Used 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Consumer Reviews

Should have shopped around more

I made a big mistake buying a Cruze before shopping around a bit more. The ride is so jarring on bumpy roads (which alas I must drive over) that I get headaches and stomach aches - and this has never happened in any other cars. I suppose if someone is looking for this, then it would be okay. Also, the seats are surprisingly uncomfortable; even the Carmax appraiser said so without my prompting. The driver needs a right armrest. Also, the auto-lock is on the center console instead of on the door, and this gets very inconvenient if you have cargo to deal with in the back seat. I will be taking a hit with my downpayment and looking for a different car. Sorry, Chevy.

very nice functional car

If your a large person, forget this car

Performance, ride, handling, quietness, very impressive. I'm an average man, 190 lbs, 5 foot 9 inches tall. The front seats are narrow in the back part of the seat. My ribs hurt being kinda swished in the seat, due to the width being too narrow. Compared to other mid-size sedans, even the Kia sportage, the width if the back is around 1-inch less. I recommend this car to someone slim, if your obese at all, the front seats are too narrow. I'm trading in my car for another Mid-size SUV with higher ground clearance and wider seat backs. Loosing alot of money, but can stand the snug seats. Big mistake. Take this car for extended drive, wish I had.

Like the cruze, hate the MPG

I traded in an impala for the advertised gas mileage of the cruze, I took it on a road trip to Myrtle Beach SC and averaged 31 mpg, the impala averaged 32 on the same trip on the open road. I contacted GM a number of times and was old there was nothing that could be done, took it in to a local dealership, the computer scan was normal, tried to get GM to trade it back in for another impala, no luck on that either, during this time my wife bought a new nissan versa because she drives around 150 miles per day the versa averages 38 MPG on te open road and if you use cruise control it will average 42/43 MPG. I feel GM pulled the wool over everyones eyes with the MPG on the cruze

Impressed

Owned a Cobalt and had zero issues after 3 years, BUT traded it in after seeing the Cruze at a dealership. What a difference between the Cobalt and Cruze. The Cruze is night and day better in styling, handling, interior quality, fit and finish, etc. Even has slightly better MPH so far. Can't even believe these two cars are made by the same company. Why GM did it take you so long to put out a car like the Cruze?

Not Impressed

I thought I had spent pleanty of time researching vehicles before purchasing (1 year) apparently not. Bought the car in Aug 2012 with about 20K miles on it, there are now about 34K on it, and I'm now beggining to notice strange noises. When the car is turned on and not moving the hood seems to vibrate very loud, and after about 10 min of running it sounds like it's going to die. Also there is now a thump type noise under my feet similar to a ball rolling around when I break or accelerate. I know all cars have issues but I guess I didn't expect problems in under a year or ownership. Now I'm stuck in a car for the next 6 years that I'm not 100% happy with! Kinda sucks!

Lives up to the hype!!

I am a loyal Chevy buyer having had a Malibu then three Impalas since 1997. I put alot of miles on a vehicle and with the high gas prices, decided to go check out the Cruze Eco at my local dealer. I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice it looked inside and out not to mention the quiet and smooth ride for a compact car. I bought my Eco(the one I test drove) that day and have had it for almost two weeks now. I am already averaging 32mpg between city and highway driving so cant wait to see what it will be after the break in period.

Happy Former Japanese Car Driver

In December got out of leasing a Subaru Impreza, test drove the 2010 Toyota Corolla & have owned a 1990 Corolla until it had over 100,000 mi. Since that was the extend of my driving experience, I did a lot of research as to what car & type to lease next. Worried about switching from AWD to front wheel drive, I opted to go with front wheel with turbo power as a compromise. It drove well through all the storms we had in NYC except when I had to drive up a pretty steep & snowy hill (I live in a hilly hood). The road was too slippery to drive the Cruze. This was the only time I missed the AWD. The Cruze does roll-back more easily than I'm used to. Overall, I'm very happy with my Cruze.

My Take after 2,000 miles

I took delivery of my red Cruze LTZ in the brutality of our Minnesota Winter (12/15/11 - and I'm very pleased to say this car is performing flawlessly. The torque in the 20 - 50 MPH range is surprisingly strong for the 1.4 liter Turbo. The 6 speed auto tranny probably has something to do with that as well. The remote start is a big plus, especially now to warm it up and also probably later in the summer to cool it down. The only disappointment is the tighter than desirable suspension system. Could be the winter but I'm guessing the low profile tires on the larger wheels could be the reason.

WOW.......almost perfect

3k miles on a 2LT and I am blown away. Nothing,.....I mean nothing within 10,000 bucks of this price point feels as quality as this car. Gas mileage averaging 35 mpg for one hour trip each way for work and my 6'3" 230 lbs body is comfortable all the way. This car is amazingly quiet and rivals my coworkers BMW in riding experience. No, not for power of course.......but if you buy a cruze you are doing it for the mileage. The car has plenty of pickup for passing on a two lane highway. Not so much at all off the line, as the car is programmed not to use the turbo at low speeds to save you from yourself. With the tranny software upgrade (make sure you bring it in for that), all is good

Amazed

I love this car. I average about 28mpg and I do mostly city driving. I love a lot of the intuitive features that the car has built in. The doors can be set to unlock as soon as you put the car in park, or not. Its your choice. The bluetooth automatically turns down the air conditioning so your calls can be heard clearly. It is a pleasure to drive a car that handles as well as it does and has all the options that it does for a base model. I enjoy the Onstar back up phone minutes too. Very handy.

Chevy Cruze 1LT

This is an amazing car. I have only had the car for a day, but I wanted to put a review up. Off the gate this thing picks up speed quick with its turbo 1.4L engine. The handling is superb. recently test drove ford focus sel, kia forte ex, Ford Fiesta, and Honda Fit. Shopping for 3 weeks and 5 applications for loans I was approved for all of them. I am 23, low 600 credit score, with high 600 co signer whos my girlfriend. Chevy got it done with payments just over 330 for 72/mo. The 1LT do come nicely loaded. I will update this review when I have more valid points, but go test drive one of these cars you will be surprised how nice a ride it is.

2011 CRUZE 2LT Better Than Average

2011 Cruze 2LT. Now has 5,000 miles. Overall, a fine car for the price. 4Cyl T more than adequate. Interior cabin design, fit and finish among the best I have ever owned from any maker. Averaging 29.5 MPG mostly HWY mosltly 75 MPH. Exterior design OK, nothing to shout about. I like the ride, steering, suspension, etc. in that it is tighter than most US cars, has more road feel and could even be described as fun. Back seat pretty tight. Dealer had to deal with (fix) a wicked rattle from driver door (window mechanism loose bolts) and trunk lid clearcoat streaks and bumps which they did at no cost to me, of course.

36.4 mpg

I've got an eco 6 speed. About 3 months in and 3500 miles I'm averaging over 36 mpg with daily town commute part of the equation. More importantly I love driving the car. It's like rolling a 7 every time I roll the dice.

Contemporary and Efficient

Ice Blue LTZ looks better in person than in photos. Beautifully styled. Outstanding seat travel and adjustability for a tall driver. Getting 30 to 35 mpg so far. Impressive lack of shift busyness on hilly interstates. Tap Up/Down shifter is very useful. Coastdown shifts very poor. Good DIC and Bluetooth integration. Big trunk. Very nice steering feel with Michelin Pilot tires. Smooth ride if tires are at 30 psi recommended cold pressure.

Bang for the buck (paid $15400) 45 MPG! All features

Wow first off, if I drive this car at 60 MPH highway I get OVER 45 mpg!!! I average over 33 combine with just over 3500 miles on it. It is one of the best riding cars out there. I hated the automatic so I bought the manual and boy am I happy I did so. A way better car. I have the connectivity package and paid only 15400 out the door. Smart interior and functional for my 2 kids. Quiet ride also. Plenty of trunk space and a real unexpected treat of a car. The LS is the value king and has most of the features you want as long as you get the $225 connectivity package. This is the first Chevy I have had 0 issues with so far.

Worth the Look

Loyal Honda fan won over by Chevy! I have loved my car! Steering is responsive. Ride is nice and quiet especially for a small car. Lots of pep. Nicely appointed dash. Classy interior. Mileage has been running about 30 mpg - and this is with an average speed of about 37 mph. I typically drive more in-town. I expect to see upper 30's - 40 mpg on the highway. Yeah! Eager to get it on the road to stretch her legs. I was a "hard sell" customer - and looked at this car with a very critical eye. Drove and compared it to every comp car - just couldn't resist it, tho' I surely tried. If you want a small sedan at reasonable price, this is the car for you!

2500 miles in

This car is great. So glad I bought it. I have averaged 37 mpg in first 2,000 miles and had a good time doing it. I got the black one. Love it.

Solid Auto

Good Car.

Very impressed so far

I purchased a 2011 Cruze 2LT as a commuter car and am very impressed so far. My benchmark for comparison is luxury brands like BMW and Volvo and this car measures up surprisingly well for a $20k vehicle. It handles well, steering is nicely weighted (at highway speeds), front leg room is excellent and the seats are very supportive. On-center highway feel is good. Body lean in corners is minimal. GM offers a nice choice of tech goodies for this segment. The vehicle is comparatively quiet at highway speeds. Keep in mind when you read reviews saying that this car is very quiet or "serene," it's all in the context of the compact vehicle segment. Just don't expect a Lexus or BMW for $20k.

Wife loves it

we wanted to downsize into a better gas mileage car.. we choice the cruze for several reasons. we like what GM did, I love the leg room, we liked the spec on gas mileage, it had the heated leather seat opt, in which most of the smaller cars don't have (in the price range)... etc. It drives very nice on the highway.. two long trips so far. one 600 miles to Dallas, and one to southern Colorado... Maintains speed up hills.... to early to tell about the Build Qual and reliability so I gave it a 4... based off other GM cars I have owned... which have been 3.5's-4's

Excellent Performance/MPG Balance

This car is really fun to drive. We have the six speed and it really excellerates through each shift especially just above 3000 rpm when you can feel the turbo come on. We have also been pleased with the local driving gas mile of 33-34mpg but I was looking forward to see what we would get taking daughter to college. Just got back and were very pleased! Fully loaded on trip down averaging 65-70mph on first tank 39.6mpg, second tank ave 75-78mph got 36.4 and then on way back with just two of us on first tank ave 75-78 40.8mpg and second tank ave 65-68mph 43.2mpg. I think this is great for a car that is not a hybred and does not look like a hybred! US owned and made - nice job!

Great Car!

I needed a new car and had great luck with a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. Originally I headed out to get a new model Elantra. Somehow I ended up on a Chevy lot and am glad I did! The Chevy Cruze is a solid car. Drives well, little road noise - feels like a higher end car. The engine has been designed to give you the best opportunity for great gas mileage. All in all this is a great car!

Fully Loaded Black Cruze LTZ

250 miles on my Cruze --- I must say that after trading in my 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Lease and getting into a smaller ride - the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze I was a bit worried about comfort. The Cruze far exceeds my expectations about interior comfort. Plenty of room and an upscale dash for a small car - the Infotainment system (NAV,Bluetooth,Hands Free, XM) with the Pioneer Premium Audio Package and Sunroof makes me want to take extra laps around the block. Only complaints are the styling of the rear of the car, a few hiccups when using the Manual Tap Shift - but the positives outweight any negatives so far in my ride. Time will tell regarding MPGs - currently avg 26 mostly city driving.

3,500 miles into my ECO stick shift....

...and we finally hit the 42 mark on a trip. We really needed to mind the details to get those #s though. No more 80, try 72 or less. Windows closed, flat terrain etc. Most of our combined average is 36, pretty darn good! We bought the car for a routine 500 round trip and very pleased with the comfort/ride. My one complaint is? ( how many others experience this) Occasional, severe acceleration lag from a dead stop. Dangerous to pull out into traffic. The dealer thinks I'm imagining it since there are no codes and it always fails to occur in his presence.

Fantastic Automobile

Purchased a 2011 cruze ltz in April 2012 the car had 8k miles on it. After test driving several GM cars, the cruze was the ticket. I drive approx. 125miles round trip a day, 25miles of that trip are stop and go city traffic. The cruze is averaging 34.5miles per gallon, On 87 gas. I do have a lead foot so I am very pleased with mpg. The interior of the car is very well layed out, all functions are easy to use an read. The ride and pick-up is great for what the car is. I have no problem passing, merging or quick moves. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a great, well built, solid,comfortable, fun to drive, automobile with luxury equipment.

Cool little Chevy

I do have to say that this is the first Chevy I've owned and I like it very well. My father is retired from GM and put me onto the Cruze and it has been a great value. Gets pretty good gas mileage,looks good, and the OnStar/XM radio freak'n rocks! I got the LS base model and hey for the money the car is really nice. The interior is laid out very well and the trunk space is more than I expected plus the ride quality is freak'n awsome. I'm glad i bought it!

Terrific Mileage

Can't beat the mileage on the highway, for well-priced car (usually 34 to 35 mpg). Even mixed mileage is good (around 32-34). Stop and go (28). Biggest drawback is ride suspension. Riders feel just about every bump in the road. And seats are very hard with little give, for extra comfort. Would recommend RS upgrage model, with leather seats. Otherwise a very nice car for moving about.

Never again!!!!!

Bought the car brand new in 2011. Numerous recalls, one that ruins the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Replaced the water pump 3 times, the battery 4 times, purge valve replaced, broken power window cable, cam shaft cover cracked....... all this with LESS than 70,000 miles on the vehicle!!! I have never had so many issues with a car until this. GM should be ashamed!!!! So at 70,000 miles replaced water pump YET AGAIN!!! GM's solution........ a 10 year warranty, oh boy!!!!! How about just fixing the problem!!!! I don't have the time or the $$$$ to keep getting towed or being put in a rental, that I have to put a deposit down on. Oh yeah, let's not forget about multiple battery replacements also!!!!

Still a comfortable fun efficient reliable ca

Fun reliable attractive quiet economical comfortable car with huge trunk, We bought a second one in 2016 of the first generation Cruze.

Chevy Cruz

Lasted a long time.

Was great for a while, mostly a catastrophe

I was excited when I first got my Chevy Cruze, pre-owned at 66,000 miles roughly. In the time I've had it however, I've had several serious repairs to do to keep it running. First things first, when you own a Cruze, expect lots of oil and coolant leaks. In my six years that I owned it, I went through at least four valve covers. Coolant leaks were a constant, as a result of a poorly engineered stock coolant tank that leaked at the seams. After seven months of ownership at around 74K miles, the transmission died. A whole new one was required, which would have cost me $3.3K had it not been for the extended warranty from the dealership. After this, luckily I had no more transmission issues. However, I would eventually need to replace a radiator, three thermostats, an alternator, and more. Some was just necessary wear and tear stuff but a lot of it comes down to the way the car was built. The event that made me finally want a new vehicle was when the turbo part of the engine completely blew, causing massive oil leaks and severe overheating. That repair was nearly $1K out of pocket. Ended up getting rid of it for something newer just a month ago after 131K miles and lots of frustrations. While it definitely got me around, I can't recommend enough that people avoid the Cruze line. Super high maintenance.

Batmobile

This is a delightful automobile. I owned Malibu LS and Cruze is my baby Malibu. Just a smaller scale. I am putting a little bit of work with 235000 miles. But I don't mind putting the work in. I take much care for Cruze. I yes I buffed and polished and treated the wheels cleaned detailed the motor and cockpit with a little love. I get involved with my past and current Chevy's Just a small percentage of people actually do the above on a regular habit. It seems like people don't realize a car is a investment that you own. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.

Six month update

I previously wrote a review on my Cruze Eco over 5 months ago after having it for two weeks. Well, it's been six months now and I am still really happy with it and I am now averaging 34.5mpg between half highway and half city driving. I did drive over 500 miles each way to Ohio and it performed well and was very comfortable too. I am also very proud to own a Lordstown-made Cruze as I grew up very close to there and know that it was made well by good local UAW workers.

Nice cruz

Good mpg

Chevy Cruze 2012

Fantastic car! I really like it. It seems a little snug at first but anything that it might lack in comfort it more than makes up for on the road. Gas mileage is unbelieveable and it handles well. Not like the 4 cylinders I remember from way-back-when.....definitely check this car out before you buy a any other!

Not one regret

I bought this car three weeks ago, used with 17,500 miles. I have since logged over 500 miles of mixed driving and so far my experience has been extremely positive. With mixed driving of 70% highway and doing one autocross event, the car still managed 35 mpg. Color me impressed! Handling is crisp and firm, reminding me of cars I've driven while in Europe. Even at 6'4", I find this compact car to be comfortable to drive, but rear seat space is lacking... it is a compact car after all. I find the 7-8 mpg gain over the typical midsize was worth sacrificing a little comfort for what few passengers I carry. Long story short, it's an economical car without the economy feeling.

I love this car!! Really.

We purchased our Cruze NEW in the spring of 2011. It is metallic black with the cocoa/light neutral interior. We have almost 61,000 miles on this car and it is my wife's commuter car. She averages 27-28 mpg. Our Cruze handles quite well with excellent 'road feel'. This car looks awesome inside and out and is surprisingly comfortable in the front (IMHO). Other than a leaky water pump, which was replaced under warranty (our dealer also flushed out the cooling system at NC) and a minor transmission leak, also under warranty, this vehicle has been a joy to own. Our dealer's service department is exceptional and puts the customer first (my personal experience).

POS

Save yourself a Head ache!!!! I had my cruze 6 months. Bought it at 60,000 ran hot 2nd week air compressor was fried. Now at just 104,900 miles the transmission is fried and the motor is KNOCKING. Now for a guy who treats his car matnience is up to par so for a guy who treats his car like a baby when it comes to service, this honestly has me outraged. I will never buy another Cruze better yet American made "CAR" again. #RAGGEDY

glad i picked this car

ive had several used cars over the years and this one is definitely one of the better cars ive drove and bought drives well the fuel efficiency is quite good and has nice torque for the type of car it is ..... one of the reviewers complained that its not as good as the Honda civic ....well duh Honda is only one of the highest rated cars that is out and most reliable ...its like comparing the cruze to a Tesla/Mercedes/Lexus ...very high end cars that are extremely expansive ...of course this car wont match up anyone that knows even a little about cars would know that.

GMC should take it back!!

I got my new Cruze in Mar. 2011 and have since put 5,000 mi. on it. It is not comfortable on a longer trip. Gas milage sucks. I was under the impression that Chev. had tested the car over 1,000,000 miles, it should be a good car, wrong. I have done my own testing and come to the conclusion that 63mph is its sweet spot to get 36mpg. Thats to slow to drive on an interstate with a 75mph speed limit. I tried 75mph and got 26.6 mpg. My last car was a Vette and going slow is not an opption! Don't even check your in-town mpg, it will scare you.

Should have went to Toyota

This is the worst car I have ever owned. 2 days after buying the car new, the windshield cracked along the top and the roof and electronics all flooded. Three weeks past and the car refussed to go into gear and almost caused use to get side swiped. After being treated like a lower life form by the dealer ship and General Motors, we were forced to drive this car. Recently the pile of Cruze failed to shift into gear which caused us to roll back into oncoming traffic and was involved in an accident. This is the last GM product I will ever own, and I hope that Chevy stops getting bailed out. Government Motors, I should have known better.

Good not Great

Have had this LTZ for a month and still not getting the EPA 36 MPG the sticker shows. Best MPG so far is 33.5! I really bought this car for 36MPG or better. Car runs good has adaquate power...transmission is clunky in shifting. I like the looks and feel of the car. It does drive well on the highway. The front and rear seats do not have enough padding and are uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Have 2500 miles on car so far...if MPG does not get better I will be upset.

What did GM's Cruze Lose?

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of GM’s Cruze since it first appeared on the horizon, a compact chocked full of technology forward engineering economy and the first to bring Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology to a fuel efficient compact. So imagine my surprise when after negotiating my best deal at my local dealer when my excitement of the vehicle’s capability to run on E85 a fuel produced in America was met with a blank stare. He went on to explain that “FFVs have yellow gas caps, and the Cruze doesn’t.” In simple terms on the way to market the Cruze did lose its FFV capability un-noted in most arenas and media outpourings. So just when it seemed