Chevrolet passenger cars received an overhaul on Friday as the brand revealed the 2019 Cruze, 2019 Malibu and 2019 Spark. The 2019 Chevy Cruze, in particular, wears the brand’s new corporate face and gains a handful of new features.
Starting with the design, it’s a livelier look for the compact car with a larger lower grille opening and the same angular lines running through it as the 2019 Malibu. Like the mid-size sedan, the Cruze also wears the look quite well with a more fluid shape and fewer hard or sharp lines.
2019 Cruze Premier models now feature new LED-accented taillights as well.
Rounding out the updates for Chevy’s compact Cruze are a new Chevrolet infotainment system running on a standard seven-inch infotainment screen and new wheel designs. For LT and Premier models, remote start and automatic climate control are standard, while RS models gain black window moldings, bowtie emblems and 17-inch or 18-inch wheels.
Both powertrains soldier on, those being the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 1.6-liter diesel engine, though Chevrolet did not mention a CVT. Interestingly, a CVT is now standard equipment for all 2019 Malibu models save for the range-topping Premier.
No word on pricing or availability, but we’d imagine the updated 2019 Cruze will go on sale later this year, perhaps fall of 2018.
Comments
Why copy Toyota and Lexus’s awful front fascia. What a let down.
No, you are 100% wrong! The new Cruise has the Impala’s heritage now. Toyota copies GM!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Impala
Which Gen Impala’s front end did Toyota/Lexus copy?
Manual trans is officially dead also. The last tiny bit of interest any enthusiast had in this car while cross shopping the rivals just went down the drain.
Coming from someone who is a big GM fan, In reality anyone that holds an SCCA license or enjoys autocross, etc, has no interest in a weak-engine, Automatic only, 1980s technology Twist beam rear axle, so-so handling FWD car when they can got to Honda, Mazda, etc. In fact, you can’t even race an automatic transmission equipped car in official SCCA Road Racing except for rare exceptions and people requiring hand-controls due to a disability. How many Cruze do you see at an autocross? SCCA Road race weekend? Now, say the same thing about a Civic, Mazda 3, etc. It’s not just brand loyalty, there’s a reason.
Where do you see that? The PR on Cruze Talk includes manuals!
I really like it. Maybe just needs a 1.6T performance model?
In this part of the world it’s called a Holden Astra RS (with 1.6 liter turbo). Goes like stink because of it’s low weight. Bit of turbo lag but once it’s moving it flys.
How about the output of the engines? did chevy rise it? and why not the 1.5T in the Cruze? oh i just remember the 1.3T of GM China makes 160+ hp. So, the 1.4T should makes more…
I think the 1.4T in the Cruze has 153 hp.
It could be better. 175HP and 175TQ??? Make the 2.0 turbo optional.
Of the 3 redesigned Chevrolet models, I think the Cruze (Big Mouth Aside) improves the appearance the most over its predecessor. The previous one was just to damn choppy, busy, frumpy, and Hyundai looking. This new design really cleans the front end up and gives it much needed visual heft.
Cruze hot hatch! Come on Al Oppenheiser!
Agreed.
Cruze is now what the Corolla was. The most boring car in the segment
it is embarrassing man.
Nah. The corolla still holds that title. Only problem with the Cruze is it doesn’t have that lively handling everybody wants. Other than that it is far and away more appealing than a corolla and Even so on SOME aspects to the civic, and I emphasize some aspects because the civic is ibetter in most ways. Elantra is meh unless it is the Elantra sport.
A little known fact about the Cruze. On some upper trim levels you can get the rear compound crank suspension with Z-link, which I hear significantly helps with handling. You can also get a cold air intake and performance brakes for the Cruze thru Chevrolet performance.
I’m confused, from reading the comments on the Cadillac posts, I thought most people here wanted a car that didn’t handle?
If they make the Cruze handle better, wont they just be “copying BMW” and “BMW wanna be’s”
I don’t get it?
I was being sarcastic. As much as I hate the Corolla, we do have to admit the new one is right around the corner so who knows what that will be like. Toyota says they want better handling cars. So the Cruze may indeed be left to be the boring car.
Sooooooo not only does GM not add LED Headlight option, they don’t even offer an HID option either?
GM is so cheap man. I am getting sick and tired of defending them simply b/c I am a GM fan. This is ridiculous.
Every car in that segment offers LED headlights. The new Mazda 3 will have them standard allegedly. Ford Focus will have them as well. That only leaves the Cruze. And then GM wonders why the sales of GM is in decline but Toyota and Honda keep selling these cars in hundreds of thousands.
Don’t even get me started that they didn’t even redo the interior. It is by far and away the worse one in the segment and that includes the current Mazda 3 (which is like 7 years old) and the ancient Ford Focus.
Agreed. Off topic: The Camaro has halogen headlights standard, which I thought went out of fashion in about 2004. Hopefully they will have HIDs standard and LEDs optional on the refresh?
I’m not holding my breath.
GM is quickly falling behind on Light technology and Chevy especially on interior quality materials.
Could not agree more. Halogen headlamps when all the competitors offer LED headlights and tailamps, among other features. Same goes to the rock hard plastic in the interior.
Small cars are hugely popular in Canada but the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic are the preferred choices. I completely understand why.
The new front grill reminds me a lot of the new Traverse face, which is good. The whole brand is starting to show a more unified look across sedans and SUVs. Kind of a let down that there still isn’t an option for LED or HID headlights. Lighting is an easy way to update and modernize a vehicle, even if it is optional for extra charge.
Wait wait wait…..let me guess…….everyone hates it.
What do I win?
You won a trip to your Chevy dealer!
Pshhh…..I’m not going there, they don’t even have any diamonds on their doorknobs……..
That surely will bring back a third shift.
I’ve always hated the “sandwich” or bowtie-inspired grill. I still hate it. FCA has the best front facadias, especially Dodge and the most recent Chrysler incarnation. Mazda does nicely, too.
Chevrolet is too busy and looks cheap aside from Camaro and Corvette front clips.
I also heard that cruise control is standard on all models for the 2019 model year.
It’s still on my choices of next vehicle to purchase along with The malibu. Test driving them against others it’s still competent. They both aren’t the fastest in their segments or the best handling but they are composed and are very refined and still fun to drive in their own right. The dashboards are all hard plastic but they still look and feel good and high quality unlike the interiors of the next generation of VW’s that I sat in. there is cheap hollow plastic on door panels away from the dashboard On the Jetta and Arteon (Jetta, GTI, Arteon are on my shopping list also) only gripe is now CVT’s are in the Malibu. But I will test drive it and hope that the CVT is very good. if it is and I get a good deal on either Chevy Cruze or Malibu then I will be a repeat buyer.
I would have to get the 2.0 turbo if I were to purchase a Malibu. I felt this way before the refresh, and now that you can only get a CVT on lower trim models, it is a given.
I most likely will go that route and if the LT will have the 2.0T, that will be my choice for the malibu. Or else it will be a Cruze premier since it is keeping the 6 speed auto apparently.
Looks much better IMO.
I would drive that, although I really want to see an all wheel drive option.
To be in the game you’ve got to look the role as the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze looks modern especially on the hatchback where it has a sporty appeal.
So making the window trim black like a cheaper L or LS, a bigger grille and uglier wheels on the RS is supposed to help sales?
Not holding my breath on this lame refresh.
Where is the rumored 1.5T upgrade that was supposed to be included with the RS package? Where is the switch to padded vinyl on the dash? Where is the interior plastics upgrade? Where is the std safety tech on lower trim levels? Where is the defeat switch for stop/start? The lackluster changes made to the Malibu, Cruze and Spark and the lack of changes to the 2019 Impala just reinforce how little they seem to care about cars these days.
I have a 2017 Cruze Premier Hatch RS and I love it, minus the mixed bag with interior quality and the god-awful Auto Stop. The center console, in particular, is unattractive and has visible seems all over, especially ahead of the gear shift. I like this new front end, except that the front and rear styling no longer match each other. I read that the LT models with the RS package will finally get 17″ wheels. That package with the awful, flanged 16″ rims looked like a total mistake. The option/trim packaging on the car is still a mess; can’t get the Red Line package on a Premier, have to get too much other stuff you many not want to get stuff you do. The rear half of the sedan remains anonymous and badly proportioned. Overall, the car is simply competent and the Hatch w/RS looks good, nothing more.
Bean counters and penny pinchers rule GM. They always have. They think they can cut every corner imaginable and nobody will notice.
Every company has been counters. Even the best like Honda in this segment. Especially Nissan.
Is this car availability will in India ?plz give your comments
Unlikely, unless you parallel import it yourself. GM is pulling out of India bit by bit.
Get the Opel Astra (same vehicle, different name); it will be built better.