Road Test

Road tested, commuter approved

There are a certain breed of people that simply can not compromise their driving experience, there are some that like keeping the toys in the garage during the daily commute, and there are others still that while they may aspire to or appreciate a high performance vehicle can not in the end outweigh their practical needs. If you are in the last two groups, than the Chevy Cruze may be for you. Economical in both overall price and gas mileage, yet not at all feeling cheap, the Cruze is light-years ahead of the Cobalt and is among the pantheon of economy cars in current production. With quality materials throughout, which give excellent tactile feel and a thoughtful layout, it doesn't get much better for under $20,000. Storage, leg room and head room is substantial and the standard XM radio with CD player, 6-speaker system, and auxiliary input (for MP3 players) made the daily commute relaxing and enjoyable. Our tester also came with the optional ($275) Connectivity Package, which includes a USB audio interface, Bluetooth for cell phones, and steering wheel controls. While we did not take advantage of the USB interface, steering wheel controls are a great feature for highway driving as is Bluetooth. In states where some sort of hands-free setup is required by law, Bluetooth is the way to go. And for the rest of us, it will simply make using the phone while driving exponentially more safe. 

As much as I am marveled at how much better the Cruze is compared to the last Cobalt rental car I had, there are two things that keep nagging me. I can't help but wonder if either a 5-speed automatic, just a different calibration or a revision to the lower gear ratios of the six-speed auto is in order. On the one hand, in combination with the 3.87:1 gear ratio, it easily keeps you in the powerband when you are trying to pull out across a four-lane highway or away from a blind corner. In a car with only 138 horsepower this can be a concern. On the other hand, sometimes when you are putting around town it feels like the transmission thinks you are on a road course. My guess is that this may have something to do with the EPA's 22mpg estimate around town, several tics below its competitors. On the highway, sixth gear keeps the little Ecotec right in the sweet spot and affords the Cruze with 35mpg's as estimated by the EPA, which puts it dead even with the Toyota Corolla and 1mpg ahead of the Honda Civic. However, we'd estimate that with the cruise control set at 55-65 mph, 38-40mpg's is entirely doable. One other feature, or lack there of, that may cause some turmoil among potential buyers is the lack of power mirrors. This car literally has every other power feature imaginable (aside from the seats), but I'd guess that in actual use most people will see no reason to ever change the position of their passenger-side mirror (making it a non-issue).

In the end, the complaints were few, but the reward for picking up a Chevy Cruze could be substantial. We can't wait to get our hands on the turbocharged version!

Engine: 1.8L DOHC Inline 4-cylinder, 138hp, 125 ft-lbs
Driveline: FWD, 6T40 6-speed automatic trans
Suspension: independent MacPherson strut front, torsion beam with Z-link rear
Brakes: front disc, rear drum (std) with ABS (rear disc is optional)
EPA MPG: 22/35
Standard Price: $16,275
Price As Tested: $18,375