2011 Chevrolet Cruze consumer reviews

Where to begin... I am extremely disappointed with this car. I'm always been a Chevy fan, and let me say this, I was "con" by a sales rep. Let me describe you the 1.4l ECOTEC engine. One word --- JUNK! It's a four-banger trying to act like a six cylinder. The 1.4l engine is so underrated that is not even funny! I cannot even get up a hill without the fear of blowing a head gasket! Plus, there is a turbo lag. The six speed transmission is worthless I do not understand why this transmission is not shifting properly. I had to take this car back to the dealership to get it fix, and, still, the transmission is not shifting properly. It is shifting around 7,000 RPM -- well within the red line. The interior is extremely small. So small that I cannot see at out of my driver's side. The windows are small; the door column is in my line of sight; and the seat is blocking my view when I make a quick turn to see if there is another car on my blind side. On top of that, I cannot adjust my driver's side view mirror properly. Plus, the car has a higher center of gravity. In other words, it can tip over easily. Please, do not get "con" by its gagets. It is not worth it.

We bought the cruze LTZ and were going to buy a newer certified preowned, but our salesman said take a look at this, it has everything you said you were looking for in a vehicle and after doing much research, and driving it we were sold. We have not owned an amercan built car until now and I am so proud to be able to say that I now do own a vehicle built in the USA. I have a lexus SUV which I love, but this car has many of the bells and whistles that I enjoy in my lexus. The only negative is the shifting is not as smooth as I would like, but I am comparing it to the ride of a lexus. Overall the cruze is awsome!

We have been doing some comparison shopping recently and just checked out this new Cruze after seeing all the ads on tv. I have to say that we were very impressed with this car compared to any of the competition. The fit and finish, material quality and overall build is far superior than anything else like Corolla, Civic, Mazda3, etc. The attention to detail like the rubberized knobs, insulated glass to avoid road noise, etc. make you feel like you're in a much more expensive car. We also own a brand new Corolla but the Cruze is just a more substantial car. Highly recommend it.

It is disappointing to see Chevrolet and GM register such a small improvement in their cars. This model is nothing but a rehashed old one. It does not compare in the least with any of the German or Japanese competitors. Sadly, I listened to GM's hype about being newer and better but, yet once again, I was misled. I am sticking to German products, engineered in Germany and put together there! US products, like this car, have a long way to go.

I got the base LS version with the six speed manual. The only options I purchased were the connectivity package and the carpeted floor mats. The interior is crazy good with a quality of materials and fit and finish better than cars twice the price. The base engine and six speed manual work well together and it zips along well enough for me. Not a speedy car but quick enough and it's an easy engine to wind out, which I do. The ride is firm and the handling very good. I paid around 16,000 and am very, very happy. I can't comment on reliability as I've only had the car a short time.

First, ignore the guy from Australia who complains about his diesel Cruze. You can't buy that car in the U.S. Vehicles for the North American market are signifcantly different (different engines, more sound suppression, different suspension, different electronics, etc.) And ignore the guy who complains that his $19k Cruze is a "dud" because it's not as good a a $45k BMW 3 series. The problem is with his expectations, not the vehicle. In past years, I ridiculed american cars for cheap interiors, excessive exterior plastic cladding, uncomfortable seats, outdated engines, etc. And I reserved a special level of disdain for GM. But no more. This car shows that they've completed turned their product around. I would buy another GM product based on this experience. I expected an economy car and it turns out that my Cruze 2LT is more comfortable, better handling, and better built than expected. It is very solid, the seats are very comfortable and supportive. Front leg room is excellent. As other reviewers have noted, it's quite, rides nice for a compact car, and handles well for a car that's not sport oriented. The engine performs well in nearly all conditions and you get as much performance as can be expected from 138 hp. I don't doubt that GM will increase power in the future to better compete with the upcoming new Focus, which has more hp. I would only list a couple things that GM can improve: the center console/arm rest is too far back to serve as an effective arm rest and offers insignificant storage. GM should offer a xenon or HID head light option. But that's about it. I think GM did a great job with this car, which is a nicely equipped sub $20k compact car that rides like a mid-size car.

I bought a Cruze 2LT as a commuter/alternate vehicle thinking that I'd drive it on errands and to work a couple days per week. It turns out that this could easily be a daily driver. This car is very solid and free of rattles and squeaks. It's quiet for a small/compact car; much quieter than the Corolla, Sentra, etc. It has a nicely tuned exhaust note and zero engine noise. Steering is nicely weighted at speed, but too light under 5 mph. The front seats are very supportive and slide back far enough that even a 240 lb, 6'3" guy can be comfortable. The interior and dash design are excellent. Fit and finish aren't just good, they're outstanding. OnStar, satellite radio, USB port, bluetooth provide the nice tech touches. I like the fact that GM learned from past mistakes and didn't cover this car's exterior in cheap plastic trim. Performance is good on highways and during normal driving; the only time it feels underpowered is when trying to merge quickly onto a highway or up a hill. You'll have to flog the engine a little if driving above 70 mph or on hills, but this car is about fuel efficiency. I've been in cars with bigger engines that are much slower and noisier, so this engine makes a good showing for 138 hp. I tested the LTZ model with RS package (which looks the best of all the models), but that vehicle was noisy with a harsh ride, so I skipped those options. The negatives are few: floor mats don't stay fastened to the floor and bunch up under the brake pedal (wasn't that a problem for Toyota?) Back seat space is tight. There's some wind noise leaking near the B pillar, but it's probably only noticeable because the rest of the car is so quiet. For just over $20k out the door, this is a very solid vehicle with features that you can't get in other $20k cars.

I purchased a Cruze 1 month ago. After 30 days I am very happy with it. The ride is extremely smooth and quiet, better than I ever expected. Performance is OK (not quick but very capable) and I average OVER 36 MPG (36.4) on the freeway! I love the style, have gotten many compliments. Numerous electronics came standard on the base model. SHARP CAR!!!

I compared this car with the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. I've always owned Pontiacs but with them closing, I was pretty open in my search. After looking over and driving the other cars, I kept going back to the Cruze. The ride and handling are GREAT and I really like the style. I purchased the base LS for under the $18K sticker. My MPG's are very close to EPA est. and get lots of compliments on the style. Also, a lot of accessories included in base model. My only concern is that it's a 1st year model so I'm not sure about reliability. Time will tell. Overall, VERY PLEASED!

I just got this car about two months ago and it is very, very good. My only complaint is with the acceleration. It is a bit slow when it comes to accelerating, not very noticeable though. The interior and exterior are very nice and stylish. Good gas mileage at 36 per gallon. Spacious and drives well. Has lots of good interior features as well. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone looking to buy a Chevy. It is a better price than the mailbu.