Not that we’ve shared what we absolutely positively love about Chevy’s best-selling compact sedan, here are the items of which we aren’t big fans:
Engine
The Cruze’s 1.4 liter uber-light-pressure-turbo four-banger is efficient and capable of achieving 42 MPG on the highway. In fact, we got as high as 55 MPG on a flat highway going 68 MPG several times in our non-Eco 2011 Cruze. But the fuel-sipping nature of the car means that there isn’t much power to be had… unless you’re always driving between 3,000 and 4,000 RPMs.
Worst of all, the Cruze is such a great-handling vehicle, the ride is so composed, and the chassis is tuned in such a perfect fashion, that we can’t help but feel that it’s a great car waisting its time dating a weak engine. Can we at least have a 1.6 turbo as an option? You know, for those who want more excitement in their Bowtie compact? Any version of a 2.0 turbo would also be just fine by us…
Single Body Style
Don’t get us wrong, the Cruze sedan is a beautifully-designed vehicle. But what is taking so long to bring the hatchback variant to North America? And while we’re on the subject, what about a coupe or even a three-door hatch?
Ford’s Focus is already available in a five-door hatch (and sedan) versions in North America while a wagon is available in Europe. Hyundai’s Elantra sedan will spawn a coupe later in 2012. And VW’s Jetta/Golf range sports a sedan, wagon, five-door hatch, three-door hatch, and coupe-convertible (EOS). Not to mention the Forte sedan, hatch, and coupe Koup from Kia. Seems like GM is restricting the target market of the Cruze by not offering other body variants…
Instant MPG Gauge
It’s no secret that a big selling point of the Cruze is its stellar fuel economy. So it’s rather perplexing to us why GM would make the instant MPG meter available only on the Eco models. Are drivers of non-Eco Cruzen not interested in instantaneous fuel economy? Seems like an artificial differentiation tactic to us… and reeks of old GM.
Play/Pause Button Doesn’t Actually Pause… or Play
Dead in the center of the center stack of each Cruze lies a play/pause button. Think quick: what do you think this button does?
If you answered “plays and pauses audio sources,” you’re partially correct. Our gripe is that the button doesn’t actually have the ability to pause devices connected via USB (other than memory sticks). So if you have the most popular personal media player in the world (iPod, iPhone, iPad), the Cruze won’t be able to pause it. A $13,800 Ford Fiesta is capable of pausing (and resuming) USB audio sources. So is Chevy’s Equinox entry-level crossover. Why doesn’t the Cruze?
In case you’re wondering what the button is capable of pausing… compact disks.
Center Armrest
The Cruze’s center armrest is probably the worst-designed part of the vehicle: it squeaks, it’s flimsy, and it slides backwards all too easily, urging the driver to readjust it using his or her right hand. It needs to be improved on those three aspects, namely:
- Redesign the area to eliminate uneven points responsible for the squeaks
- Redesign the area to increase solidity
- Improve the detent mechanism to increase the force required to move the armrest, either towards the driver or back to its original position
The GM Authority Bottom Line
The Cruze is still the best compact sedan in our book — and its sales show it. But addressing these issues, in our opinion, would make it a runaway success, not just a “we squeezed them out by a few units best seller.”
Comments
I’ve driven the turbo diesel 2.0 version here in Thailand. I must say, it’s one powerful car. Amazing torque all the way up to highway speed.
most of your issues are being worked on for the midlife overhaul of the car. at that time you will see multiple body configs, updated interior, enhanced fuel economy eco models and diesel versions as well as a more powerful version with potential to get the 2.0 turbo not the same one you know today but this may be good enough for the ss version the jury is still out on the last version but i think you will like the updates and the looks get even more aggressive with style. ask your loyal followers to comment on thier cars and we will listen.
I have a 1.8 LTZ , and the only complaint I have is that it takes a long time to have an update of the factory build inn GPS maps of Europe (Navteq) we still have to use a 2009/2010 version and the GPS is not so sophisticated like the US version , we do not have Onstar and if You want to call hands free You have to have a parrot device installed by the dealer. I have 29.40 MPG for a 1.8 with automatic gearbox , that is not so bad.
Ps Don’t expect to much of the 2.0 tdi they are great but I get also lots of complains on the forum , the mpg is not so great and the DPF in combination with the Euro v engine was a not so good idea , I hope the US don’t get the same engine (made by VM Motori)
wait isn’t there a rumor saying that there’s going to be a Cruze 4 door coupe before?
The Cruze *is* a four door coupe. Even Chevy referred to it at launch as a four door coupe. All the rumors out there about such a car are just that. We’ve only heard about a two door Cruze coupe in vague terms. Keeping fingers crossed.
I think it’s pretty obvious that the enthusiast crowd is clamoring for some kind of performance version of the Cruze? I don’t think too many are impressed by the SEMA Z-spec treatment either? Why? Think about the recent affordable GM performance cars: Cobalt & HHR SS, GXP Pontiacs, Red Line Saturns. Some were certainly better than others but they all had more show and more go right off the showroom floor, now there is nothing.
@LFX323HP , bringing the 1.6 turbo to US and European market would give the performance. I can’t understand why they only sell the 1.6T in China ??
I think GM should address the nagging gripes and concerns (including body styles) listed above before considering an SS or similar version.
I don’t want to see the Cruze become like the Cobalt; that is mediorcre at the time, brillant in SS trim, and never getting anything class-leading or significan updates beyond standard airbags.
Agreed. They’re all pretty easy fixes, especially the play/pause button and the instant MPG gauge — which can be rolled out to existing owners via a software update!
The arm rest is a bit more difficult that should be addressed asap, but existing owners will be SOL.
The Cruze is capable of pausing and playing USB soruces. I work at a Chevrolet Dealer. After reading this article I wandered onto our lot and tested this. I used a USB data stick and it did in fact play and pause mp3s which I had stored on it. Not sure about USB mp3 players but flash memory is capable of using this feature. Confirmed.
You are, in fact, correct that it’s capable of pausing content on USB sticks. I should have clarified that I was referring to MP3 players and iOS devices — you know the most popular PMPs and smartphones in the world.
So for users who have an iPhone and say use a navigation app like TomTom, it’s impossible to listen to directions from the app when connected to USB without playing a song.
I understand their popularity. No need to have an attitude. With a USB drive you won’t need any hardware or cumbersome software to hold you back. I find a USB drive to be easier to use with due to its simple drag and drop capabilities. No need for any programs like iTunes to restrict you to certain computers or relying on unique wires to always carry around. You can simply plug in and go with 32Gb for about $40. I really enjoyed this article and its sister. I’m also in the market for a Cruze so your proclamation caught my attention. Just wanted to clarify.
I think you mistook character for attitude, mate.
In regards to iTunes/iOS/iPod vs. a USB stick… there’s nothing cumbersome about iTunes or an iPod. Especially now that iCloud and seamless synchronization between all devices is almost here.
But I have to say that Ford’s SYNC does the play/pause via USB thang with any device, seamlessly. GM’s a step behind here, unfortunately.
I have a 2012 Chevy Cruze LTZ and I do have an instantaneous MPG on my DIC.
You’re absolutely correct! 🙂
Hyundai Elantra Coupe Confirmed, Coming To Chicago ok can we get a Cruze coupe now lol 🙂
I actually had a chance to see the Elantra coupe in person recently. It’s ugly (worse than the sedan) — but it’s still a coupe to which Chevy has no competitor.
But then Mazda3 doesn’t have a coupe too
Mazda has never been a volume player. The 3 sells about half as many units as high-volume models such as the Corolla, Civic, Cruze, and (recently) Elantra. Since it’s not their goal to win by volume, a coupe isn’t in the cards.
But then they do have nuts about bringing the Speed3 though.
That’s what Mazda is all about!
They don’t just make bland-driving cars, they make things that “are worth driving.” Unfortunately, not enough people have cared about stuff like that (historically), making mediocre cars like the Corolla sales leaders.
I guess that’s why Corollas are now a boat car
I own a 2011 cruze, and my play/pause button does pause my iPod. Maybe just a defective cable you were using? The only gripe I have had is that sometimes the car rejects my iPod.
Really? That’s odd — I’ve tried all kinds of cables, including the official Apple 30-pin connector, a cable from Belkin, and another one (forget the name). What kind of iPod are you using?
I own a 2012 Cruze 1LT (turbo 1.4L auto) – the car is a dog for power and has poor throttle response. Let’s not mention that I drive 25,000 miles a year mostly highway and I have never ever reached the MPG rating on the window sticker using cruise control regardless of the average highway speed from 55 mph to 70 mph.
2. My iPhone 5 iPod cannot be controlled by the radio like my old iPhone 3GS.
3. This car has poor visibility due to massive blind spots, and no blind spot mirrors.
4. The defroster doesn’t clear the edges of the front window.
5. The armrest has little storage, is too far back, and doesn’t like to stay closed.
6. My first winter driving experience in 4 inches of snow, the car slid around worse than my previous rear wheel drive cars.
7. Climate control needs to be like those found in most cars that have settings between straight floor and floor/defrost like my Jeep Liberty had. How about adding another higher fan speed and finding a way to quiet it’s operation down?
8. Wind noise. I keep thinking a window must be partially open. Normally I don’t have this issue on a new car that cost $20000.
9. GM thinks it’s on-star interface box is more important than sun glass storage.
10. No storage for coins, CDs, etc.
11. No auto down with matching auto up for all windows for the driver.
12. The cloth on the dash, seats, door panels is horrible for keeping clean and dog hair free.
13. No second power port to plug in another item like a phone charger and radar detector.
Likes:
1. Remote start, but then again it can be had on any new car.
2. It almost has as much interior and trunk space as a 2012 Malibu / Fusion
3. It doubled the gas mileage on average over my old Liberty… I average 32.6 mpg according to the dash.
4. No mechanical failures. The Liberty needed a new transmission within the first month, and the traction control/abs/anti-skid fixed 3 times in year 2 causing an accident.
My previous 2010 Cobalt was a quieter, better driving car with better radio and climate controls that had about the same gas mileage. Granted the Cruze is a slightly bigger car with a prettier design, but then it cost over $5000 more. The Cobalt was a repair free car too. I guess when you let Brazilians redesign your car, you can expect to lose what your American engineers previously designed. BTW I’m not a car designer, nor an engineer, and I do not work for GM.
No problems with my Korean made 2010 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 1800cc AT Ihave now about 40.000 Km . Handles very well in the snow with Winter Tires . I have an average of 29.5mpg and thats not bad for an 1800 with automatic transmission. Lot space in side the car and there is a space for coins on the left side of steering wheel.
Yearly Maintenance cost are very low at Chevrolet Dealer in Belgium ( I have payed 190€ for a full inspection new oil , oil filter , new brake oil (recommended every 2 years) and new carbon pollen filter…b.t.w. no problems with the automatic A/C
I have no wind noise ,I don’t need CD storage because my favorite music is on a USB stick and no problem with cleaning my car inside ( we have a Cavalier King Charles (loses a lot of hair)).
The Chevrolet Cruze is a great car and You get allot off pleasure for Your money.
I own a 2016 Cruze LT in Toronto Canada and am happy with the car with one glaring exception that the dealership tells me is normal. The dashboard back lighting is dimmed to almost out during the day making it very difficult to read the speedometer and gas and temperature gauges and tach. The DIC and Radio screens which I don’t need in order to drive safely are nice and bright. None of these lights respond to the dimmer switch in daytime mode but they do all respond in night time mode. Put on sun glasses on a bright sunny day and you are flying blind. I can’t believe GM intended this situation, any thoughts?