For what will be the final year of this generation, the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze whittles its shape and continues GM’s trend of technology, adding OnStar 4G LTE with available Wi-Fi, Text Message Alerts, and Apple Siri integration. The 2015 Cruze will be on display during the 2014 New York International Auto Show.
We’ve heard plenty about the GM-OnStar 4G LTE system making its way into The General’s vehicles, and Chevrolet’s AppShop will also (eventually) make it in the 2015 Cruze. Those curious about how the Text Message Alerts feature will work should know that it’s for non-Apple smartphone users whose devices have the Bluetooth M.A.P. profile. The feature reads incoming texts through the vehicle’s speakers. For users of Apple iOS 6 and iOS 7, the 2015 Cruze will utilize Siri Eyes Free.
Immediately, we can see that the refreshed Cruze is not the same car as the one spied in China — a vehicle many presumed to be the 2015 Cruze. To note, Chevrolet notes that the 2015 facelift applies to the appearance for LS, LT, RS and LTZ models, and the Eco and Diesel models were not mentioned. There will also be a new collection of interior and exterior colors.
For the sake of ergonomics, the 2015 Cruze will also feature revised cupholders; a trunk release button on the center console; and easier-to-find door lock switches, which are now on the front doors, instead of being awkwardly placed in the clutter of the center console.
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I’ll wait until I see it live to render a real opinion but I can definitely say it is a lot better than that China version, so that’s a big plus.
Why can’t it work with my phone’s wifi? I already have unlimited 4g lte.
not paying for another line for the car.
If I’m reading the article correctly, it doesn’t actually mention using the phones data. The part where Apple iPhones won’t work is specific to the Messaging feature which has been an issue on the current models too. As far as I am aware, you could use your cell phone’s wifi for the vehicle if you wanted.
A few features will require the OnStar 4G LTE radio. However, if you are savvy with your iPhone, odds are you won’t miss any of them. You can use your unlimited data connection with Siri Eyes-Free, and text messaging and Stereo Bluetooth all will function as-is.
Complete integration will happen when CarPlay arrives, but that’s a next-bump feature.
Not sure why you would need wifi in your car, except to connect maybe your laptop or tablet. But since phones already have an internet connection, imo, it’s useless. Also, linking your phone with the car, what is the point?
Does the car have apps that require an internet connection for the infotainment system?
I say the same thing. I want to see the real deal. Why is it that they seem to always want to put a new nose (or tail for that matter) on something just before a new one comes out? Most of the time the style doesn’t go with the car. Take the Buick La Crosse for instance, they put the new nose on the old body style. The elongated oval looked a lot better than the present shape on that cars’ more sweeping fluid lines. The Chevy emblem on this looks much better in the middle than at the top like the China version spy shot.
I like it a lot. Of course, computer graphic imagery doesn’t do a justice, so I will have to see it in person. The first generation Cruze has had a great run and I can only hope the second generation will carry on the tradition.
Looks great, really brings it in line with the SS and Malibu. The only thing that looks funny is the bow tie. Why is it up high on the center bar of the grill?
I have never seen anything more hideous than that facelift, good god what has happened to GM’s design team?!?
“… easier-to-find door lock switches, which are now on the front doors, instead of being awkwardly placed in the clutter of the center console.”
I love this on the G8 – it’s more cockpit-tuned driving. And switches on the center stack are a lot more reliable than ones on the door panel.
Sort of like Ford’s “better idea” of the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk. EGADS man, whatever.
It is not offensive nor exciting but keep in mind it is a Cruze.
People who buy these cars generally buy them for MPG, Price, standard options and reliability. Just look at the competitors cars and most of them are generic 4 door sedans and they still sell well.
As for the redesign. I suspect we will see two years of this model as the other car may be late 2016 and we will see this car carry over part of that year.
I also expect this older car to be moved to fleet use and that way they can sell them in large numbers cheap and not affect the values of the new model. GM has done this on the old Malibu, Impala, Captiva and other models. It is the best of both worlds for GM as they make a lot of money on these fleets as the tooling is more than paid for, they help retain the value of the new models longer and everyone is happy.
You would not want to see the new car go to fleets right out of the box.
I expect to see the same with the old Equinox when the new one arrives in 2016 too.
Besides the refresh and other options will not hurt as while this car is still selling strong it is not as strong as it once was.
You have to look at what GM is doing and the big picture. Anymore they have not been letting old models go to waste.
If the big picture is more half-assed refreshes, then the future does not look good.
Has chevrolet ever heard of aesthetics before?(eg. Silverado, Traverse both uglier than GMC counterparts)
What a horrible refresh!
Waiting on the 2016 model with a wagon version hopefully.
Looks are subjective and in this class they count for much less than most. This car is not a whole lot different and will continue to sell well over 200,000 units this year.
As for the truck the problem there is price and disappointment by some over the styling. It is no worse looking then the last one. In fact it is a cleaned up version of the last one and was an improvement. But when you take away near $8,000 on incentives and raise the price as the others are doing massive discounting you will see a drop in sales. April incentive will show it was price and put this to rest.
Here again with this car I think people expected a massive change and it was only a mild refresh. I expected more too but it is what it is.
As for a Wagon I hope you and all others crying for a wagon are planning to buy one as if you cry for it and now one buys you will never see a wagon again for years. I think the small CUV market will decimate any wagon sales as the general public has taken to them so much. With the next Nox going to the same platform I fear that it would be a great struggle to sell.
I am not a wagon hater as I drive a HHR. But it is proof that you make it look like a small SUV and they will sell like crazy. If GM had done a Cobalt wagon they would have only sold maybe 20,000 units. The HHR sold over 100,000-150,000 a year and even in the last years was near 70,000 units. GM has not had a wagon sell like that for years. You would have to go back to hell I am not even sure the old Caprice wagons sold that well.
Anyways this is a short term car and the new one will be here and this one will end up for fleet use like most other replaced models.
So is that a one-year model since the 2016 Cruze will be all-new?
Anyway that facelift does not go far enough, the rear of the car still looks way too conservative and could have been used on a car from 2004..
Like I stated odds are it will remain in service for more than one year as a fleet sale car.
Nothing wrong with that. It makes them money and the public can get them used not long after like Captiva, etc.
Looks like the NA market will be waiting for the 2nd gen car until at least MY 2017? I can’t imagine doing a “nose job” on the current car for a one year run?
Has happened with several GM cars – Monte Carlo, G6, XLR, etc.
Changing the front bumper isn’t very expensive to do. It pumps sales of a unit in need of a refresh, but can’t be refreshed for various reasons.
Don’t even get me started on the 2009.5 G6. That was a gorgeous vehicle! I only wish there were some more improvements such as more powerful engines (3.2, 3.6, and 5.3), better transmissions (6 Speed Manumatic and Manual), more options, and a softer interior.
That’s basically what the second-gen G6 was going to be. Lutz confirmed recently (within the past year) it was going Alpha and was going to be a de-luxuried ATS.
In fact, the ATS Convertible probably got cut because the lack of the G6 program to underpin it in terms of demand numbers.
Would be the easiest mistake ever for GM to undo now that the government is out of the picture, and bring back the G6, park it at Buick dealerships as a sub-brand. Going to take more than a crusade to pull it off, however… and until the recall crud goes down, it probably isn’t even worth pestering GM over today.
It really changes the aura of the vehicle. Much more snarky and in your face. Need to ask the 20 and 30 year olds what they think of it since they are the ones going to buy it.
My fist look at it was that it was too much but I came back and looked again and it already had grown on me. The current Cruze has become to blase in my view and needed an update. And I think they got it pretty right.
And yes I doubt if the new Cruze will be out in 2016.
I still think the new Cruze is just around the corner. The main reason is how they’ve done with the old and new Malibu and Impala. Side by side of each other for a while.
Same stuff, different day.
The door locks on the door rather than the center stack is a good idea. it’s the one thing I hate on my wife’s Cruze.
Here is your 2016 Cruze. It will retain about 95% of what you see here as I am sure the bumpers may have some small changes as they normally get.
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/19/shanghai-gm-chevrolet-trax-cruze-official-beijing/
The Impala is in the grill and quarter panels.
I will have to wait till I see one in person but large car styling language does not always transfer well to smaller cars.
I do not think it is bad but I really have to see it in person before I will give my full approval.
I thought Siri Eyes Free was already available and that Carplay (formerly “iOS in the Car”) was what we were waiting for.. Siri Eyes Free is not new – Carplay is new but will it be in 2015 Cruzes?
CarPlay will not be in the 2015 Cruze. Siri Eyes Free will. What the 2015 Cruze adds is OnStar 4G LTE that allows for apps in the car to use OnStar for data connectivity and mobile hotspot functionality.
Very nice lines , balanced with great proportions . Now is is time to grow this product , a roomier hatchback and/or perhaps a wagon style . Also offer a zippier engine and skirt trims /colors and upgraded suspension . Show the world that it will appeal to more than the middle aged conservative community .
Give it a real engine, 2.0L turbo as an option for the LTZ with a 6 speed manual.