Chevrolet Cruze

kingdomsa · August 2011

Thanks for the note elias. I'm retired and my wife and I are constantly doing looong drives, so I use cruise often and gotta have it. I guess I could do aftermarket, but don't want to.

elias · August 2011

you are most welcome, king.

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.

backy · August 2011

What did you mean re LS seats lose a degree of freedom?

kingdomsa · August 2011

Wow, that's too long for us. We typically do 750 - 900 miles per day. And we are audio book junkies - you can really lose yourself for hours on the road in the stories. It's really kinda scary, like - 'how did I get to Las Cruces - last I remember we were in Tucson.' Last book was 'Shantaram', truly absorbing 40 hour 'read'.

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.

elias · August 2011

king, that is awesome possibility about replacing the steering wheel so easily. Wow.
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:

backy · August 2011

Shoot, the dual manual height adjusters were one of the features I really liked on the Cruze. It seems way too early to start taking features AWAY from the car, given the strong competition in this class. It's little things like that which let the Cruze stand out in the crowded field.

elias · August 2011

yes, it's the height/tilt adjuster which is absent for 2012, making a 6-way manual seat instead of 8-way. i may not have discovered 5 of the ways, actually. maybe that's why they got rid of one of the adjustments - too complicated!?

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.

stever · September 2011

A reporter is interested in talking with consumers about how fuel economy requirements are changing what people drive. He is looking for consumers who consider fuel economy their top consideration while shopping for vehicles that range from pickups to luxury cars to EVs. If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply with your name, phone number and email address to pr@edmunds.com no later than 5pm Pacific this Wednesday, September 21st.

gpara · October 2011

For all hypermilers, I installed a vacuum/pressure gauge to monitor engine load and throttle movement. It showed boost pressure of 15psi then backing down to 12 or so under heavy load. The cruze is an eco stick and I my goal of 50mpg average on trips is realized about 95% of the time. I drive 60mph interstate and 55 local roads but the trick is not to go into boost very often and keep vacuum as high as possible while no loosing any road speed. I also take full advantage of the decel fuel cutoff, works above 1300 rpm in all gears so if you lift your foot off it will shut fuel OFF completely until the 1300rpm is reached, you can downshift to next gear and keep rpm up to stay in that mode while coasting to stop instead of using neutral coast.
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????

elias · October 2011

gpara, that is impressive. i haven't driven a tank of pure highway at 55 or 60 with my non-turbo cruze LS but the shift-light is always telling me to drive in 6th gear at 35 mph. it actually works on flat ground but i find it counterproductive with maintaining proper/low speed on back roads. so a full tank @ 60 mph may never happen for me, but I look forward to having the time to do that some year!

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!

Kirstie_H · October 2011

A reporter seeks to interview California residents who are currently considering a new Chevy sedan (Cruze, Malibu, Sonic) or who recently bought one. Please email pr@edmunds.com by Friday, October 14, 2011 and indicate your city of residence, your daytime phone number, the Chevy sedan of interest and the car model you currently drive

gpara · October 2011

I already own a Chevy Cruze Eco 2011, I own an automotive specialty shop for 35 years, have a BS in industry and technology, I am a member of SAE and have multiple certificates in training for computer controls, automotive electronics ect.
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

Kirstie_H · October 2011

Thanks! This one is specifically for a reporter in California, but we have had several requests recently for Cruze shoppers/owners, so I will most definitely let you know if another one comes up!

gpara · October 2011

Well you have the 1.8 L engine which is not known for fuel efficiency I believe, I only know the 1.4L turbo system. But the same tricks may work for you.
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

elias · October 2011

Gary,
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.

gpara · October 2011

Well I can loose up to 3mpg if I accel. hard into boost area, goes down to 10-18 MPG as opposed to lite accel. at 30-40 mpg. The Eco has an instant MPG display so I can track different techniques ad see the results. The only exception I have found is heading up a steep hill, if I drop to 4th gear, boost to 5 psi and let it run out of momentum, then drop into second and keep "0" vac. load at low speed. This has been the best stratagey I have found for clmbing steep hills. I live up in the mountains and have to deal with them every day. 10-13MPG is what I usually see going up steep hills.
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

elias · October 2011

Thanks Gary - great info.

I bet you could put a "tune" into my other car, 05 GTO M6....

Kirstie_H · October 2011

A reporter is interested in talking with owners of a 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco who are also parents. If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply to pr@edmunds.com no later than Monday, October 31, 2011 and include your city and state of residence, the model year of your vehicle and the age of your child/ren.

landco07 · October 2011

Hey, Mr. gpara, what do you think about a trade from a 09 Saturn Outlook to any of the Cruze's? Love my Saturn, but the 17 mpg is killing me. I've read a few consumer reviews on this site of poor reliability of the Cruze. Edmund's also gives low/mid range scores on the Cruze. Dad and hubby aren't big on the 4 cyl for the long haul of the car and I'm not big on a manual transmission. Your thoughts would be deeply appreciated and respected.

ab348 · October 2011

In this size category you are going to get a 4-cylinder engine regardless of brand. As for manual trans, that is your choice. but there is no reason not to get the autobox if that's what you prefer. As for the Edmunds ratings, they are out of step with most reviewers and the marketplace is saying otherwise given the good sales of the Cruze.

gpara · October 2011

I just worked on a 06 saturn vue with 4 cyl. I got the cruze to replace my 1996 saturn SL, I use it as a work/ general car picking up parts ect, breakdown calls. Had it to Ill. and Tenn. multiple times, highway and 2lane roads. Car is excellent on both but I went for max fuel economy, my special attraction, reliability should be excellent, already in Europe and asia for 2 years, 4million miles in testing. If I thought I would have problems I would not have bought it, since I fix it myself. Love the way it drives and handles, I have recommended it many times but you need to drive one. The turbo has plenty of power when you push it, 15 psi boost pressure and full torque at 1850 rpm. I did have to get use to stickshift and gearing, very different, I have had sticks since 1969, many different models. If you like the way it drives and handles and want excellent fuel economy, go for it. The other day I just "drove" the car with no reguard for efficiency and still ended up with over 40mpg pushing it and driving hard. We live in the mountains in Ky and power is no problem. Had the old saturn for years and enjoy driving cruze better.

elias · October 2011

i don't see how there can be much reliability data for the cruze, unless one considers JD-power/warranty-claims data as reliability indicator, which I do not. it's too new.
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....

litesong2 · October 2011

As you say, there isn't much reliability data yet.

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:

ab348 · October 2011

I somehow doubt those "issues" Koresh is reporting have anything to do with turbochargers blowing up.

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.

ab348 · October 2011

My Regal Turbo is at the dealer getting some pre-sale promises attended to so I am in a Cruze LT as a loaner for a couple of days.

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.

m6user · October 2011

Cruze went on sales in Sept last year and Elantra went on sale in Dec. So about 4 months apart. But I haven't been reading of any real major problems with the turbo and wouldn't expect much this early anyway.

gpara · October 2011

I agree, have been watching on cruze site and have not seen many problems, mostly picky little peeves or normal operation seen as a problem. You need to look at total units sold, in the field. Mileage claims are good but you must drive for fuel economy and know what you are doing. A vacuum gauge is required to get your top mileage with the eco. It is very sensitive to throttle movement. Remember 4 million miles in testing the cruze. Any problems should be due to assemble mistakes or parts failure, NOT engineering or design.
Gary M&G Engineering

gmcustsvc · November 2011

Im thrilled to hear how much youre loving your Cruze! Many more happy miles to you!

Sarah
GM Customer Service

texasinaz · November 2011

i am very surprised and happy with my new cruze, ltz/rs. have had it since june and after 4000 miles, have not had a problem 1. now that the weather has finally cooled off in texas, time to roam with the roof open adn windows down. the only thing i wish it had and miss is a multi disc cd.

Sandman6472 · November 2011

Have sat in both and definitely preferred the Focus...the seats felt so much more comfortable and the car just seemed so much more upscale. Sat in both back seats and don't know what all the fuss is about...both were pretty comfortable. The tactile feel of the controls felt much better in the Focus and the ergonomics just felt better also. After driving the Focus SE, came away very impressed actually and the SEL model was just outstanding. Can't comment on the way the Cruze drives as have not done it yet...will get to that soon. Compared to the Elantra I sat in last month, would choose that over the Focus & the Cruze...a much better layout hands down. Did see an article in C&D yesterday on the Buick Verona and just by the pictures, looks so much better than the Cruze in my opinion and we'd buy the Buick before the Chevy. We've owned Buicks in the past and like the more upscale appointments.

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:

backy · November 2011

A Verona won't get 40+ mpg.

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.

stever · November 2011

A reporter is interested in talking with parents who own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat, Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze Eco, Honda Civic Hybrid, Chevy Sonic, Honda CR-V, Toyota Camry and Toyota Prius V. If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply to pr@edmunds.com no later than Friday, November 30, 2011 and include your city and state of residence, the model year of your vehicle and the age of your child/ren.

gpara · November 2011

Did my first oil change at 4500 miles, canister is non metalic and filter element can not be pre-oiled as with a canister, but it only took 3 seconds for oil to build pressure and you are not running at high rpm on startup, engine should be warm or better when changing. Synthetic oil will protect for quite a while before damage is done without oil pressure. This should not be a concern, if you must, disconnect ignition plug, crank engine until oil lite goes out and then plug in ignition as usual. I have been working on turbo engines for years and the oil change start-up is the least of your worries. BTW remove the oil filler cap first before draining oilpan, otherwise it pulls a vacuum and spits oil out of the drainhole. It only needs a lite touch to tighten oil canister, pre-oil the sealing ring too, should come with new filter.

tturbo · November 2011

Yours is an interesting observation, because I have a completely opposite view.

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.

backy · November 2011

I am surprised you didn't find the rear seat of the Cruze much more cramped than that of the Elantra. To me the difference is astonishing. The Elantra has stretch-out leg room, as does the Jetta and even the subcompact Versa. But the Cruze, Mazda3, and Focus are all quite tight in the back, at least when I have the driver's seat set comfortably for me. That is the variation, though: where the front seat(s) are positioned. I always do a sit-behind-myself test. I'm only 5'9", 32" inseam. Also I tend to position the driver's seat fairly high, when I can do so with good thigh support. In cars where I can't do that, toe space in back can suffer. Some cars have plenty of leg/knee room, but if the toes don't fit under the front seat or the ankles hit the seat before the knees do, that's the end of that.

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.

Sandman6472 · November 2011

But, I am betting that she'll end up with the Elantra which I still think is the best in class in the compact car class and the new benchmark. As much as I like the looks of the Focus, we're just not Ford folks and never will be. We've also done the GM thing, so it's a safe bet that only the Verano will make the short list. VW or BMW...think she'll pass also due to a few reasons we have. No new Civic and hoping she'll pass on another Mazda3...been there, done that. So what's left? The new Sentra or Corolla, the Verano or the Elantra. Again, my money is on the Elantra as her next new ride.

Yay!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

tturbo · November 2011

It does matter that everyone try things out for themselves and what they consider comfortable.

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.

Sandman6472 · November 2011

Ditto, I also always do a back seat test just to see how people will fit behind me or the wife, as we sit in very similar ways. Agree that the Focus was smaller in back than the Jetta...and even the Cruze & Elantra. So that will probably rule it out. Looks wise, I still like the Focus SEL hatch in the aqua color but hated it in most every other color.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

tturbo · November 2011

This car is for my sister and her husband and 2 young kids.

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.

backy · November 2011

I can see why a 6 year old wouldn't like the Focus' back seat--the seat seems higher than all others, so the thigh support might have been too much for him. Most likely a lower seat like that on the Cruze would work better for him... for a few years at least.

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.

Sandman6472 · November 2011

Ditto. And right now, we have a longer time frame in which to purchase.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

backy · November 2011

For that kind of family, one of the new sub-compacts e.g. Sonic, Accent, Mazda2, Rio, Versa, Yaris or the older Fit might... fit. I found the Accent for example to have as much usable leg room in back as some compacts such as Cruze and Mazda3 (but YMMV as we discussed). (Fiesta was really cramped in back for me, but I've heard it's nice otherwise.) And these are all available as a hatch too. And for less money than the compacts.

Sandman6472 · November 2011

We both didn't like the Fiesta in that it was to close and cramped in the front seating department...and the view forward was terrible. Our current '08 Accent is such a better car in both areas, more airy and more useable space for the two front occupants. We crossed it off the list immediately and when I went back for a test drive the next day, I knew we made the correct choice. It didn't accelerate properly, made our Accent feel like a race car. The shifts were abrupt, the cloth seating surfaces were low rent...something we'd never ever consider. Our three year old Accent is such a better car hands down and from what I've read and heard, the new 2012 Accent is that much better. So my question is with what's out there, why would anyone even look at a Ford Fiesta? Would rather buy a one or two year old economy car with more room and power to boot.

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:

backy · November 2011

I doubt I'll test a Sonic. It's not that much less money than the Cruze, and I like the interior of the Cruze a lot better. And in a hatch, I prefer the Accent over the Sonic (FE, interior, styling). So if I go Chevy it will be the Cruze, preferably the Eco 6MT but given it's price I'd have to get a good deal on it. The LT 6MT might work also.

garv214 · November 2011

So if I go Chevy it will be the Cruze, preferably the Eco 6MT but given it's price I'd have to get a good deal on it.

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....

backy · November 2011

Congrats on the new car, and great deal! I won't have GM card bucks, however, so I will have to hope for aggressive discounting and/or bigger rebates when it's time for me to buy, otherwise I'll probably focus elsewhere (no pun intended).

What kind of fuel economy are you getting?

Sandman6472 · November 2011

Yes, those interior door latches were garbage really...was a bit put off when I saw and felt them. And I thought just like you to...what else did they skimp on to say a few bucks. Gotta admit it, there's a snowball's chance in hell that she'll buy a Ford...and I've said from the start, we're just not Ford people, plain & simple.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

elias · November 2011

Nice eco-purchase, backster !
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:

drvette · November 2011

It's important to check things like Insurance & Ad-Valorem taxes prior to purchase, DUH, but many do not check TCO [Total Cost of Ownership] on general maintenance items.

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

garv214 · November 2011

Thanks Backy!

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...

Chevrolet Cruze

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles