The engine powering the Cruze is a 1.4L turbocharged unit making 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. This power is sent to the front wheels via either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Capable of returning up to 40 mpg, the engine is both efficient and powerful, and it gives the Cruze a 0-60 mph time of around eight seconds. The engine should give the Cruze a highway range of about 530 miles per tank, allowing the car to really live up to its name.
The compact car market is slowly changing in America. Gone are the days of punishing commutes in tiny cars with harsh suspension and bare-bones feature levels. Today's compacts are all about comfort, convenience and luxury squeezed into a tight, easy-to-park package. The Cruze is available with items that would be totally unheard of in a car in this class ten years ago. Available features include heated leather seats, projector beam headlights with LED daytime running lights, a wireless phone charging system, a 4.2-inch high-resolution screen in the instrument binnacle, and 18-inch wheels.
The 2018 Cruze also features excellent smartphone integration, with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning most smartphone users should be able to take advantage of their phone's features while driving the Cruze. Apple CarPlay supports phone, messages, maps and music apps, as well as compatible third-party apps. Siri voice integration is also included. On the Android side, Google Maps, Google Now and Skype, Google play Music and Spotify are all supported. Both phones can use a projection feature to have their screens mirrored on the bigger 7-inch (or optional 8-inch) dashboard-mounted display.
Standard safety features on the Cruze sedan and hatchback include stability control, traction control, a rollover sensing and protection system, a tire-pressure monitoring system, automatic headlamps and 10 airbags. Also available on the Cruze are Side Blind zone Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert systems.
Lots Of Standard Amenities
Roomy For A Compact
Efficient Turbocharged Engine
Good Smartphone Integration
Available High-end Features
Changes to the Chevrolet Cruze in 2018 are minor but important. The diesel engine option is now offered on the hatchback model, making it the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid in its class. While a new color, Satin Steel Gray Metallic, has been added to the paint choices.
The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact sedan competing with the Ford Focus, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, among others. It's a crowded segment, and any car looking to stand out needs to bring its A game. The Cruze does just that, with a class-leading wheelbase to improve interior room and a bevy of available features, including upmarket luxury items like heated seats. A new generation of MyLink smartphone integration is also standard, displaying through a 7-inch color screen mounted on the dashboard.
