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Wish List: What Would Make The Chevy Cruze Even More Competitive? Updated!

Update: I’ve made several updates to the list, which are in italics.

Here are the facts: even though the 2011 Chevy Cruze is a fine vehicle (yup, I bought one), competitors are beginning to offer compact cars that deliver more features. For example, the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra offer several features that aren’t available in the Cruze, decreasing the new Chevy compact sedan’s value proposition to the buyer.

As such, I’ve decided to compile a wish list of features I would like to see on a forthcoming Cruze update. Some of these are already on their way for the 2012 model year while others… not so much. So without any further ado, here’s the list:

  • Push-button start with keyless entry (coming for 2012)
  • Touchscreen navigation system (coming for 2012)
  • Backup camera (may be coming for 2012)
  • Hatchback variant for the U.S. market
  • More horsepower for the 1.4 liter turbo-charged ECOTEC (around 160). Can be easily accomplished by boosting turbo pressure (Focus has 160 standard)
  • More powerful engine option (1.6 or 2.0 liter turbo) to go against Focus ST; it doesn’t have to be called SS… I’d be perfectly fine with a Z-spec moniker
  • Six-speed manual option on 1LT, 2LT, and LTZ trim levels
  • Diesel powerplant
  • All wheel drive option (Focus)
  • Pure EV model similar to the new Ford Focus Electric
  • RS package should only be available on Cruzen equipped with 17- or 18-inch wheels. The 16-inchers look comical with the RS grounds-effects package
  • Blind spot mirror (Focus)
  • Side turn indicator in mirror (Focus, Elantra)
  • Heated mirrors (Focus)
  • Capless fuel door (Focus)
  • New colors (coming for 2012)
  • New front center armrest to prevent the ease with which the armrest can be pushed back (coming for 2012)
  • Play/pause button functionality; this is possibly my personal biggest pet-peeve — the button only pauses CDs, not the playback of an iPod, iPhone, Zune, or other MP3 players
  • Automatic parallel-parking feature on 2LT and/or LTZ (Focus) which would require
  • Front parking/proximity sensors
  • Soft-touch dashboard piece (Focus, Elantra)
  • One-touch up/down for all windows on 2LT and LTZ
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control on 2LT and LTZ
  • Factory (non dealer-installed) fog light option
  • Rain-sensing windshield wipers
  • Interior trunk release
  • In-car Wi-Fi via a USB modem

That’s all I’ve got. Have anything to add? That’s what the comments are for!

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Comments

  1. will the cruze have more hp for 2012,138 hp is not that much,maybe if GM will use the 174 hp in the LTZ. Do anyone have a comment about will GM use a bigger engine for 2012?

    Reply
    1. Hey Stephan — you’re absolutely right in saying that 138 HP isn’t that much. However, the Cruze’s 148 lb.-ft. of torque are fully available at a very (very!) low 1,850 RPM. So horsepower numbers aren’t everything here — the torque is very good and comes at a low RPM band.

      That said, the Cruze DOES need a more powerful option. I think that the 1.4 is here to stay… but rumors of a more powerful (SS or Z-Spec) version have been swirling around ever since the Cruze’s inception. If such a variant does come (which I hope it will), I think it will use either the boosted 1.6 ECOTEC (from the Astra) or the boosted 2.0 ECOTEC (from the Regal or upcoming Malibu). The 1.6 would make somewhere around 180 horses (with 170 lb.-ft. of torque at 2200 RPM), while the 2.0 would make 220. Another possibility is the naturally-aspirated 2.4 liter ECOTEC from the Equinox, which would make around the same as the 1.6. We’ll see what happens… but nothing official from GM at this pont… unfortunately.

      PS: the Cruze LTZ has the same 1.4 liter as the 1LT and 2LT. Were you referring to the Malibu when you mentioned the 174 in the LTZ?

      Alex
      Founder, GM Authority

      Reply
    2. Add 200cc to the 1.8 L and another 15 Hp and 15 ft. lbs.of
      Torque……………………easy, cheap and effective !

      New Chev Guys not like old ones ?

      Reply
  2. I would say they should put DSG along with powerful engine. In the testing of insideline and motortrend they had Focus compare to Cruze and Focus Trounce the Cruze already in engine and feature wise.

    Reply
    1. The Focus “trounces” the Cruze? Really? Can I have a link?

      Reply
  3. Reply
    1. Nice! Will have to read through these tonight 🙂

      Reply
  4. I mean personally I like the aggressive and handsome design on the Cruze just wish that they have more horsepower and technology too.

    Reply
    1. Exactly! I prefer the Cruze styling vs. everything else in its class. The new Focus tries too hard to be modern and hip; the Elantra is cool but will get old really fast. The Cruze is one of those timeless, understated, and classy designs that I really appreciate!

      Reply
  5. when I saw the Elantra and Tucson on the road I already think that they look old already… but that’s exact opposite of what the other car enthusiasts think of the Cruze “Dated”. But I just kinda wish that they can put either 1.6 Turbo or 2.0 Turbo underneath.

    Reply
  6. For the Focus I would of just put the projector beam other than the Halogen since putting that already looks kinda dated.

    Reply
    1. Wait, so do you prefer projectors to halogens or the other way around? Just making sure 🙂

      Reply
      1. halogens to projectors is what I meant, and the same thing goes to Chevy as a Z-spec package

        Reply
  7. In China the Cruze is available with a 1.6 turbo engine (the same engine they use now on WTCC races for the Cruze).

    Heated mirror’s ?? We have heated mirror’s on the Cruze here in Europe .

    Reply
    1. Yeah, more salt on the wound! We need that 1.6 in North America! And what sucks even more is that the same engine makes 210 horsepower (154 kW) and 186 pounds-feet (280 Nm) of torque in the recently-announced Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring.

      PS: no heated mirrors on the North American Cruze either 🙁

      Reply
  8. After I got my new Cruze ECO home March 1st and started really looking at what’s not there. I took my car back to the dealer and had the fog light kit and splash guards installed.
    There is very little external access to wash grasshoppers off the radiator core.
    a drop in bug screen in front of the radiator for easy cleaning.

    The back 60/40 seat fold down tray should be standard on all models.
    There needs to be a larger front center storage box, bigger than 5 inches x 6 inches.
    about all that can fit in that spot under the arm rest is 10 CD’s
    There needs to be a “always hot” 12 volt receptacle/ power source

    I’m disappointed that the Cruze ECO is so stripped down supposedly to be a weight conscious vehicle.
    Personally I’m afraid to drive 55-60 mph on the interstate. That’s the only place I know that I could drive in 6th gear for extended periods 40 plus mpg seems like wishful thinking.

    Reply
    1. Yeah, those are the sacrifices the ECO makes to drop the weight: there is less high-strength steel as well as the lack of a 60/40 split seat.

      But I wouldn’t be afraid of driving over 55-60 MPG on the highway. I have the 2LT (non ECO) and I get as high as 45 MPG going 65-70 MPH, with an average of 39 (on cruise, of course). PS: CDs! You’ve gotta get yourself an iPod/iPhone/Zune and dump those CDs (not the Chevy) in the levy 🙂

      Reply
  9. Hi folks. I would like to see the Cruze come with the turbo that was used in the Saturn Skye or Pontiac Solstice redline spec’d version or maybe out of the Cobalt SS or HHR SS. Also, not everybody wants a 4 door sedan…nor can everyone afford a Camaro or ‘Vette..so it seems obvious to create a 2 door coupe version of the Cruze.

    And kudos to whoever mentioned Diesel…The car itself is primarily a European design, well we need diesel vehicles here too! Lastly, Chevy needs to get their senior citizen heads out of their fannies and come out with some radical colors on not just the Cruze, but all the models. Synergy (or similar) green, Yellow, Jetstream Blue, heck maybe even Plum or Fuschia or something strange…C’mon General…bring us some colors that will appeal to younger buyers!

    Reply
    1. well they have that freaky orange available on the sonic and i agree about synergy green and how about those stripe packages that they threatened us with(i dont actually know if they’re available on the sonic either i need more solid proof) thats all i have to add for now

      Reply
  10. What about making the compact spare tire a stand alone option on the ECO. Are you sure they use less high strength steel in the ECO model.

    Reply
  11. GM needs to make a V6 coupe! Put the 3900 vvt in it and Turbo it. BRING BACK THE BERETTA!!! I think it would sell like crazy. And be hard to compete with. Now that g6 is gone we need something new!

    Reply
    1. Really? A nigh 4.0 liter into a compact like a Cruze? To the contrary, the 2.0 turbo will most likely make more power and get better fuel economy than the 4.0 ever will.

      Reply
  12. The only thing that really bugs me is that the car doesnt have a in car trunk release. Now where im from winters get up to minus 40, which i can deal with but it gets annoying to have to shut the car off just to open the trunk and then start it right away again. Other than that i think the car is great!

    Reply
    1. Yeah, I didn’t really think about that, but a trunk release would be nice. What I did was unlock all doors, which unlocks the trunk “handle” from the outside. That way, you don’t have to keep turning off the car, taking the key out of the ignition, starting up the car again. Hope that helps 🙂

      Reply

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