2019 Chevrolet Cruze

The Cruze is the most selling model from Chevrolet and with the rising competition from Japanese Brands, GM decided to soup up its most “sought after” model for 2019 in a bet to lure new buyers. Doing duty in the Cruze gasoline is a familiar 1.4L turbocharged inline 4 motor that generates 153hp and 177lbs-ft of torque while delivering an astounding 33MPG combined gas average.

For 2019, Chevrolet has bumped up the features in the Cruze. There are a total of 4 Trims to choose from the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan. The base L Trim has some great features like 7” touchscreen system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, 10 Airbags and more as standard while the top end premier model has nifty features like powered driver seat, LED tail lamps and more.

Trims to Choose

Considering the bump in features for 2019, most people who are on a budget will be happy with the base L variant while the LT will be the pick for users looking for some exclusivity.

The Cruze is slow to accelerate, but it’s plenty capable at highway speed. The Cruze's engine stop-start function is smoother than those found in competitors, but you can't disable it, which you might find annoying in stop-and-go traffic –Cars.USnews.com

Engine and Transmission

The 2019 Cruze is the only one in this comparison, to be offered only in a turbocharged avatar. This engine has been tuned by GM for efficiency rather than performance. However, in no way is the performance dull as the 1.4L inline 4 motor in the Cruze delivers 153HP and an impressive 177lbs-ft of torque.

The acceleration from a dead halt, isn’t electric as one would expect from turbocharged engines but get the Cruze to rev above 2000rpm and see the turbochargers spool up, giving a better performance.

Transmission duties in the 2019 Cruze are handled by a 6 speed automatic unit. This unit does not shift to the top gear as soon as you step on the gas from a stop and does hold up gears, when you are doing hill climbs. The gears are well-calibrated and when on the highway, the transmission ensures that the car reaches highway speeds without much effort. This engine allows the Cruze to be a very capable highway cruiser.

Acceleration

The turbo bred motor in the Cruze delivers average acceleration from a dead stop. The turbo lag adds to the lethargy of the engine and in theory, the Cruze has a lot going against it.

In reality though, the turbocharger supports the cause of the Cruze in 0-60 runs as the extra boost from the same helps the Cruze, get to the 60 mph the fastest among its naturally aspirated rivals. The turbo boost however isn’t good enough to make it the fastest in quarter mile runs and is beaten eventually, by the Mazda 3 Sedan.

Ride and Handling

The ride inside the 2019 Cruze will be comfortable in most conditions for most people. The Cruze tends to absorb speed bumps and undulations well while not being too soft on the ride front. Some might find the suspension to be a little too stiff for daily usage, it definitely aids during the driver during corners and turns. 

The Cruze, however, shines on the highway and on twisty roads. The suspension is well-tuned to take corners well and provides very little body roll, aiding driver confidence. Not a lot is expected in terms of ride and handling from a budget family sedan but the 2019 Cruze manages to surprise everyone. The light sporty steering responds to the smallest of inputs on the highway and provides good feedback when tackling sharp bends or high speeds.

Braking

The brakes on the Cruze are pretty potent, to say the least. They offer a good feel and responds well to the pressure applied by the driver. They are in no way feather touch in feedback but they do reduce speed drastically when sufficient pressure is applied. 

The Standard 4 Wheel ABS and Traction Control with Electronic Stability Program and Electronic Brake Force Distribution ensures the brakes don’t lock up during panic braking situations and provide stability to the sedan.

The Volkswagen Jetta has the biggest brakes out of this bunch. Jetta's 11.5 inch front brake rotors are slightly bigger than the rest. The Cruze sedan is a close second with 10.8 inch front discs and 10.4 inch rear discs. Having said that, the Jetta still manages to embarrass itself with the longest braking distance out of the bunch. This cannot be blamed on the weight as other vehicles in this group perform better even with higher curb weight.  

Chevrolet ditched the naturally aspirated engine in the Cruze and moved to a turbocharged version in favor of achieving good fuel economy. This has yielded good returns to the Cruze as it delivers one of the best fuel economy figures in the segment. The 13.7 Gallon Fuel Tank in the Cruze combined with a 33 MPG combined figure gives the Cruze, an amazing 452.1 mile range which means lower gas expenses and fewer trips to the gas station.

The Honda Civic performs the best in the group in terms of fuel economy (VTEC power yo!). The VW Jetta is a close second followed by the rest of the bunch. But the Honda also has the smallest fuel tank which is a little disappointing. 

The Cruze has an attractive, handsome cabin. Soft-touch materials abound, and even the hard plastics are smooth and well-built so they don’t feel jarring. The standard touch-screen display further contributes to the Cruze’s modern feel –Cars.USNEWS.com

Layout, Seating and Comfort

Step into the interiors of the Cruze and you will be welcomed by a black and brown theme in front of you on the dashboard. The dashboard has a lot of buttons for various controls like audio, AC etc. The center of the dashboard houses a big 7” touchscreen infotainment system and a few buttons to control the same.

The Cruze is a compact sedan by dimensions and the class it sits in. However, most people will find the interiors anything but compact. There is a generous amount of headroom for passengers in the front and rear while the legroom will be adequate for most passengers. Ingress and egress isn’t much of an issue as well courtesy of the high roof and the wide door openings.

5 passengers can be made to sit in the Cruze but making 3 adults sit at the back won’t be a good proposition for long drives. The rear seats are narrower as compared to segment leaders like the Honda Civic and the raised center tunnel furthermore reduces the practicality of the middle seat in the rear.

The amount of interior space in these vehicles is quite similar. Having said that, the Elantra sedan offers the most space to its passengers both in the front and the rear. Although these vehicles are 5 seater, carrying 3 people in the back might be a little difficult for longer journeys. 

Cargo Capacity

The Cargo Capacity in the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze ranks among the best in class. The loading floor is flat and coupled with the big cargo area helps the Cruze to gulp in plenty of luggage and cargo. There are numerous cubby holes and small storage spaces in the cabin of the Cruze as well.

The trunk lid is big and opens to reveal a big cargo space. The spare tire in the LT and the Premier trim eats up some of the big cargo space but the 60/40 split rear seats pave way for some more useful storage space.

Infotainment System

The Infotainment System inside the 2019 Cruze has to be one of its biggest highlights. The 7” Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System is a rendition of Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system and is standard on all trims. It’s intuitive, easy to learn, operate, understand and has all the functionalities one would ever need from a Car infotainment System. The Cruze is also equipped with a digital driver’s display which might not show as much information as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit but manages to display some vital information about the car. 

Features

• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity
• Chevrolet On Star services
• Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
• 2 USB Ports, 1 Auxiliary Input Port and Bluetooth Telephony
• Sirius XM Radio Trial
• Navigation System
• Bose Audio System available as an Optional Extra

The Cruze was hardly looking old, but slight updates for 2019 help keep it fresh. Most notable is the new front fascia, which features a larger, more pronounced grille. In back, the Cruze is snazzier with a new, dual-element taillight design, with LED versions available on the Premier trim –KBB.com

Design

The Chevrolet Cruze, starting from its Inception has been one of the most handsome looking sedans in the market. With the 2019 edition, Chevrolet has infused some small changes in the Cruze to keep it fresh against the competition.

The front fascia is all new for 2019 with a more pronounced and big grille housing the Famous “Bowtie”. There are LED inserts in the headlamps and the tail lamps have been given the LED treatment as well in the LT and the premier trims.

There are sharp lines running across the side of the Cruze which start from the hood and end near the Rear Fenders adding visual appeal to the Car. New 18” Alloys also accentuate the overall visual character of the Cruze while adding to the high speed stability of the Compact sedan.

Dimensions and Weight

The Cruze pitches itself in the compact sedan arena with its compact proportions and size. It is the longest in its class and also the tallest which gives it the extra room in the interiors. Talking about weight, the Chevy weighs in at 2870 pounds, which isn’t a lot considering the competition has similar weights. The Cruze also has one of the best ground clearances in the segment which means the underbody of the Sedan will stay protected from big speed humps or other barriers that the Cruze may have to cross.

All of these vehicles are focused on ease and practicality. Even the dimensions and weight make them very practical. All of these vehicles offer enough ground clearance to cross most of the speed bumps and potholes. The Corolla has the highest clearance in this bunch at 6.7 inches. All six of these vehicles can go on any driveway with ease.  All in all, all these vehicles are very practical in terms of weight and dimensions. 

Exterior Features

The Chevy Cruze is a handsome looking compact sedan with some striking exterior features. The big bowtie grill in the front helps the Cruze distinguish itself from other sedans in the segment and adds to the visual appeal of the sedan. The 2019 Edition comes with features like

• New Bigger Front Grille
• Dual Element LED Tail Lamps
• Redesigned Head Lamps with LED treatment on the Top Trims
• New Design 18” Alloy Wheels

Safety has been a top priority for Chevrolet considering the rise in number of fatalities in the US due to road accidents. The 2019 Cruze comes packed in with plenty of safety tech and features that offers complete peace of mind and guarantee to the occupants inside the car.

Some of the Safety Features include

• 10 Airbags including Side Curtain, Knee and Front
• 4 Wheel ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution
• Teen Driver Assist Feature
• Theft Deterrent Unauthorized Entry System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Display
• Chevrolet Connected Access
• Rear Vision Camera
• StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan vs. Toyota Corolla Sedan

The Chevrolet Cruze has been GM’s most selling model ever and the Corolla has been one of the world’s most selling cars ever. The Toyota, despite its lower power and torque figure, sells because of its stupendous dependability, practicality and efficiency. However, the current crop of buyers isn’t just satisfied with practicality or frugality. They want all of these but with added performance. The Cruze here presents itself as being able to provide the best of both worlds without compromising on the reliability aspect and adding the performance aspect.

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan vs. Honda Civic Sedan

The Honda Civic has been a runaway success in the US with its superb performance and ton loads of space inside the Cabin. The Honda also has a great resale value and the value of the Civic depreciates way slowly than any other compact sedan. The Civic also has better power output than the Cruze. However, the Cruze offers better mileage and overall a better range than the sedan while the turbocharged engine allows the Cruze to produce a massive amount of torque. This makes the Cruze, a better mile muncher and a better tourer than the Civic.

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan vs. Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

The Mazda 3 has been always known for its good looking interiors and great driving dynamics. The Engine inside the Mazda is one of the refined in its class and has a lively driving character. Mazda, however, is yet to refresh the Mazda 3 sedan for 2019 and the Mazda 3 is starting to show its age. The new age Cruze comes closest to the Mazda in terms of power and betters it with its torque figure. The Cruze also has a better feature list and a great mileage figure makes the Cruze, a better tourer.   

Chevrolet has done its best to keep the Cruze updated in 2019 against the rapidly evolving competition. The updated instrument console gives a fresh lease of life to the interiors. Standard features like the 7” touchscreen infotainment system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and 10 Airbags create segment benchmarks in terms of equipment offered. On the whole, the 2019 Cruze offers great performance, mileage and a great set of features built-in as standard. With a 5year/60,000 mile warranty, the Cruze also offers great satisfaction to the user.

So, if you are in the market looking for a mile muncher with great handling characteristics and highway manners without being heavy on the pocket, the Chevrolet Cruze seems to fit the bill well.

FAQs about the Chevrolet Cruze

Let's go through some of the most frequently asked questions about the 2019 Chevy Cruze. 

Is the Cruze equipped with LTE Hotspot?

Yes, LTE hotspot connectivity is available as an option in the 2019 Chevy Cruze. 

Is the Chevrolet Cruze Sedan turbocharged?

Yes, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is powered by a 1.4 L turbo charged engine. Even the diesel engine is assisted by a turbo charger.

How quick is the Chevrolet Cruze?

The 2019 Cruze sedan crosses the 60MPH mark in 7.7 seconds. The quarter mile takes 16.3 seconds.