
EXTERIOR
The Cruze looked distinguished for a little car with an affordable price tag. There are lots of points of interest going on in the front, including the checkmark-looking headlights and chunky grille with low-slung front bumper. My test car didn't come with fog lights, but others do and they add even more masculine prowess to the front end.
While many drivers will appreciate the weightiness and solid feel of the Cruze's doors, my family couldn't stand them. They were so heavy it became burdensome for us because we had to rush into the car, trying not to get hit in the rear by the quick-slamming doors. They were particularly hard to deal with in tight parking spaces, where I wanted the doors to remain halfway open, but they just wouldn't do it. When the kids had the doors wide open, there was no way they could reach the doors to shut them.
The trunk was enormous. I was saddened that I had already done my grocery shopping for the week. That cargo area was beggin' to be loaded!
The Cruze comes with a 138-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that's paired with a six-speed automatic. The Cruze takes regular gas and gets an EPA-estimated 24/36 mpg city/highway. There's a second engine choice – a 136-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder – that's standard on the base LS trim. It gets 22/35 mpg.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some
INTERIOR
For its price, the Cruze is well-appointed. I was tickled to see an auto-headlight feature and a turn-by-turn navigation display in the instrument cluster. Both are great features for this price range. However, I nearly cried when I hopped into the Cruze after scraping ice off the windshield in 20-degree temperatures and realized heated seats were not on the menu of the upscale cloth inserts in my test Cruze. To get heated seats, I'd need to move up a trim level to the 2LT.
Loading...
Comments