2018 Chevy Cruze Review

Name: 2018 Chevrolet Cruze
Brand: Chevrolet

Price Range: $4,500 - $18,990

2018 Chevrolet Cruze Premier Sedan Exterior. RS Package Shown.

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Cameron Rogers

Pros

Feels sporty and planted around turns
Touchscreen interface is easy to use
Available diesel-powered engine for high fuel economy

Cons

Gas engine's disappointing acceleration and real-world fuel economy
Engine stop-start cannot be disabled
Front seats aren't particularly comfortable

What's new

Optional diesel engine now offered on sedan and hatchback versions
Part of the second Cruze generation introduced for 2016

The Cruze is a popular sedan for Chevrolet, and the company is doing its best to keep it competitive against some equally popular rivals. Just last year, Chevy introduced the Cruze hatchback, which offers more cargo-carrying versatility than the sedan and a new diesel-powered engine that can get more than 50 mpg on the highway. This year, you can combine both as Chevrolet is introducing a Cruze hatchback diesel.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near East Lansing, MI

104 listings

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2018 Chevrolet Cruze
LT Sedan
$10,695
good price
$1,720 below market
- 97,166 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 29 City / 40 Hwy MPG
- Capitol Auto Sales (4 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Lansing, MI
?? Drive Your Dream Car Home Today! ??At Capitol Auto Sales, we believe your dream car shouldn't just be a dream! Experience hassle-free car buying w...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
33 Combined MPG (29 City/40 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G1BE5SM9J7169247
Stock: 6442
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-02-2025
New Listing
Certified 2018 Chevrolet Cruze
LT Sedan
$12,700
good price
$1,228 below market
- 75,800 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 29 City / 40 Hwy MPG
- Shea Chevrolet (40 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Apple Carplay/Androi...
Close
Located in Flint, MI
Certified.Certification Program Details: Include a standard 6-month, 6,000-mile (whichever comes first) limited bumper-to-bumper warranty. − If the v...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
33 Combined MPG (29 City/40 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G1BE5SM6J7245281
Stock: P34724
Certified Pre-Owned: Yes
Listed since: 08-19-2025

See all for sale

This Cruze continues with core strengths, such as an appealing mix of technology and safety features, a premium-looking cabin, and a ride quality that is both sporty and comfortable. But there are some great small sedans and hatchbacks out right now. The Honda Civic, which was redesigned two years ago, is one of the best small cars on the market. The Hyundai Elantra and the Mazda 3 are also compelling alternatives if you want something with more sport or technology. Overall, we like the Cruze but suggest you also check out a few of these top rivals before purchasing.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.5 / 10

Scorecard

Overall	7.5 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	8.0

Driving

8.0

With 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, the Cruze's turbocharged 1.4-liter engine should be competitive. But the power doesn't come on strong until high in the rev range, which blunts acceleration. Everything else, from the strong brakes to the adept chassis, is very well-sorted.

Acceleration

6.5

Acceleration feels sluggish from rest; the dash from zero to 60 mph took 9.6 seconds at the track. But it responds reasonably well when moving — such as passing maneuvers on the highway — because you don't have to floor the gas pedal to trigger a downshift.

Braking

9.5

The Cruze has a nice, firm brake pedal feel, and the brakes apply as soon as you press the pedal. They aren't touchy, just responsive. The Cruze needed only 110 feet to come to a stop from 60 mph, a very short distance for a compact sedan.

Steering

8.5

The steering effort is fairly light, a typical characteristic in this class. The car feels sporty thanks to its quick reactions to steering inputs and the amount of feedback transmitted through the steering wheel.

Handling

8.5

The Cruze feels balanced and coordinated. The optional 18-inch tires provide good grip, so you can take turns reasonably quickly before the tires begin to slip and howl. Driver confidence is further enhanced by a surprisingly low amount of body roll.

Drivability

7.5

The Cruze doesn't immediately jump to the highest gear when pulling away from a stop, and it is smart enough to hold on to lower gears on uphill climbs. While mostly unintrusive, the automatic engine stop-start feature cannot be disabled.

Comfort

7.5

Given the relative lack of seat adjustments and the forward-angled headrest, it might take some fiddling to feel truly comfortable behind the wheel. The ride is pleasant, even with our tester's 18-inch wheels (the largest the Cruze offers). Mandatory engine stop-start is far from seamless.

Seat comfort

6.5

The front seats allow plenty of travel for tall drivers, while wider occupants might feel somewhat confined by the narrow seatbacks. There's no lumbar adjustment, the seat belt is not height-adjustable, and the headrests feel as if they are angled too far forward.

Ride comfort

8.0

The Cruze expertly soaks up bumps and imperfections. Road feel is more pronounced with the RS package's 18-inch wheels, but the ride is rarely choppy or harsh. If you prize comfort over sportiness, lower trims, or even the standard Premier, are more compliant.

Noise & vibration

7.5

At highway speeds, wind and engine noise is kept to a minimum, while road noise is present but not overwhelming. You'll feel a mild shock through the cabin when the Cruze's stop-start feature turns the engine off and on.

Climate control

7.0

The Premier's automatic single-zone climate control works well to keep the interior at a comfortable temperature. In heavy traffic, the stop-start system frequently turns the engine off and reduces fan speed, causing cabin temperatures to rise while stationary.

Interior

8.0

The Cruze might be classified as a compact car, but few will find the cabin confining. There's plenty of shoulder room for all outboard passengers. The raised center tunnel limits the usefulness of the narrow middle seat. The controls and gauges are mostly easy to get along with.

Ease of use

7.5

We like the Cruze's clear gauges and intuitive steering-mounted controls. Most of the switches and knobs on the center stack are within the driver's reach; only the temperature knob requires a stretch to reach and turn. Manual gear-selector buttons are awkwardly located on top of the shifter.

Getting in/getting out

7.5

The Cruze's wide door openings, high roof and minimal seat bolstering make it extremely easy to get into and out of the front seats. The slope of the roof makes back-row access a bit more difficult.

Driving position

8.5

The steering wheel and driver's seat both have a good range of motion, so most people will be able to find an agreeable seating position. The front of the seat bottom doesn't raise up as much as we'd like, but this is common for this class.

Roominess

8.0

The cabin has enough legroom to seat four 6-foot-tall people with few complaints. And the cabin is wide enough that occupants won't rub elbows. But, even with headliner cutouts, the sloping roof could compel tall rear passengers to slouch.

Visibility

8.5

There's good forward and side visibility thanks to a low hood, tall windows and relatively narrow rear pillars. The high-mounted shelf reduces rearward visibility, but a standard backup camera and optional parking sensors and cross-traffic alert make this a non-issue.

Quality

7.5

With a glossy black trim center console, faux leather surfaces on the dash and contrast-color stitching throughout, the Cruze's cabin looks and feels premium. Excessive chrome trim can be blinding in bright sunlight, and our tester's squeaky brake pedal was irksome.

Utility

8.0

Like many compact sedans, the Cruze has a sizable cargo area with a flat load floor and little intrusion from the wheelwells. The 60/40-split rear seats fold down should you need extra space. Inside, there are numerous cubbies for you and your friends to store various small items.

Small-item storage

8.0

Storage cubbies in each door can hold a water bottle and a few small items. There are two regular cupholders in the front row and two more in the fold-down rear armrest. The optional wireless charging slot eats up a significant amount of front console storage.

Cargo space

8.0

The generous trunklid opens to reveal a deep well that feels big. But the volume shrinks from 14.9 cubic feet to a more typical 13.8 cubic feet (less than a Civic, more than a Mazda 3) if you buy an LT or a Premier because they come with a spare tire that takes up cargo space.

Child safety seat accommodation

8.5

Each of the outboard rear seats has a pair of LATCH anchors hidden under clearly marked covers that are easily pushed aside. The three upper anchors are located on top of the rear shelf and are similarly accessible.

Technology

8.0

Other than the subpar performance of its voice recognition software, the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system is one of the best in the business. The interface is attractive, uncluttered and, most important, easy to learn and operate. Standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is a major plus.

Audio & navigation

9.0

Chevrolet's MyLink system is exceptionally easy to use. Drivers can program presets with destinations for the navigation system or channels from any radio band. It seems quicker to react to user inputs than earlier versions of MyLink.

Smartphone integration

9.0

Pairing a phone to the Bluetooth system is simple and quick. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality are included on every Cruze, as are an auxiliary input and a USB port. Our tester's Enhanced Convenience package also adds wireless smartphone charging.

Driver aids

8.0

Standard and optional safety features are in line with the rest of the class, which is a testament to how much tech is available in this segment. The Premier-only Driver Confidence II package adds lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring.

Voice control

7.0

The MyLink system is good at recognizing names in your phonebook, but attempting to navigate to an address is an exercise in frustration. Press and hold the voice button longer, however, and you can do it via Siri or Google Voice on your paired smartphone.

Compare 2018 Chevrolet Cruze trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Chevrolet Cruze models

The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze is a compact sedan or hatchback. The sedan is available in L, LS, LT and Premier trim levels, while the hatch comes in LT and Premier only. Powering most Cruze trims is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque). The optional diesel engine is only available as the LT Diesel trim in either body type.

The L is only available to dealers through custom ordering. Standard equipment includes 15-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, remote locking and unlocking, air conditioning, a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth connectivity, a four-speaker audio system with a USB port, OnStar (with 4G LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hotspot), a rearview camera, and a MyLink infotainment system with a 7-inch central touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone app integration. A six-speed manual is the only transmission available.

Much more common is the LS, which is similarly equipped but adds a front center armrest and carpeted floor mats. It can also be equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and a range of dealer-installed options.

Our recommended trim, the LT, steps up to 16-inch alloy wheels, upgraded headlights with LED running lights, heated mirrors, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted phone and audio controls, a rear center armrest with cupholders, and a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio. Hatchback models also get a cargo cover and rear spoiler. A charge-only USB port is added to models equipped with the automatic transmission, while manual-equipped models have a front armrest with a sliding feature.

For the LT, the optional Convenience package adds keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver's seat and remote engine start (with the automatic transmission).

The LT Diesel is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel (137 hp, 240 lb-ft) and adds the contents of the Convenience package minus remote start. The available Leather package adds a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery and a height-adjustable front passenger seat.

The Cruze Premier gets all of the above plus 17-inch wheels, an upgraded rear suspension, chrome exterior accents, ambient interior lighting and illuminated vanity mirrors.

Both the LT and the Premier offer an RS Appearance package (foglights, a rear spoiler, a sport body kit and 18-inch wheels for Premier models) and a Sun and Sound package that includes a sunroof, a color driver information center, ambient interior lighting, a larger 8-inch center touchscreen display and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. A navigation system is also available for this package on the Premier.

The LT and the Premier are also eligible for the Driver Confidence package, which consists of rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Driver Confidence II package, offered only on the Premier, adds automatic high-beam headlight control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning and intervention.

The Driver Confidence, Sun and Sound package, offered only on the LT Diesel with the automatic transmission, combines the contents of the Sun and Sound package with the Driver Confidence package. The Premier-exclusive Enhanced Convenience package throws in an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate control, heated rear outboard seats, wireless personal device charging and a 110-volt, household-style power outlet.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Michigan

$121/mo

$168/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability

The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 3 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #33 out of 46 among Compact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average

#33 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$496/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

1.15x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

13.4%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

Recalls

3 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 20V668000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: N202313440
Number of vehicles affected:: 194105
Defect Description:: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Defect Consequence:: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Corrective Action:: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 14, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

Recall Number:: 18V576000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 18279
Manufactured from:: 2018-03-19 to 2018-06-19
Number of vehicles affected:: 210628
Defect Description:: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Defect Consequence:: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

Recall Number:: 18V304000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 18159
Manufactured from:: 2015-11-09 to 2018-05-01
Number of vehicles affected:: 111966
Defect Description:: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Defect Consequence:: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18159.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 6 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 24,000 miles

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Reviews

4.1

49 reviews

5(51%)

4(29%)

3(6%)

2(6%)

1(8%)

See all 49 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Pros of Auto-start

Mimi1205, 08/09/2018

2018 Chevrolet Cruze L 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

I’ve had this car for 6 weeks. Previously I drove a 2008 Hyundai Elantra manual. This is an automatic. I’m slowly getting used to not having control over shifting thus the transmission rating for me personally. Unlike most others I like the auto-stop feature, so my review is mostly about that. It’s not as jerky as some have written. It doesn’t engage when you’re turning corners—you …

Crusin' in the Cruze

Brian Young, 10/02/2018

2018 Chevrolet Cruze LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

This is a very satisfying car to drive. Since it is an LT is doesn't have the larger wheels and lower profile tires of the Premier model resulting in a very quiet and smooth ride. Handling is still very good with great steering and good directional stability. We are a retired couple and don't get too excited about all the electronics available on these newer cars, however blind spot …

Sporty for this old guy

Ronald Turton, 02/22/2018

2018 Chevrolet Cruze Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

Good highway performance maintains speed with little effort. Feels solid I love the appearance was going to buy Ford Escape and tool Cruz for test drive and I thought this is car for me. Three reason style ride and performance between 40 and 42 miles per gallon on highway.

GREAT car not too small, HUGE improvement overall

Tony, 06/26/2018

2018 Chevrolet Cruze LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Actually a Great car for the price, can beat MPG at a constant 68 MPH. Very decent acceleration, but if you want a little more pop, go into tap shift and let revs go a bit higher. I notice Edmunds erroneously states that you cannot over ride the engine start/stop feature. That is untrue, if you are in tap shift mode start/stop is disabled. Much better legroom in 2nd row compared to prior …

See all 49 reviews of the Chevrolet Cruze

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2018 Chevrolet Cruze video

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Expert Rundown

Looking for a small sedan with a surprising amount of room for you and your passengers? The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze might be a good match. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.

2018 Cruze Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$16,975
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$121/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Cruze models:

Teen Driver system: Monitor your young driver with alerts for exceeded speed limits. Can mute audio until all occupants are belted.
OnStar Crash Response: Contacts emergency response in the case of an accident, even if you are incapacitated.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert: Warns you if someone is crossing your path when in reverse. Perfect in parking lots.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat4 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

2018 Chevy Cruze Review

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Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

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What's new

For sale near East Lansing, MI

2018 Chevrolet CruzeLT Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Certified 2018 Chevrolet CruzeLT Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which Cruze does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Chevrolet Cruze models

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Pros of Auto-start

Crusin' in the Cruze

Sporty for this old guy

GREAT car not too small, HUGE improvement overall

2018 Chevrolet Cruze video

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Expert Rundown

2018 Cruze Highlights

Safety

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LT Sedan

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