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Comments
on those looong drives the cruise is must-have.
Maybe the Eco is for you if you prefer to row your own gears, for $2k more.
or for $3k beyond that... have you ever driven a camaro?!
my loooong drive record is 1237 miles in one day. all in daylight, chicago to rock-springs wyoming, left an hour after sun-up, arrived at sunset.
AND I've just been looking at a very interesting online discussion on Cruze cruise control. It seems it's already there, on every Cruze - including LS. Folks are just replacing the steering wheel with one that has the cruise buttons on it ($100 or so) and it works. There is some difference of opinion on whether you need the connectivity option or not.
also it's consistent with:
LS has no nav option but has all nav software built-in and operable on the monochrome display, with directions/destinations programmable only by an OnStar rep. i only used it once, for the demo on the way back from dealership. i am anti-NAV!
backy, i read somewhere that the manual seat mechanisms change in cruze for 2012, and that there are fewer adjustments. it was a factor in my decision to go with 2011.
for audio 'book', I recommend Feynman's _6 easy pieces_ CDs .
ps - i find 900 miles per day the maximum anywhere near the left or right coasts but with the higher speeds allowed kindly by the constabulatory between illinois & CA, I've found it's possible to do more miles in fewer hours out there. :shades:
the manual seat change it was a factor in my decision to go with 2011, along with 2013/diesel being just too long for my GM card rebate to wait.
The car delivers 54mpg at 60mph with 5 inches of vacuum load. I use 6th gear as low as 35mph, being carefull not to let the engine lug at those low rpms.
Anyone else have any tips they have discovered with this great car????
what are some of your actual mpg distance/gallons for an entire tank, with some non-highway driving included?
also to increase mpg you must minimize A/C use. I don't like A/C much but have not found a way to turn off the A/C compressor with HVAC in the defrost or defrost+feet position. Do you know how to turn off the A/C while setting on "defrost"? tnx!
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I live in Kentucky, but the Cruze is the most exciting common mans car I have seen in 20 years. I presented a 1/2 hour program at a GM dealer for sales and management on the features of the Cruze Eco. I am very satisfited with this car and have noted only a few changes that I would make to it. I purchased it to replace a 1996 Saturn with 178,000 miles on it. If I can be of any use please contact me.
Gary Para M&G Engineering SAE ASE BS. In&T L-1 certification
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A/C I don't know of anyway to disarm the compressor when in defrost mode, they use it to dry out the air and keep seals lubricated during the winter by running it in defrost. all you can do is switch to normal air mode, back and forth but on the cruze we run the normal a/c about 2 clicks off of max cooling settings and run the fan speed no higher than level 2 to keep load lite. I typically run the defrost for a few minutes and switch back to normal air mode after windows are cleared and air drys out a little.
As to your fuel economy I can suggest having a standard vacuum gauge installed and watch the vac. at different loads, if it is low and you are not accelorating at a reasonable pace then shift up a gear, this should allow engine to rev a little higher and increase your speed with save vac. load. The faster you get into high gear the better for fuel economy. 40 mph is a good 6th gear lite load for my Cruze, you just have to see what your likes but the vac. gauge is essential for monitoring engine load and throttle position. The 1.4L is over sensitive to throttle movement and you must be very carefull because you always end up in the turbo boost area just by feel.
I have pictures of the mounted vacuum gauge and led light that I use to monitor front shutter. Any idea of how to post these???? Vac. gauge cost me about $13.00 and is easy to install.
Gary M&G Engineering
thanks for the A/C strategies vacuum gauge idea... there is a way to post photos here but i can't claim to have tried it. don't worry about it, man. i'd probably prefer to omit vacuum - i don't like watching things inside the car when driving. so far the only addition is a V1 radar detector & remote-display. i sometimes use electrical tape to block superfluous gauges. I'd have done this for the cruze "upshift" light except that my F1 steering wheel position entirely blocks the light.
34 mpg seems great for real-world-driving. i can tell you the 1.8 engine is not known for 'quickness' either - but i am slowly getting used to the non-diesel/non-V8 torque-curve. i floor it very often - my goal is safety/expediency in traffic not mpg. (gotta start shifting later at proper/higher rpm to extract the last ft-lb of torque! )
btw, in your experience how much better/worse is the mpg if one hammers it up to the traffic speed,
then shifts into the top/acceptable/loafing gear for that speed?
regards,
/e
ps - please say a warm hello to "M" from me & the other Edmunds motorists.
Good luck with your car, if you have any issues let me know, I run my own auto specialty shop, computer controls, fuel injection, engine running specialist.
Gary
I bet you could put a "tune" into my other car, 05 GTO M6....
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2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
in any case, 7000 miles & 2.5 months, zero issues here with cruze LS stickshift, it's a super commuter/shuttlecraft.
34 mpg all-around, commuting/shuttling.
i haven't done any looong highway drives with the car but there have been a couple of ~2 hour commutes....
However, first up data from Michael Karesh's enthusiastic & dedicated truedelta.com indicates that Chevy Cruze is running nearly twice as many shop returns as the new Hyundai Elantra. Its not totally unexpected. Despite all the pretend racers slobbering over turbo power, turbo power is zero in the repair shops, where mechanics make lots of money because of........ turbo power. :lemon:
As for the Elantra comparison, the new Elantra was introduced only a short time ago while the Cruze has much more time in-market. Let those Hyundais get some time on the clock and then we can talk.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I only drove one previously for a few minutes and I have to say I am quite impressed, with one excpetion.
This one is a black metallic color on the outside with the black and red cloth interior. I don't care for black cars generally and the black metallic is the worst of all possible worlds because even when clean, the metalflake in the paint makes it look like it is covered with dust. As for the interior, while some have criticized it for being cheap I fail to see the trouble. It actually looks quite upscale. The red cloth is pretty subtle - more like black cloth with some red in it - and the use of it on the dash as an accent is hardly the troublesome thing some would have you believe. There are lots of storage cubbies, visibility is very good, and I am enjoying the XM radio on my example.
I am particularly impressed with the seats. They are incredibly adjustable for manual seats with front and rear up/down for the bottom cushion, rake adjustment, and the usual front/back slide. I was able to get very comfortable and it seems to have scads of room up front. The car seems wider than many compacts too and I think the cabin, if not first-class, is certainly a cut above the usual compact setup. Even the hard plastics look better than the same hard pieces in the Impala, for instance.
Some testers have criticized the power, or at least the way the engine and transmission work together. I don't see the issue. You do notice the transmission, and shifts, while not hard, are apparent, more so than in my Regal. But the car is really quite zippy. Takeoff from rest does not show much lag and it moves out quite smartly, with the transmission shifting well up through the gears. I am impressed with its performance around town and in the midrange. It seems eager and willing to be quick. I do not see so far anything that resembles the criticism I have read, except for a bit of too-obvious shifting when coming to a stop.
The dynamics are really good too. The steering feels pretty direct, the brakes are grippy, and the car handles corners in normal driving very well. It is not a sports car by any means but it is actually fun to scoot around in. Once again I am reminded of the virtues of a smaller car than what I am used to.
My one criticism is a surprising one, as I did not expect it. The car is fairly noisy. There is some road noise from the tires, which isn't all that unexpected in a compact of this class. But the more irritating sound is engine noise. This isn't a problem in normal driving but if you put your foot in it to merge into traffic or speed up on a freeway ramp, it can be quite raucous. I don't understand why because that is something that is easily fixed these days given sound insulation technologies. I was not expecting that.
For normal everyday driving I think the Cruze would be a popular choice and I can see why they are selling well. Silence that engine a bit more and it would be tough to beat.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Gary M&G Engineering
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Hopefully we'll be going to the car show in Miami on Saturday and will see everything. But in order of preference, the favorites are the Elantra, Jetta, Focus and then the Cruze. Did drive the Jetta SE yesterday after the Focus and it's also quite impressive also. Hopefully we'll have more test drives within the next couple of months to share.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I was very impressed by the Cruze LT I got to drive recently as a rental for a few days. It seemed like a solid, quality car, with a compliant and quiet ride. I thought the controls were great. Driving position and comfort was excellent. Back seat not great, but kids or a couple of small adults could fit back there for a few hours if needed.
I need to drive the Eco 6MT, as I read in C/D that it got 47 mpg in "commuting" mode in their test, and 50+ mph on the highway when under 70 mph. That is pretty attractive to me.
We agree that the Elantra is ergonomically nicely designed. The dash layout and overall appearance are cohesive and work to make a modern design without being overly busy.
That brings me to the Focus. The dash is overly busy, very very busy. There are creases and lines on the top of the dash that related to nothing other than the designer didn't know when to stop adding creases and line. The center stack is much too thick and thus intrudes into the front passenger side by pushing on the passengers left knee. Overall, the space for the front passenger is pathetic. It makes you feel locked into the space with not very much room to move at all. I hated it very much.
The drivers position is decent, and with 3 or 4 people in the car, it's the only position that is somewhat comfortable.
The technology in the Focus is quite nice with it's dual color displays.
The non leather steering wheel is not very good in feel as it too is overly wrought with odd creases and lines. The leather wheel is much nicer and the one to have.
The drive and ride of the Focus is very good. Handling is better than the Elantra and Cruze. The Mazda 3, however, beats the Focus SEL and the other 2 cars I mention. The Focus and Mazda 3 are the sport sedans of this class with suspension tuned for taut ride and handling. But, with that you get a busier cruise with both suspensions being a bit busy and bouncy over road imperfections and bumps. The ride is not harsh at all, it's just that the suspension is bumpier as it's responding continuously to the road.
If you want a smoother overall ride the Elantra and Cruze are much better at that, with the nod going to the Elantra, at least in my experience.
Usable space goes to the Elantra and Cruze, followed by the Mazda 3, and a distant last place goes to the Focus. The Focus interior space is awful in comparison to the Elantra and Cruze. It was very surprising to discover this and it was very disappointing as well considering the Focus overall driving prowess. It you a single and don't need to carry passengers often, and you like to drive enthusiastically then the Focus is for you, or better yet the Mazda 3. If you like tech and design with your enthusiastic driving, then it's Focus all the way.
If you have a family and/or need to carry passengers regularly you will be very disappointed with the Focus. Ford did not do a very good job with the overall size of the Focus. It's bigger than before, but Ford did not translate that exterior size into interior space. When I set the drivers seat to where I was comfortable to drive, I then went to sit in the back seat. NO KNEE/LEG ROOM.
I had to sit with my knees splayed out and around the drivers seat.
For some strange reason, if I set the front passenger seat for me, there was even less leg/knee room for the rear passenger behind the front passenger space. Ergonomically the Ford is a disaster in this class. Why? Because the Cruze and Elantra manage to use their dimensions to accommodate passengers, which is the reason why a sedan should exist in the first place. If the interior space is that small, then just make it a coupe or 2 door hatchback.
The Cruze and Elantra have the room and space of a mid-size car from a few years back. Their size is just about perfect for a family of 4. If you need to sit 5 people comfortably, then you'll need something bigger.
I haven't yet tested the Civic sedan nor the VW Jetta, though I have seen the Jetta and the rear space looks to be more like the Cruze and Elantra.
I've been reading about these cars claiming 40 to near 40mpg and I too am skeptical that they can achieve this. Still, if these cars can give 32-34mpg on mixed driving, no city stop and go, then that would be very good.
The new 6 speeds in these cars are great. The dual clutch in the Ford, however, doesn't work so well. It doesn't give the ultra fast and responsive quality of VW or BMW dual clutch, and it doesn't give the smoothness of the newer torque converter automatics. It leaves one wondering why Ford even bothered with a dual clutch that is so slow and lazy to shift and respond.
Rating the automatics in the Focus, Mazda 3, Elantra, and Cruze, according to shift smoothness and response, I say this:
#1-Elantra - it has a manual gear selection mode and it responds nicely
#2-Mazda 3 - it's nearly as smooth as the Elantra decides proper gear quickly
#3-Cruze - it too is smooth, though it's a bit lazy and slips longer to next gear
#4-Focus - fairly smooth shifts but odd at the same time, and it's the slowest to respond both to upshifts and down-shifts. Going about 40mph, put the throttle to the floor. The response was very slow. First the engine revs in it's current gear, THEN it shifts down. Not a confidence inspiring trans if you want and need the power RIGHT NOW so that you can pass or get out of the way.
Hopefully Ford will address this as dual clutch transmissions are very nice when done correctly.
I found the Cruze tolerable for rear seat room in the sit-behind-me test. I wouldn't want to spend more than an hour or two back there though. The Mazda3 was similar. I was actually more comfortable in the Focus even though the leg space was tight, because the rear seat cushion seemed pretty high, so I had good thigh support without having to stretch my legs out much. Contrast that to a car like the 2012 Impreza, which has more knee room than the Focus but was not as comfortable in back as the Focus because my ankles hit the front seat before my thighs were well supported. But in the Elantra, also Jetta and Versa, I felt like I could spend all day in back if I had to.
Which is why every buyer needs to check out the rear seat room for himself/herself. And if possible, bring along 1-2 of the people who'll need to sit back there.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I'm 6'-1" and I'm wide and a large man, so for me to say comfortable, it better be.
In the Elantra, as I said, I adjusted the seat to my driving comfort, then I sat in the back seat leaving the front as is. There was plenty of knee room for me to sit with my knees forward and directly behind the front seat. Plenty of room to move my legs and knees left and right if I wanted to, and my feet had no problem finding space.
The only limited thing is rear headroom. But, my torso is taller than my legs.
My inseams is 30", so my torso is more like someone 6-2" or 6-3". Most people are not that tall, especially the younger kids that will be riding back there.
Yes, the Cruze is not as spacious as the Elantra, but it's not that much smaller by much. It easily has more room than the Mazda 3, and much more room than the Focus. In the Cruze I could sit with my knees straight due to the cut outs in the back of the Cruze's front seats, that helps a lot. I didn't have all the space of the Elantra, but plenty to be comfortable.
My biggest problem with the Cruze is the rear seat cushions tend to sit a big higher and it feels like there is a small dome under the cushion pushing me up.
In the Focus the rear seats were the least spacious. Yes, I could fit back there but not as comfortably as in the Elantra or Cruze. I had to sit in the Focus with my knees splayed apart, which can quickly turn to discomfort.
Also, I don't know if you sat in the front passenger seat, but I hated it.
So, with your 2" greater inseam, leg room/knee room is more important.
With my shorter legs and wider girth, wider space and a flatter seat are more to my liking.
As you said, this is why it's important to test these cars for yourself.
In all any of these cars will fit a young family of 4 where the children haven't reached puberty and don't require much headroom or leg room.
The only one that still causes caution for the young family is the Focus, as my 6yr old nephew didn't care for the space in the Focus rear seat. He even said he didn't like it.
He like the Cruze and the Elantra a lot, and the Mazda 3 he had no complaints nor praise, as it was acceptable.
When judging back seat space in these smaller cars it makes sense to consider who will be back there mostly. If you carry full grown adults of teenagers, the Elantra is hands down your car as it's pretty much a mid-size in interior space.
Also, I wouldn't judge any of these cars based on being able to carry more than 2 passengers in the rear as they are simply not big enough nor designed for a 3rd passenger, just get something bigger.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Judging these cars based on their utility for a 4 person young family I like the Elantra and the Cruze, and my preference is for the Elantra.
I am a bit leery about MPG though, as I'm reading the Elantra may not be able to do better than the old Toyota Corolla with it's now antique 4 speed automatic.
And, there is a new Corolla coming soon.
The Elantra is about 400lbs LESS than the Cruze yet they both achieve about the same real driving MPG, not the EPA listed MPG. 400lbs is a huge difference. The Elantra should easily smoke the Cruze for MPG.
But, we'll need more data and I'll keep reading.
Yep, 3 would be a squeeze in any of these except maybe the Jetta, and even there they'd better be thin adults who know each other well, or kids. I find 3 in back pretty tight even in most mid-sized cars... short trips only please. That's why I owned mini-vans for many years.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
The Sonic looks like it'll be a winner for Chevy. Prefer the sedan style, looks more cohesive to my older eyes. The dash maybe a bit boy racer for my tastes, but a good effort overall. Hopefully the view forward will be more airy and the front seat occupants won't be on top of each other. Motor Week had good things to say about it which speaks volumes to me...a good show with knowledgeable folks reviewing the current crop of autos out there. I usually agree with 99% of their comments so looks like Chevy may have a hit on their hands with this one. Will definitely test drive one soon and come back and give my thoughts. Backy, would appreciate you test driving one also and giving one of your well thought out reviews as we usually come to the same conclusions.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I test drove the Cruze, the Sonic, and the Ford Focus. I ultimately ended up purchasing the Cruze ECO with a 6MT. The Focus was ok, but the car I drove actually broke down on the test drive.. :P > The main thing I didn't like about the Focus was the interior door latches to open the doors...my god they were the cheapest flimsiest pieces of plastic I had every experienced in a car... It kinda makes you wonder if they are cutting costs in such an obvious place, where else are they cutting costs. I really wanted to like the Focus, because I love hatchbacks and the discounts on the Focus hatches finally brought them into the price range I wanted to spend on my next car...
The Sonic was an LT with the 1.4l and 6MT. It was a fun little car that could really scoot. If I were single (or had only 2 kids), I could have really been tempted by it.
The Cruze was my ultimate choice. The interior was much more spacious than the Sonic and it felt more "grown up" (smoother ride, quiet, upscale...). It also passed the "back seat" test. I sat in the rear seat after adjusting my front seat and I was fine in the back (5' 9" 32" inseam). The cut outs in the seat backs really help there.
I was going to go with the LS, but I found a 2011 ECO 6MT (with fog lights, connectivity, and spare tire kit) on a dealers lot. Between some aggressive discounting, the GM $500 rebate, and my $2600 in GM bucks from my GM card, I got the ECO OTD for $17.6K ($18.9K sales price, +$1.8K TTL, -$3.1K in rebates).
I am more of a hatchback guy myself, and I actually got to see/sit in the Cruze Hatch at the Frankfurt auto show this year. If Chevrolet offered it in the States, it would be in my driveway...
...I am soooo glad I didn't buy a Prius....
What kind of fuel economy are you getting?
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I'd have grabbed a hatchback CRUZE MAXX if it were available. Already could have used hatchback instead of sedan Cruze: - I want to buy a 200 lb 2nd/used 34" CRT HDTV that won't load/fit/unload properly in the sedan. :shades:
Check the dealer for the "Flat Rate" labor cost and Parts cost for these items.
1. The Cruze 1.4 has a Turbo Charger, on Gasoline engines these tend to wear out quickly compared to Diesel, however it has a timing Chain instead of a belt.
2. The Cruze 1.8L does have a timing belt, and it WILL wreck the engine upon breaking !
See Gates website-> http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm?location_id=3598
3. The Ford Fiesta/Focus "Automatic" transmission is NOT a real auto but a electronically controlled "Dual-Clutch" 6-Speed manual tranny. *How much to replace this "dual-clutch" setup ?
[Many complain of rough shifts which is probably good for clutch life BTW]
[Slow shifting Automatics wear clutch discs quickly]
Gates does NOT list a timing belt for either the Fiesta or Focus yr 2012
*Disclaimer*
This info is not set in concrete, check your parts dept/service dept for serious inquiries.
Case in point, ever check the cost of a NEW! replacement LiOn or NiMH Battery Pack for the Civic or Prius Hybrid ?
2006 Prius $3995, aftermarket price
Other prices are "Dealer Only" or pop up a "Virus Warning" when I click them..
Bottom Line: if the TCO exceeds the fuel savings of a particular model, perhaps a "Non-Eco" model will save money in the long run.
Sorry for all the drivel, hope this helps
'DrVette
I have only tanked up twice so far. The first was about 75% highway and I averaged 37 mpg. My second tank was 95% city and was 29.9 mpg. Admittedly, I do drive easy (60 mph on the highway), but I am very pleased with my results so far. On the drive home from the dealership, I reset the computer just before I got on the freeway, and I had a "computer" average of 45.5 mpg by the time I got home 25 miles later.
I had "test" driven a Prius from Hertz's rent to buy program. I averaged ~47 mpg in my daily commute which is about 10-15 mpg better than I will get with the Eco, but I love driving the Cruze...the Prius...emmmmm...not so much...