Chevy Cruze Close View
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated generational lineages. The first series, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM. From 2008, the "Cruze" has been applied to a globally-developed compact car, designed, manufactured and retailed entirely within GM. The new car replaces two unrelated models - the Chevrolet Cobalt and Daewoo Lacetti. GM phased out production of the Chevrolet Cobalt and its counterpart, the Pontiac G5 in 2010 upon the introduction of the Chevrolet Cruze in North America.
The Cruze sports Chevy's familiar face and harmonious "coupelike" styling. The Cruze offers a pair of small but lively four-cylinder engines including a 1.4-liter turbo that deliver competitive performance and impressive fuel economy of up to 40 mpg. Its handling is sharp and precise, but the most welcome improvements involve a roomy cabin and vastly improved styling and quality. The development of the Cruze departed from the original five-door hatchback Suzuki as a sport utility vehicle (SUV), using either the front- or all-wheel drive layout.
The Chevy Cruze offered in LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trim, plus a fuel-sipping LS Eco version. A 1.8-liter inline-4 generating 136 horsepower motivates the Cruze LS, while the Eco, LT and LTZ models upgrade to a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 138 hp and significantly more torque. Base LS and LS Ecos transmit their power through a standard six-speed manual transmission, while uplevel Cruzes are equipped with a six-speed automatic that's optional on the others. Acceleration is competitive, with 0-60-mph acceleration in the 9-10-second range. More important, Eco models are expected to lead the compact segment with up to 40 mpg on the highway.
Regardless of trim, the Cruze is well equipped as even the base LS gets air-conditioning, full power Chevy Cruze Accessories, keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, OnStar, 10 standard airbags, 60/40 split-rear seat and a six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with satellite radio and auxiliary audio jack. The LS Eco is optimized for maximum mileage with low-rolling-resistance tires, lightweight 17-inch wheels, a 1.4-liter turbo engine and an innovative shutter system behind the grille that opens and closes automatically to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase efficiency.
The LT comes in two variations: the 1LT starts off with the 1.4-liter turbo, color-keyed mirrors and one-touch power driver's window; the 2LT then adds 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, remote ignition, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver seat, Bluetooth, steering wheel audio controls and an iPod/USB interface. The top-of-the-line Cruze LTZ fits larger 18-inch five-spoke alloys, a sport suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, automatic climate control and rear parking sensors. Some of the Cruze's premium features are available on lower trim levels as stand-alone or packaged options.
Navigation, a sunroof and an RS appearance package with foglights, spoiler and other styling tweaks are available on LTs and LTZs. Taking center stage inside the Chevy Cruze's cabin is a dual-cowl dash layout seen most recently on the Equinox and Malibu. Two-tone color options combine with a high level of fit and finish to create a stylish and upscale cockpit-oriented environment, hard plastic trim. In the United States, the Cruze received the highest possible ratings of "good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash protection tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which has recognized the Cruze as a 2011 Top Safety Pick.
