Used 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Consumer Reviews
Used Cruze for sale
Glad I bought the Cruze instead of a Honda Civic
dmrock1, 07/19/2012
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
After buying the Cruze Ls model and reading the reviews I thought I made a mistake by not upgrading to the Eco 1.4 turbo model.Some reviews said the Ls got nowhere near the expected mileage.I drive approx 70 mi (mainly highway) each day to work and so far I am VERY impressed with the mileage without air I am getting 38 mpg and with air a little over 35.I'm 6'4" and alot more comfortable than if i would have bought a Civic.Understand I was driving a Dodge dakota truck everyday and spending $80 dollars a week on gas,so now you can understand my point of view.I bought the Silver met. Ice and had the windows tinted and it looks great!
Oil cooler failure but no permanent damage!
DRThoreau, 09/01/2016
updated 03/09/2023
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
Having bought Japanese cars for more than 30 years after a bad GM experience in the 80's I read that GM had finally built a car in this class/price range worth buying! The Cruze has proven that early assessment to be true. A recall and two other repairs were covered under warranty, a failed battery after only two years was not! It's replacement has lasted for 3 thus far! Front seats are a bit short on the base and can catch some drivers mid thigh and after extended periods become uncomfortable, back seat okay for kids or one adult passenger. Trunk space is exceptional and the 1.8 liter 4 though noisy when pushed operates pretty quietly otherwise. Tires are critical to road noise in this vehicle as road surfaces vary. Here in South Carolina where the pavement seems to be some of the most noise producing I have traveled on, a tire with too much wear transfers all that noise right into the passenger cabin. regular recommended oil changes, tire rotations and a replacement set of OEM tires at 60K and that is the sum total of expense thus far. Upcoming spark plug change, transmission flush and new front disc brake pads will be needed soon. That being said i think that I will be able to get another 100K out of this vehicle! Another 8,000 miles on the clock and after replacing plugs and timing belt as recommended the Cruze continues to serve us well! Now at 118,000 miles and counting. Another set of tires will be due to be put on. Brakes were changed and probably had a few thousand more miles in them. Regular oil changes, tire rotations and all is well. The interior of the car has also held up well with only the wear you would expect from nearly 6 years of use. New tires at about 122k, another failed battery(covered by warranty this time) and just the usual oil changes and tire rotations and the Cruze continues to provide reliable, trouble free transportation. Interior wear commensurate with age and use. Replaced the windshield as I live in what is called the Sand Hills area of SC and the windshield sparkled when the sun shone directly through it. I suspect I need to have the suspension(shocks and struts) renewed if I want to keep the car in top form. Now at 141,000 miles, the Cruze continues to deliver 34 MPG on the highway. Around town with the a/c it only gets about 26MPG. Recommended oil changes and that's been about it for the last 19,000 miles. A problem has arisen with the key fobs as both have deteriorated and will have to be replaced as the portion that opens the trunk on mine and the one that locks the doors on my wife's are no longer there. Interior continues to wear well and it does not use any oil between changes. The Cruze is no longer our only reliable car. It is now used pretty much around town and for short trips only. At about 145, 000 miles the oil cooler failed and filled the crankcase and radiator/cooling system with a mixture that looked like chocolate milk. I thought that the car had a cracked head or failed head gasket but it was an oil cooler I wasn't aware this non-turbo engine had. The repair was about $800 and after driving it again for about a 1,000 miles since, seems no worse for having had the failure. I credit my wife, who was driving the car at the time with getting out of traffic and stopping the car as quickly as possible when the warning lights came on with the fact that no serious damage to the engine seems to have been done. 151,000 miles and the Cruze continues to be reliable. There is minimal oil use between changes and all systems continue to function well. At 155,000 the use of the Cruze as a second car continues. Though it has had some concerning battery and charging issues it continues to be reliable transportation otherwise. We no longer use it for travel of more than 75 miles or so. At 160,000 miles we are noticing increased oil consumption and an ignition glitch that probably will require a set of plugs and maybe a new coil. Still a reliable vehicle otherwise, the interior shows wear but the car is almost 9 years old and has 160k on the odometer. Cruze still used for trips less than 50 miles at around 164,000. This has been the most trouble free car I've ever owned. A failed aftermarket cruise control resulted in problems but when it was removed and a ne w coil set and plugs were put in the Cruze continues to get 33 mpg on the two lane 55mph roads where I now live. Trips to the recycling center and an occasional 150 mile round trip to my brother's home but at 166,000 miles the A/C still functions and in all other ways it's still reliable. Pity GM quit making them!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Cruze Eco is a Great Buy for College Grad
lucky_emma, 09/19/2011
2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my Chevy Cruze Ego after graduating college. I did my research and when between the Hyundai Elantra and the Cruze, I think I made the right choice. The size of the car is perfect, I got the MPG I wanted (averaging 36.8 right now), all without sacrificing my jackrabbit starts off the line. I have always driven a manual transmission and didn't want to sacrifice that - so I didn't. It's not flawless, but not bad and works great with turbo. For the price I paid, I couldn't ask for more. Also, it should be said that the status updates (tire pressure, remaining oil life) make managing the vehicle a breeze. No excuse for not meeting your car's needs.
Just Cruzin'
just_a_chemist, 09/20/2012
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Edmunds did not have choice of 1LT with 6-speed auto, but that is what I own with RS package. The car delivers great value and performs way better than others in the class. Good ride, great power, great gas mileage, and good looks. Average 28 mpg in local commute with 38-42 on the highway with 87 octane. Suggest using mid-grade or premium for highway driving as the turbo will perform better with higher octane. I have had no problems at 7000 miles in 6 months. The complaints about the sleeping shifting are due to the gas saving transmission linkage allowing the car to coast increasing fuel economy, all cars will be going with this technology.
My first cardefinitely a good choice
jlm14, 12/05/2012
2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
My family had always been all about Honda's (and my dad a BMW person). This car has impressed me. 13,000 miles, no issues. The six speed manual is fun. My drives from Chicago to Champaign get me ~43 MPG at 75 mph cruise ctrl. I have seen as best as 46 MPG (65mph hwy) and worst 36 MPG (city). I see mixed 39-40 avg. These numbers are from my own calcs. Solid drive for a 1.4, turbo picks up, the interior isn't great but looks decent. Good lines looks elegant for a compact sedan. Bluetooth works all the time for me, good sound, very quite ride, and smooth. Takes awhile to learn how to use the gears properly, 4-6th are all O/D gears so I use 3rd to pass a lot. Overall, good, I recommend.