Used 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Consumer Reviews
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My third & final review
tat1739, 02/04/2014
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
52 of 53 people found this review helpful
I now am looking forward to selling my Cruze. Tomorrow I will be back in the garage for a third transmission leak issue. In addition to a water pump recall and an additional leak, and a radiator leak, and a recall on brakes, and a loose motor mount, I am officially done with this car. I remain satisfied with the interior, but feel that the exterior is looking 'dated' with new car styles coming out. It does still get 40 mpg, when I drive on cruise, within the speed limit, on flat hwys and without cargo or passengers. Otherwise, expect 27-32 mpg. As a former Civic owner of 10 years without even one single issue, the car does not impress.
2011 Chevy Cruze 1lt
cabsahea, 03/07/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
69 of 73 people found this review helpful
Bought this car two weeks ago. I test drove the Honda Civic 4dr and coupe, Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion, VW Jetta, Chrysler Avenger..just couldn't bring myself to drive the Hyundai, nothing against the car but it's just a personal choice..decided on the Cruze based on several factors: 1) quite ride 2) mpg 3) overall appearance was more preferrable to me then the others 4) comfort ...After driving it for 2 weeks I am very impressed with the mpg..I have a 115 mile daily commute, 80% freeway and 20% street..I am blown away by the fact that i have averaging 36.2 miles per gallon!!! This is a huge deal to me because my other car is an Escalade which averaged 16.1 on the same trip..I am very pleased.
If you need a commuter car, Run
medgeworth, 05/13/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
27 of 28 people found this review helpful
I added the Edmunds id after I purchased the car, just so I could add my comments here. I got a new job that required a long commute. I was focused on the Elantra but they were not available for 20K with their popularity. I fell into the Cruze and was surprised by the ECO numbers. I Love the car. I drive in the fast lane, play in the corners and I still get 37MPG. Can't wait for a Road Trip. For the money and the cabin and the MPG - it's a deal Oh yea, i'm 6'4" 240, it fits fine with headroom.
So Far Impressed, don't listen to the nay sayers
peterparker121, 06/13/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
36 of 38 people found this review helpful
WOW, i was looking for a more economical car, had an Impala for the last 6 years, you know, better MPG, without a huge price tag. Got more than I bargined for. This car is sharp. I got the imperial blue metalic, lt rs model. Put over two hundred miles on it in four days. I'm a husky fellow, 5'8" and around 225, and I find this car to be super roomy. If you're one of those people who's shirt tags bother them, you may find it a tad small. Took awhile to get the seat adjusted just right, but once I did, I find myself not wanting to get out of my Cruze. Handles great, not Impala smooth, but pretty dang nice. Blue dashlights on the chrome, STYLING. Love watching the average MPG go up, up, and up.
If auto shopping steer clear of this expensive car
Jeffrey Horstman, 01/26/2016
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
Okay so I bought mine brand new back in July of 2011, literally the first 30,000 miles were okay. First 15,000 miles i had numerous recalls and recalls, about 8 total. At 16,000 miles the car died when backing up into the street? by The time my vehicle reached 35,000 miles , the " check traction control" & " engine power reduced " light illuminated on the dashboard and my vehicle stalled in the parking lot at work. The Throttle Body malfunctioned and failed. Towed to the dealer and a day later it was fixed under power train warranty. Cd player and Navigation screen went out at 47,000 due to some short, so another trip to the dealer Navigation system replaced and new cd player replaced as well as the negative battery cable terminal. At 49,500 miles on the vehicle had to have the coolant system serviced, awful coolant smell in the cabin numerous times, found the leak fixed under warranty. At 51,000 Coolant leak again near the Reservoir tank. Both the hose and tank replaced under power train warranty. At 53,000 miles again Coolant system need flushing because another leak. At 55,000 miles the Coolant system was leaking again near the radiator. At 57,800 miles the coolant Reservoir tank replaced again as well as Radiator cap. At 59,000 miles Coolant serviced again for mysterious vanishing coolant no leak apparant yet horrendous smell in the Cabin. At 65,755 miles the Defrost Actuators failed loud popping sound when changing modes from defrost to feet etc. About $875.00 later fixed. Oil leak at 69,000 miles in multiple places, the oil cooler lines replaced as well as the Valve cover gasket and some seals as well. At 72,000 Speedometer in cabin makes ticking noise and constantly stuck. At 72,800 miles the car mysteriously died at 1 am, no power and key was stuck in the ignition. Towed to the dealer and two days later confirmed no issues and vehicle started for them? Oil leak again at 81,000 miles. At 85,000 miles 90,000 oil leaking again as well as coolant. At 93,000 miles the "Theft alert system" went crazy, car alarm was going off for no reason at sporadic times throughout a couple of days, as well as hood latch broke and trunk latch. At 96,000 miles rear window defogger went out, At 97,500 miles the rear passanger power window broke. At 107,000 Miles the car had to be towed 45 miles to the dealership From Madison due to coolant completely leaked out and left my family and I stranded for two hours in the winter. At 115,000 another coolant leak. At 116,000 Oil leak again, dealer seems to think PCV valve is going bad. Unfortunately i have $5,000 in negative equity Thanks to general Motors or also known as Governement Motors. The value of Cruze is basically Worthless , a lot of Cruzes are sitting on used dealer lots going unsold for this reason. I know I'm not alone , I've heard lots of people have had more problems too! Please do your self a favor, steer clear and buy anything else other than the Cruze. I have always been a Chevrolet man, after my experience with this car, I can't wat until its paid off in two years and i can get out of it! Its a money hog and it's pathetic as well as annoying having to be in the service shop what seems to be like every other month or so. I hope the next two years of ownership hurry up!
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Wish I didn't have to give this car even 1 star
Hugh Jazz, 03/27/2017
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
From the looks of the car, interior and exterior and all the hot specs it included when I bought it back in 2012, fairly new with 13k miles on it. Just graduated high school. Seemed like a good buy for me and a car that would last me at least a decade. Didn't take long for that old man at the dealership to get me home in this car. But oh boy, if I had only known then, how much of a headache this car was gonna be.. After a month with the car in my hands, it went in for its first recall, where they sawed off the "engine shield" below the engine due to reports of the car catching fire from leaking oil down there. Awesome!! Not to mention those recalls on the car prior to the purchase of the car that the salesman failed to mention. From there it was nothing but downhill. This car has been in the shop on average probably a week of every month since I've owned it. If not, close to it. I've lost track of the amount times it's needed service. Currently with 101k miles, The biggest issue me and my mechanic have had with this car is the cooling system. We can't seem to get a hold of the issue. Numerous hoses and lines have been replaced. It seems as though we fix one hose, and another goes. Including the the thermostat twice. Weve recently replaced the coolant bucket/bottle and hose leading out of it. Now we're repairing the hose and lines going into the turbo. Which were thinking the turbo is next on the long list of past/present/future parts to be replaced, along with some relevant parts behind there at the same time to hopefully span out my visits to him. Some other things I've fixed on this car include a coil Pack(@60k) because a spark plug exploded and caused damage to its housing that it needed to be replaced. I've replaced the spark plugs a second time since then. Throttle body was replaced along with MAF sensor. Trans oil lines replaced. AT LEAST a handful of other issues have as well been addressed. Current unresolved problems include...... the drivers side heated seat which went a long time ago and the dealership said I'd have to buy a whole new seat to fix that, fuhgettaboutit. The trunk latch died a long time ago too, oh well. Middle arm rest and compartment door/cover isn't so durable either.(doesn't stay shut, velcro does wonders). Also seems to be leaking oil from the valve cover and rear main seal. I'm sure I'll get around to that someday. Orrr, just let it leak oil and coolant til the car finally gives in aND sets itself on fire and burns up. Really looking forward to that day. Can you blame me? Until then, I'll just keep dreaming about driving it thru the front doors of GeneralMotors with joy. I received a settlement from GM for this car that only paid to get it back from the bank when they repoed it 2 days before the check came in the mail. I was four months behind on payments because that money was paying to keep the car on the road. Shame on who? Clearly this car was the biggest mistake of my life thus far. Financially at least. If you own or owned [non-permissible content removed] car, God bless you.
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Love It
scubaskm, 06/05/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
We have only had this car a week, but I can honestly say, that I have never been more impressed with a car that has been out for less than a year. We are averaging about 27.5 MPG, and with having a lead foot and a car with a Turbo that would be pretty good in my book.
Cruzin in Philly
cruzinphilly, 07/29/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
Chevy got this right! I have a 40 mile round trip commute to work, so I absolutely needed a car that was fuel efficient. I came to peace with the fact that this meant I would more than likely have to drive a small sedan that would cause points to be deducted from my man card, but that was not the case with the Cruze. It is quick off the line when you need it and has a good quality interior. I dont feel cramped when I drive it (I am 61 215lbs) plus the seats are comfortable. The car is very well equipped for its price and give you allot features for the buck, like remote start, XM, Bluetooth, and rear park assist for 20k (I paid 20,500 for a 1LT).
So far so good!
Josh R, 01/26/2016
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Car has just passed 120,000 miles. I commute long distance with my job so this car has received a lot of highway miles. MPG is ok (upper 20's, lower 30's). Drives quiet and smooth. Great road handling. I am 6' tall with a husky build and I can get in and out very well, backseat not so well. Have only had to replace a PCV valve cover (out of warranty) and a cracked thermostat housing (In warranty) and the required recalls. Hoping I can get a few more miles out of it.
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Chevrolet got it right
datuttle, 05/22/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
Had my Cruze for a week now. This is the first "small?" car that I have ever loved. Incredible fuel mileage, more power than you would expect and it is so much larger than its competition. I drove them all before buying this one. A comparable car from Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Ford or others is thousands more. You need to go with the BMW or Lexus to get the same ride and features of the Cruze. I drove them all and this car really stands out above them.
Top of the Class!
micha78, 05/15/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
This car really makes you feel special the second you open the door and see the beautifully designed dash. Cannot say enough about the quality that went into this car from the feel of the soft touch materials inside to the beautiful exterior. To compare it to Civic and Corolla does it an injustice. We own a 2010 Corolla and it is just a boring A to B car with terrible fit and finish inside. With the Cruze, you want to fight for the keys because of how it makes you feel. You really feel like you're driving a sport luxury car and wonder how you got away paying so little. Highly recommend it, you will not go back to the boring boxes on wheels.
Amazed!
Nick1212, 09/17/2010
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
19 of 21 people found this review helpful
Finally an Compact American Car that can compete with foreign mpg and quality. This car is amazing in every aspect. It feels like I'm driving in a $65,000 luxury car when in actuality it only cost $21,000. I love this car and am very very happy with it. also, it gets 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
Terrified for when the warranty runs out
Lee, 05/10/2016
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
19 of 21 people found this review helpful
Purchased this car 3 years ago with 40,000 miles, now it's at 80,000. The experience has been miserable. When the car is running well, it can be a fun car to drive but it is still only a middle-of-the-road commuter with nothing noteworthy or outstanding. The shifting is notchy and the electric throttle leaves the revs hanging too high for too long to shift quickly. The 1.4T is very sluggish in low RPMs, especially accelerating from a stop. This becomes much more prominent in warm weather. I've driven manual vehicles my entire life and have still stalled this car several times, even in stop-and-go traffic, simply because there is no power to accelerate. GM states in the owner's manual that the car can run on 87 octane fuel, but from my experience anything above 70 degrees requires at least 89 octane. Even with conservative driving, freeway speeds (70mph) will return, at best, 32mpg. The only time I've come even close to 40mpg is on two-lane roads keeping to 60mph or below. This is very disappointing for the Eco trim. The steering is reasonably responsive but the electric power steering really does remove all feedback. In all, I would say the strongest feature is the exterior styling, which GM really nailed in my opinion. Reliability has been abysmal, unfortunately. In my time of ownership, the car has been serviced three times for climate control issues, including a recurring noise that involved the removal of the dash multiple times. The blend door also had to be replaced due to binding. The 1.4T (I'm not sure about the 1.8) has two PCV valves, one of which is built into the valve cover and is not removable without replacing the valve cover. This is a horrible setup, but I had it replaced under warranty. The plastic intake manifold was also replaced at this time as it was cracked, most likely due to excess pressure from the bad PCV valve. At around 70,000 miles the turbo had to be replaced due to a bad bypass valve that was preventing the turbo from building boost. At 75,000, I had to replace the water inlet valve because the plastic valves GM used tend to crack. I discovered this after I found a puddle of coolant in my garage. I am very worried about the experience after the warranty runs out this summer. I am constantly wondering what will break next or need addressing. There are numerous other small quality-control issues that I've just learned to live with over the years. I am currently about $4,000 underwater on the loan due to insane depreciation and a too-high initial purchase price (GM certified pre-owned, all Cruzes in our area were similar quality, mileage and price). I prefer to do all of my own work and, prior to owning this car, historically I have performed all of my own maintenance, large and small. GM has tried to make their new cars as difficult to work on as possible for the average shade-tree or indy mechanic so I suspect that once the warranty is up I will still be going back to the dealer every 6 months for a 4-figure repair. I cannot wait until the day this car is paid off. It will be going up for sale that same afternoon, provided it is still running by that point.
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let it go
tom, 09/23/2018
updated 03/25/2022
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
With over 240,000 miles on her, she started showing a code that I couldn't fix. It was time. At my age, I need something I could rely on so I picked up a 2016 Cruze LS . It dowsn't have some of the options that my 11 did but I hope the longevity will be there.
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Please do not buy this car!!
Camron, 04/27/2018
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
Please, do yourself a favor and do not buy this car! I have had my 2011 LT Cruze for 3 years now and it has been nothing short of a disaster. Everything was great throughout the first 6 months of owning the car and then things began to go downhill. For the past 2 years, it has been in the shop almost every other month with problems such as oil leaks, engine overheating, and my A/C going out. I have been left stranded multiple times on the side of the road due to my engine overheating. At times, I have literally had to stop and get out of my car due to smoke coming out from under my hood. There is an awful smell in the cabin, such as if something is burning. Every time the car is serviced, it always seems as if the problem is solved until the same issues reoccur. With many different opinions, we still cannot get down to the bottom issue, there are just so many. This car is a lemon and after reading other reviews, I am not alone. I have always been a Chevy fan but I will never buy a Chevy again! Please please do not buy this car. Writing this review so that others do not have to go through this.
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Very happy with my Cruze 2LT commuter
rplimpton, 02/26/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
So far, I really like this car. It's very solid with no squeaks/rattles. It corners well and has a nice on-center steering feel on the highway. Trunk space is impressive for a compact. The leather seats are very supportive and this is the first/only compact car that I can be comfortable driving (6'3", 230 lbs). The car is too new to judge mpg, but I'm getting 29 mpg combined city/hwy. (Don't expect to get 36+ mpg driving 70+ mph or if you have a heavy foot.) I find that increasing tire pressure from the recommended 35 psi (cold) to 37 psi smooths the ride. If you look closely at interior fit and finish, it's clear that GM was paying attention to them.
Exceeds Expectations
olathehunter, 04/03/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
The Cruze absolutely exceeds my expectations. The engine, while only a 1.8L, has more than enough power for me (and I have owned 2 Camaros and a 300ZX Turbo). I got the LS 6 speed manual transmission. Not because I'm cheap, but I simply don't see the value in most 'extras'. I'm only 2 weeks into owning this car but so far, it was a great decision. PS - Do NOT let them talk you into the GM warranty. You have up to 12 mo/12K to buy it, and it doesn't do anything until year 4 anyway. There is a GM dealer in the SW that will write it up on line for under $1500, not the $2500-3500 the dealer finance scum will try to talk you into.
Value That Looks and Feels Upscale
cragman1, 03/07/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Mine is the 1.8, but with the Automatic 6spd. The car I traded was an 08 Cobalt LS Automatic. I used to feel I had to be embarrased even doing a review on such a basic car, but I actually enjoyed the Cobalt. But, when faced with the reality of the 3 yr bumper to bumper expired, the slightest click or pop in the steering or suspension made me start looking at my next "repair cost free" new car. I looked at the other brands in this price range and soon became dismayed at the cramped drivers area and unavoidable plastic look of the quote "Best Sellers" in this class. The Cruze won me, hands down. Looks. Ride.Pep (yes, Pep.) Interior A++++++++. Show me a Fit,Civic or Corolla as good.
Not for long term use.
Erica., 08/26/2015
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
22 of 26 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2011 Cruze LT in early 2012 with about 18,xxx miles. I was so excited and it was my first car purchase on my own. I was in nursing school and commuting an hour each way to clinical sites and needed something that would sip gas. That it DID. I averaged 36 MPG at its newer years and LOVED that aspect. It was a great commuter car for that as it has large windows and I felt as though I sat up decently high to get a get view for merging and being in and out of traffic. Never a blind spot. It parks easily and turns on a dime to squeeze into tight spaces. Everything is very in-sync with those aspects. When it comes to overall car quality... Less can be praised. Within 8 months of purchase I replaced my FIRST water pump. Within 64 days I was replacing my second, blaming the failure on the initial repair. All the while I was borrowing cars and hitching rides because Chevy has altogether quit handing out loaners even when the repairs are obviously their fault (they probably can't keep up with loaner demand anymore). Again within 6 months the car is overheating again and another water pump. It is now 2015 and I just replaced my EIGHTH water pump. CHEVY YOU HAVE LOST ME FOREVER. It has had a new water pump every 10,000 miles. I can name about 10,000 things that lasted longer than 10,000 miles and my Chevy Cruze is not one of them. I'm sure wagon wheels lasted longer than that and yet Chevy can't figure out water pumps... If I ever come into money I'm going to videotape myself shoving this car off of a cliff somewhere very beautiful and send the video into Chevy for their next advertisement. Because no, you're not going to want to drive your Cruze around a pretty city night scene, you're going to be doing what I want to do. So let's get real and advertise it as such. "This is you in 4 years happily pushing your well maintained and STILL FINANCED vehicle off of a cliff out of anger because we are too cheap to put in parts that will last!" This is like one of those $5 Amazon purchases you make from China where you think to yourself. "This might electrocute me but let's try it!" But waaaaaay more expensive and waaaaay more aggravating. My eighth water pump issue brought me to having to wake up 2 hours early on a Monday, which already sucks, to take my car in and to be dropped off at work like some hobo. Thanks Chevy. Im now onto my second car purchase and staying far far away from Chevy lots.
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Not worth buying
Julia, 09/08/2015
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
This car is a piece of junk! Definitely not worth the money! We have had our Cruze in the shop numerous times with coolant system problems!!! Really Chevy!! How many bad reviews from unhappy customers are you going to get on this car? This is ridiculous!! We certainly won't be buying another Chevy!!
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I will never own another Chevy
Jane, 01/23/2021
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This vehicle caused me nothing but problems, and Chevy's customer service will dismal at the best of times. I owned a 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco for just over three years and regretted my purchase frequently. Although I read some questionable reviews about this car before I bought it, I just assumed that overall the good would outweigh the bad. Unfortunately this was not even remotely true. Within 6 months of owning the car I noticed that when I idled my car smelled like burning oil. Took it in to get fixed, and they told me it was leaking from the crankshaft oil seal. Fixed that and went on my way thinking if that was the biggest of my problems I was laughing. About a year later I noticed that my RPM's were dropping extremely low while I was idling, to the point where I stalled my vehicle a few times sitting at red lights. Looked into it and it was an apparently very well known issue with the PCV valve which somehow has still not warranted a recall from Chevy. Your options for repair here are to either replace the entire intake manifold, or try out a handful of different aftermarket fixes. The problem with replacing the intake manifold itself (outside of the exorbitant cost associated with it) is that it doesn't actually solve the underlying problem which causes the mechanical failure in the first place, so the issue is bound to reoccur. I ended up going with an aftermarket fix that was relatively inexpensive, but very labour intensive. I moved on hoping I wouldn't find myself with any more issues, however about 8 months later, as I was driving on icy winter roads, my power brakes stopped working entirely. I was forced to quickly change lanes to avoid rear ending another vehicle and had to use my emergency break to come to a stop. At first I took my car to a local mechanic in town who was unable to diagnose the problem as my brakes had started working again, but I was later advised by the shop that they had discovered a recall existed for the 2011 Chevy Cruze for this power brake failure (an issue with the brake vacuum micro switch) and that I should contact the dealership. The dealership proceeded to test my car for the issue and diagnosed the problem as the same issue which warranted a recall on other 2011-2012 Chevy Cruze's with a turbo, however they told me that although there was a recall, it was only for the automatic, not manual, transmissions. I attempted to call Chevrolet Canada to see if they would help remedy the issue, and although I spoke with several supervisors I received absolutely no help or offers to see what could be done for this safety issue. The dealership kindly offered me a 15% discount on my quoted >$800 service for all my troubles. I had no sooner decided that I was going to get rid of this piece of garbage on wheels when my defrost broke in the middle of winter, requiring another pricey fix to get it into a position where I could sell it. The issue was the blend door actuator, yet another very common problem with these Chevy's, another safety issue, and another thing Chevy could not care less about. If it weren't for all the mechanical issues this car, I'm sure I would have loved it. The mileage you get from this car is amazing. It is roomy inside for the driver and front passenger and not terrible in the back for kids, although adults would probably find it a bit cramped. The car handles well in snow, although it is a bit light so sometimes if it's icy it is a bit more difficult to control but that is to be expected with a small car. Overall I had a terrible experience with this vehicle and an equally disappointing experience with Chevrolet Canada. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone and have been actively dissuading any of the people I know from considering any Chevrolet vehicle.
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Liked it for 1st year
mnflyer, 03/19/2013
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I enjoyed my Cruze for the 1st year and a half, even though it had it's fair share of issues covered by warranty. It handled well enough and I felt it was a good value. In 2 years I put on 43K miles mostly commuting on the highway. During the warranty period, I had 2 cases of "check engine" light on which were caused by faulty sensors. Also I had a steering issue whereby the steering would slightly stick at highway speeds. It often had a strange groaning sound from the engine. Biggest problem. "AC off due to engine overheat" It took 5 trips to the dealer to fix it. I wanted a car I could drive trouble free for many years and realized this wasn't it. I traded it in for a Hyundai.
A Real Winner!
jtisch, 12/16/2010
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I owned a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, the best car I ever owned. Someone once asked me why I bought Japanese car. I said that when an American automaker can build a car as good as my Civic I will buy it. Chevy did it with my 2011 2LT turbocharged Cruze. As a matter of fact, it exceeds the Civic in every way. I am amazed at the automatic and standard transmission of this car. Every once in a while I shift over to the manual tranny and feel like a 20-something again. I only miss the 47 mpg I got with my hybrid, but paying $6,000 less for the Cruze more than makes up for it.
Transmission- Read other REVIEWS BEFORE BUYING
Mackenzie, 01/26/2018
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
Insanely unhappy with my purchase of my chevy and your customer service care. Never thought I would run into this problem as my grandfather actually sold Chevy’s at Davidson Chevrolet in Malden, MA. Not to mention, my whole family basically drives Chevy’s. My aunt was actually just going to buy a brand new Traverse, but certainty not anymore! Chevy should look up reviews about the 2011 Chevy Cruze- not many are too fond of the car. Furthermore, I bought my 2011 Chevy Cruze in May of 2016. Brought it back to Lannan of Woburn, where I bought it May 27 of 2016 because I felt that the transmission was “jumping”. At the time it was covered under warranty at 43,974 miles. I was told nothing was wrong with it and was told to go home. Now at 70,000 miles my car decided to stop driving on the highway and only go in reverse. I really suggest you go online and read the more recent reviews, mayve even consider a recall because many reviews are the SAME EXACT situation that happened to me. I brought it to Lannan in Lowell, as it is closer to my house and was told not even two years later my transmission was gone and they want $4,745 dollars to replace it. How do you expect a 20 year old, whose trying to do their best and in college, not to mention commuting an hour to school to have this money to fork up, to get their car fixed? I had to take a loan out of this car in the first place, that I pay all myself. Not possible to pay this ridiculous amount. So I opened a case with GM myself (a case that is now closed as of today 1/18/18 because your customer service representatives are extremely rude). Actually hung up on me - I asked for cash assistance for this, because my warranty is up because the date expired first. But let’s keep in mind, the mileage marker isn’t until 100,000 miles and my car still isn’t even close to that. I spoke to a women today on the phone who basically told me that I was getting no help and it was because my car was old with many miles. Frankly, I’ve never heard of a cars transmission blowing frequently on a car with 70,000 miles. I then asked to speak to a supervisor and she would not let me because “they all were going to tell me the same thing”. To make a long story short, she ultimately told me that there was nothing that was going to happen for me, asked if i was going to fix the car. When i told her I had no idea as of yet, she replied then your case is closed and hung up the phone. This is how you treat loyal customers? I am extremely unhappy and would like a resolution to this.
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Very, very poor gas mileage.
disatisifiedd, 04/26/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
15 of 18 people found this review helpful
I bought this car because of the gas mileage.and that it was the best value around. I have never got over 21 miles per gallon, and have also only gone only 255 miles on a full tank of gas. Very disappointing with the price of gas today. I also know that driving differs with each person, but at least 1/2 of my driving is on the highway (60 mph), and that I recently gave my old Elantra to my son (at 100,000 miles still gets about 30+ miles per gallon. The car is also sluggish, does not drive like a new car.
Dangerous Turbo Lag
Nolij, 07/30/2016
updated 08/19/2019
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Not recommended. Purchased in 2012 with 20,000 miles. Currently at 49,500 miles in 2016. Needed a $1000 AC repair in 2015 but that could have been a fluke. Its good on gas and fairly comfortable for a small car. Cargo room is also decent for the size. I'm 6'1" and the side pillar makes looking over my shoulder difficult (the pillar is right next to my head when the seat is back in a comfortable position). Those flaws are forgivable if the price is right. However, the inconsistent turbo response has almost gotten me in several accidents. Sometimes you have power off the line, sometimes you have absolutely zero power for 5 seconds. I've had left turns become very scary as I essentially idle through the intersection while oncoming traffic approaches (pedal to the metal with no wheel spin and hardly any RPMs). Stop and go traffic at 30 mph is also super annoying as you go from zero power one second to full power the next when the turbo kicks in. If you value being able to predict how much acceleration you have, then don't get a Cruze with the turbo. Edit 2/1/2018: currently at 68k miles. Hasn't had any issues since my last update. I still don't like the turbo lag but am used to it so it's not really dangerous to me anymore. Edit 8/16/2019: currently at 76k miles. Had to replace the thermostat, water pump, and some coolant lines. Driver's side window fell off the tracks inside the door so the window regulator needed to be replaced ($150 part, $200 labor if you have a shop do it). The chrome trim on the inside driver's door handle is also starting to fall off. I've found there's less turbo lag if I use premium gas but it's still sometimes super slow off the line. It's only got 76k miles on it but feels like an old worn-out car (especially with the interior trim and window parts starting to break). I don't drive it very much so or I would've gotten rid of it already. Hoping it lasts me til winer when I can unload it (it feels faster when you don't have the AC on). Still not recommended. It's not very old for a car, only has 76k miles, has had all scheduled maintenance, and feels like it's tired and falling apart.
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Looks flashy, but it’s a lemon
KP, 11/30/2017
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
So, here’s the deal with the Cruze. They look nice, the crash test ratings are safe and the technology is top of the line. My positive comments end there. These cars are lemons. If you look at the positive reviews most of them were written back in 2011 when those poor folks didn’t know what they were in for yet. I inherited mine from a family member and it had only 20,000 miles on it with many recalls, random water pump/turbo issues and check engine light coming on every other month. I spent almost 2 grand on this thing in 5 months and the check engine light came on more times than I could count. The turbo lag was dangerous to say the least. I sold it and bought a Camry. Best decision ever, I won’t look back. Shame on Chevy.
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Getting a new car.
C.E.G. 2020, 11/19/2020
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought my chevy cruze in Modesto, CA used, just over 102,000 miles priced at $8,000. I test drove it and it rode nice and I loved the interior. I also regret not looking at more cars and just settling. That was my fault and mistake. I wasnt used to driving a 4 cylinder as the only car I had previously was a 6 cylinder. After about a month the seats got uncomfortable and cramped. That is also the time i had an over heating issue where i had 2 hoses and a temp gauge go out. It cost me approx. $600 to fix. Because I still wasnt used to how a 4 cylinder car should feel when driving i was unaware that i was driving on 3 cylinders as 1 broke. I had another over heating issue after only about 5 1/2 months of having the car. I took it to Chevy to have it fixed qnd it needs a new cylinder head estimated at over $5,000 dollars, almost $6,000. The Chevy Cruze may be a reliable car if bought brand new or only a little bit used, but it is in all not reliable at all. I would not recommend this car to my worst enemy. As a home health provider i needed car that would last me a number of years at least and this just isnt it.
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Avoid Chevrolet cars
Bub Jones, 08/23/2019
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Chevrolet Cruze is no good. This car has something wrong with it every month. I believe the main reason is because it runs too hot with the 221 degree thermostat. It keeps the plastic parts and hoses cooked. It also has too many coolant hoses. Bypass hoses running everywhere. The valve cover and pcv also has to be replaced regularly. Traction control causes frequent problems too. I would avoid this car and all GM products like the plaque.
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1 year review, love our Cruze
ricksreview, 11/01/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Have over 25,000k already. The Cruze has been very dependable. It continues to feel solid and well built. We are getting average of 38mpg with a loaded model with automatic transmission. Bought as a commuter car and we could not be more pleased with it!
Thank God for Lemon Law
nolikecheve, 07/07/2012
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought my Cruze in Nov of 10. I have had shifting issues from the get go. The dealership made me feel like it was all in my head. Since I have hit the 18000 mile mark, I have had nothing but problems with the transmission and electrical system. I have had it in the shop 6 tims in the last 2 mths and to 2 different dealerships. I was told that there is nothing they can do to fix my car. I was back there just this morning with the tire pressure sensor. It is not the firs time... It keep saying my rt front tire need air AND the just roated my tires 2 weeks ago. What is up with that?
TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE THOUSAND MILES PLUS!
Love this car, 07/21/2018
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
This car has been amazing and owes me nothing. Excellent handling on the road, excellent steering and the responsiveness is awesome. It handles like a small BMW I have driven. We have more than 245k miles on this car and it is still going strong! We maintain it and it has performed superbly well. We have put in two clutches and only 2 sets of brakes. Had a coolant issue that was not a major problem and other than that the car has been extremely reliable. We have used it to haul kids back and forth to college and have packed it full of stuff. I don't want to jinx it but it has never let us down. If you take care of this car it will last. It has saved us a ton of money on gas since we bought it. Can't thank Chevy enough for making such a reliable and fun to drive car!
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47.8 MPG on highway!
wi54545, 05/02/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
We were looking for a car to replace my 1987 Mercedes 300TD diesel. My wife was driving our 2004 Suburban and averaging around 14 mpg mixed. It had to get good gas mileage, carry three kids, our luggage, and it had to be a manual transmission! We were interested in the new Focus (ugly even though I love Ford, no stick in upper trim levels) and Elantra (Alien looking and only stick in lower trim). We drove the ECO and fell in love with it's quietness, little turbo motor, and the slick shifting manual transmission. This car will be passed down to our kids in five years. The fact that they can't text and drive is priceless (manual)! On our first trip with 500 miles on it we got 47.8MPG
Never Buying Chevy Again.
Paul, 02/19/2018
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have owned a 2011 Chevy Cruze for 7 years. The first thing I will say is NEVER, EVER buy a car when it's the first year for that model. This car has been a money pit!!! I have spent over $7500 on maintenance and repairs, with a large portion of that being REPAIRS!!! I even bought an extra extended warranty with a third party company. I am now having to pay $1000 dollars today for a new catalytic converter. I paid well over $2500 for that warranty and today I find that it's not worth CRAP!! I am sworn off Chevy! I will never buy one again. I will go with Toyota or something else. If this review even convinces ONE person not to buy a Cruze or Chevy, my job is done.
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My Cruze experience
ctryan1, 04/22/2013
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a used Chevy Cruze. A friend had purchased one brand new a few weeks earlier and he said he loved it. Well I am feeling the same way about ours. We purchased a used 2011 2LT with leather and it is great. Rides nice, feels solid and gets great gas mileage.
Chevy has delivered the WOW
dwight, 11/12/2010
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a new Chevy Cruze to replace my Mazda 3. I didn't think I would end up buying a Cruze, the car sold itself. The Cruze is marketed to compete with the Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. You can't compare these vehicles. The Cruze beats them easily. The quality is several car classes above its competition. You have to drive one to fully understand how up scale this car really is. It drives like a luxury class vehicle. Its quiet and is packed with upgraded features. Chevy has outdone themselves with this car. My prediction is, this will be a hot seller.
No more turbos for me
John Wayne, 02/01/2018
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
It is all good unless you have a junk turbo on it which caused my head gasket to blow never again the car it self is great just as long as there is no turbo
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My first Car Crush!
ecocruze, 04/06/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I just purchased a 6 speed manual 4 weeks ago. Love the car! Highway:city driving 70:30 split (44.2 mpg/ computer feedback) I'll keep an eye on gas volume in and MPGs out to see if it's accurate. I typically drive for milage but I've played a few times and the car has some quick pick up. The manual turbo and suspension are a blast. This is a fun car to drive and, BONUS!, it will save you cash (87 octane 3.60 a gallon Durham, NC)
STAY AWAY. JUNK
Kevin V, 04/20/2021
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought used in January of 2018. In February 2018 the check engine light came on. I replaced the fuel injectors and the problem persisted. I changed the PCV valve. In October the light came back, this time I had to replace the vapor canister purge. In May of 2019 I was getting a horrible screeching from the engine, especially at low RPMs. Turns out the one spark plug is known to come loose. It happened again in 2021. But before I get ahead of myself, I had to have the PCV valve replace yet again in May 2020! This time by a Chevrolet mechanic. Fast forward to January 2021. The car starts idling poorly and fan stays on after I turn it off. It's also leaking oil. Take it to get inspected and the cam shaft actuator needs replaced. That still didn't fix it and it leaked oil. They said I needed a turbo, timing chain, and cam shaft actuator solenoid now. I pay $2,000 for that and it still doesn't work. The same mechanic then says it needs a sensor replaced, another $250. The next day it's billowing smoke out of the exhaust and the engine. NO CLUE. He has had it again for a week and has said he literally has no clue what is wrong. A trained, certified, Chevrolet mechanic doesn't know, no idea.
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Watch the wheel
retzoid, 04/09/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased a Cruze in Feb.2011..Was very satisfied at first now totally dissastisfied. The transmission down shifts very hard . Huge air leaks( wind noise) around front driver and passenger doors. The worst problem is that the dealership has had it for two weeks now. There is a problem with steering column drooping and comming undone for no reason...was told it was a bad column, been replaced 2 times now andwas told it is worse now than at first. No one will tell mewhat is really going on...find it hard that it takes 2 weeks to get a bolt. A representative from Detroit tried contacting me today...Not sure what about...will update when I find out what is going on......Car has less 1000
More than meets mediocre expectations
jackstraw93, 12/31/2012
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The most common complaint everybody has is that there is a problem with the transmission. After test driving dozens of cars in this class and finally buying this one I can say the computer operated transmission is STRANGE but youll have the same problems on all other cars with the ctv transmission. That being said I so far love the car. It is very comfortable in the front seats, and for the price crams alot more technology into it than any other car ive seen in its class. Very quite ride, very smooth ride, and while it's not "Fun" to drive, (I do miss my truck with it's RWD and tire smoking fun) its VERY plesent, very quiet, very very smooth, great on gas if you aren't driving like an idiot
Delivers as Promised
Good Car, 11/17/2010
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have been reading about this car for the past 18 months. I have owned one now for about a month and I can say it performs as promised. Quite, smooth, fun to drive, stylish, and efficient. I can get the 36+ mpg on the highway provided I drive slower than 70 mph. Anything over that and it drops quite a bit (70 mph is about 2800 RPM). At 55 - 65 (common speed on my daily commute), its closer to 39. I checked the computer against the manual way of checking mileage and its accurate. I am also quite pleased with the feel of the electronic throttle and 6 spd auto transmission. It accelerates nicely without any gear hunting.
Death Trap
trivera21, 10/14/2014
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I thought I found a great gently used deal and it turned out to be an absolute lemon. Thermostat housing unit, switch pump valve, hoses, oxygen sensors, spark plugs, ignition coil...you name it, I had to replace it. Engine overheating, check engine light constantly being on, never being able to use the automatic start...This car isn't worth the $300/month payments. I could care less about the gas mileage it gets me, because I'm having to put hundreds into keeping it running. Recall after recall and now brake issues? No thanks. Stay far away. I'm trading this puppy in for a jeep.
Cruze away from this car
Amber, 10/18/2018
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have the 1LT 1.4 turbo 6 speed auto, honestly it's great for what I use it for, simple a to b trips in and around my tiny Town. I wouldn't trust it any further than 100 miles and that's saying something. My 2005 Honda Accord has over 600k miles and that's not a typo and I trust it to California. I trust the Cruze no further than Manchester from Bennington (I live in southern Vermont). I swear it's in the shop every other week and for small things that shouldn't be breaking at all. My ball joints on my Honda are original! My Cruze has cruised through 4 pairs!
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Don't buy it.
Marissa, 01/02/2016
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I've had wayyyyy too much trouble with this car in the past year. I'm at about 74,000 miles at the moment but it's just recall after recall and problem after problem. I feel like I'm at the dealer every other month. I'm currently at the dealer getting a new turbo charger, last month the hoses were leaking and something was cracked, month before it was something else that I can't even remember. It's all been covered but it's also all been a headache.
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STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR
Julianna, 05/30/2019
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in December as an as is purchase with high hopes. I had never owned a car this new before and the interior is what really got me. Looked really modern, had all the bells and whistles I wanted. Then 2 days after buying the car, it lost all power driving home from Christmas with my parents, I had to push it up a hill to get it out of the road and into a gas station. All it was was some misfire in the 2nd cylinder, something like that (not a car person) $300 later, it was running perfect, until the check engine light came on. Catalytic converter went out so had to replace that, about $750 later. Once I got the car back from the shop after replacing the catalytic converter the front of the car is super loud. I drive down the road and I can barely hear my radio because of how load the tires are on the road. That's the least of it, a few months after fixing all that, my a/c stopped working, IN THE BEGINNING OF TEXAS SUMMER and the car shakes violently when the fan turns on AND when i'm stopped in traffic or at a red light the car bogs down to 300 rpm's and acts like it's going to completely die, but then the rpm's flutter between 500 and 1100 and bobs up and down rapidly. I'm just so sick of all the problems, haven't even had this car for half a year yet. Now it's in the shop again, just got my estimate back for $2100 worth of repairs. New oil pan, new a/c system, engine work. You name it.
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Lemon Cruze
lemon27, 06/11/2012
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought a brand new 2011 chevy cruze in may 2011. It was in the shop 6 different times during the time that i had it (around a year) we have just sold it and took a loss of $4,000 but i was just glad to get out from under my Lemon car. We tried to contact GM for around three weeks and all we got was the run around and voicemails. The least they could do is talk to there customers and listen to what they have to say instead of avoiding them but they don't care because they already have my money and it was nothing out of there pockets.
Cruze LTZ got it right!
richvand, 01/12/2012
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my Chevy Cruze LTZ Thanksgiving weekend in 2010 in Cary, NC. So I have had it for almost 14 months and almost 27,000 miles. Every week, I drive about 183 miles to Richmond, VA to work a 4-day week on a large project as a training consultant. My wife and I initially looked at Toyotas and Fords before going to the Chevrolet dealership. I have previously owned a Pontiac Firebird and a GTO, so I was initially not interested in a 4 cylinder, especially one as small as 1.4 liters. I loved it from the moment I drove it off the lot. And I am still very happy with it. 33 mpg at 79 mph (3000 rpm) on interstates. Great acceleration and not one problem with it. I highly recommend it.
The schizophrenic Cruse
donrican, 02/20/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This car is schizophrenic. This is a midsized car who's convinced its a compact. I'm a big guy who used to rub shoulders with passangers in my Civic. Not any more, the cabin is spacious for a compact. This is also a sub-compact whos conviced its a compact. The 1.4 acts like its pulling a 2100 pound car and not the fully loaded Cruzes actual 3100. It should have much worse fuel economy as it does. This is a sports sedan convinced its a compact car. The handling is down right brilliant! This is a near luxury car convinced its a compact car. The fit and finish are good. None of the buttons and switches feel cheap. Leather seats are comfortable. Pioneer sound system is great. It needs a shrink!
Chevrolet has a Winner with the Cruze
rmfiii, 05/12/2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
WOW! What a great car at this low price point. I have the RS model and aside from the great looks the performance is top notch. My combined fuel average is 34 MPG with the 6 speed auto. The interior design especially the dash layout should be in a much more expensive car but the Cruze has it. Seats are comfortable and lot of leg and head room. 1.4l Turbo does a great job as long as you go light on the long pedal. Interior noise at hwy speeds is extreamly quiet for a car of this class. Fit and finish is much better than others in the class. Note: The turbo is designed for gas milage not for speed. You will not be dissapointed with the Cruze. Imports are now comparing their cars to the Cruze.