The brand new 2011 Chevy Cruze is an impressive 'small car' that offers a stylish exterior design, an upscale cabin compared to most cars in this class, and excellent fuel economy, all at an affordable price. The Cruze features several high-tech options and features such as available navigation with 40 gigabyte hard drive with pause-and-play radio and the ability to download music onto the hard drive, XM satellite radio, a premium Pioneer 9-speaker stereo system featuring a 250-watt amplifier, heated lather seats and OnStar. The base 2011 Chevy Cruze comes with 16-inch steel wheels, but alloy wheels in 16-, 17- and 18-inch sizes are available on some trim levels. Antilock brakes are standard, with front discs and rear drums. In addition to antilock brakes, the Cruze includes a standard electronic stability system. The 2011 Chevy Cruze comes standard with a new, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, generating an estimated 138 horsepower. The Cruze separates itself from others in the market with its impressive transmission. It offers either a six-speed manual or an efficient six-speed automatic transmission, while competitors offer five-speeds or fewer. Based on what was once called the Delta 2 platform, the all-new 2011 Cruze rides on GM's Global Compact Vehicle Architecture. The primary engineering and development comes from GMDAT -- GM's Korean partner. The Cruze marks the first compact car to reflect the higher-quality approach GM has taken with many other models' interiors. The Cruze's styling isn't exactly daring, but it's distinctive in this class and a big improvement over the bland Cobalt.
Powering the New Chevrolet Cruze
The Cruze gets two new GM four-cylinder engines: a 1.8-liter and an optional turbocharged 1.4-liter. The 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine is standard in the base LS model, and the new 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powers the LT, LTZ and Eco models. The Eco is a high-mileage version of the Cruze whose modifications improve upon the Cruze's already respectable fuel economy without adding as much cost as a hybrid system would. The efficiency provisions include different gearing, lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires and numerous aerodynamic treatments, including a second lower grille with shutters that close at higher speeds. The Cruze is much more quiet than its predecessor. With the parallel improvements in engine smoothness and an obvious increase in sound deadening materials, there's hardly any engine sound at idle. The turbocharged 1.4-liter engine has some interesting design features. Unlike many modern engines, it retains a cast iron block. However, this is a thin wall casting that has almost no weight penalty over an aluminum design because it doesn't need any cylinder liners. As you go to smaller engines, the benefits of the lighter material shrink because of the extra material that must be added for durability reasons. Engine weight is also kept down by using a composite intake manifold and a single-piece cast aluminum front cover with an integrated water pump. Parasitic losses are reduced by using a variable displacement oil pump to only produce as much oil pressure as needed rather than building excess and then using a bypass to bleed it off. Instead of a traditional screw-on oil-filter, the 1.4 has a cast-in housing with an integrated cooler and a replaceable paper cartridge filter that comes out from the top. This reduces oil spillage during changes and has less waste material during disposal. The manual-equipped 1.4-liter model also gets a dual mass flywheel, which helps to dampen vibrations from the four-cylinder engine.
Design of the 2011 Cruze
Despite its larger interior volume, the Cruze is a few inches shorter than the Cobalt from bumper to bumper. Outside, the Cruze takes styling cues from the new Malibu. The four-door Cruze is a handsome car, shaped in the fashion of Chevrolet's well-received, mid-size Malibu sedan, with even better proportions. Its arcing roofline creates the effect of a two-door coupe, and the Cruze looks longer and wider than many of its competitors, with shorter overhangs beyond the front and rear wheels. Unlike the Cobalt, which also came as a coupe, there are no plans for additional body styles as of the start of the 2011 model year. The Cruze engineering team focused on several areas during development including refinement, safety and efficiency. Overall, the 2011 Cruze has a distinct look, one you won't see in other cars in its class. The beveled hood, the sharp angles and sculpted fenders are details generally reserved for luxury vehicles. Not anymore. And you can make great look even better with the RS Package, available for LT and LTZ
'11 Chevy Cruze Interior
In addition to being roomier than the Cobalt, the Cruze's cabin has higher interior quality. Inside, the Cruze is trimmed with subtle shiny metallic cloth inserts in the seats, doors and dash. The material looks good, as do the grained, soft-touch plastic panels. There's a pop-open storage bin in the center of the dash, and a large LCD monitor that's expected to come standard. Below the monitor sit a dense array of switches with a joystick device, in the fashion of current Acura models. The appearance is high-tech, and appealing. The Cruze offers both Bluetooth connectivity and USB connectors. Interior choices include interesting rough-hewn woven trim or more conventional leather-style appliqués on the dashboard and door panels. Leather seats are optional, as are accent-colored center panels. Space and roominess is good. The driver has plenty of room for his knees and front and back passengers have plenty of space. The dramatic, sloping arch of the roof has little to no effect on ingress or egress, too – a welcomed surprise. The 2011 Cruze only seems like a compact from the outside. Inside, it's a different story. The huge interior of Cruze not only has more room than Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, but it also has more cargo space too. To keep the cabin quiet the Chevy Cruze is designed with 30 distinct acoustical treatments, including a triple-sealed, acoustic-laminated glass windshield, to create a serene interior.
New Chevrolet Cruze Lineup
The Cruze base LS level comes with standard safety equipment including 10 airbags, StabiliTrak ESC, ABS and more. It also comes standard with A/C, power locks and windows and remote keyless entry.
Opting for the LT essentially swaps out the less efficient 1.8-liter four-cylinder for the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, swaps the six-speed manual for an automatic with an equal number of gears, and bumps the wheels up to 16-inches.
The Cruze Eco relies on the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and a six-speed manual to achieve the platform leading fuel economy of 40 mpg highway, and will come with 17-inch alloy wheels and ultra low-rolling resistance tires, as well as a package to improve aerodynamics.
The range-topping LTZ offers the same 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, but with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Conclusions
The Cruze is the first affordable compact car to include 10 airbags standard. In addition to the required front pair, there are seat-mounted side-impact airbags for all four outboard seats, curtain airbags to cover the side windows on both sides and knee airbags for the front, which protect the occupants' legs and help prevent them from sliding forward that would make the other restraints less effective. Chevy first launched the Cruze in Europe, where the market for compact cars is even more competitive and demanding, before it was available in the United States. The Cruze went on sale in Europe in March 2009 and, according to GM, will be rolled out to other global regions. For more information on this new Chevy model, visit the official Chevrolet Cruze website!
GM Tools
The Cruze gets two new GM four-cylinder engines: a 1.8-liter and an optional turbocharged 1.4-liter. The 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine is standard in the base LS model, and the new 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powers the LT, LTZ and Eco models. The Eco is a high-mileage version of the Cruze whose modifications improve upon the Cruze's already respectable fuel economy without adding as much cost as a hybrid system would. The efficiency provisions include different gearing, lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires and numerous aerodynamic treatments, including a second lower grille with shutters that close at higher speeds. The Cruze is much more quiet than its predecessor. With the parallel improvements in engine smoothness and an obvious increase in sound deadening materials, there's hardly any engine sound at idle. The turbocharged 1.4-liter engine has some interesting design features. Unlike many modern engines, it retains a cast iron block. However, this is a thin wall casting that has almost no weight penalty over an aluminum design because it doesn't need any cylinder liners. As you go to smaller engines, the benefits of the lighter material shrink because of the extra material that must be added for durability reasons. Engine weight is also kept down by using a composite intake manifold and a single-piece cast aluminum front cover with an integrated water pump. Parasitic losses are reduced by using a variable displacement oil pump to only produce as much oil pressure as needed rather than building excess and then using a bypass to bleed it off. Instead of a traditional screw-on oil-filter, the 1.4 has a cast-in housing with an integrated cooler and a replaceable paper cartridge filter that comes out from the top. This reduces oil spillage during changes and has less waste material during disposal. The manual-equipped 1.4-liter model also gets a dual mass flywheel, which helps to dampen vibrations from the four-cylinder engine.
Despite its larger interior volume, the Cruze is a few inches shorter than the Cobalt from bumper to bumper. Outside, the Cruze takes styling cues from the new Malibu. 
In addition to being roomier than the Cobalt, the Cruze's cabin has higher interior quality. 
The Cruze base LS level comes with standard safety equipment including 10 airbags, StabiliTrak ESC, ABS and more. It also comes standard with A/C, power locks and windows and remote keyless entry.