2012 Chevy Cruze Harrisburg PA

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The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is among the best of the compacts. Measured by features, mileage and ride-handling balance, or interior noise, space and quality, the Cruze matches or beats the best.  Fuel economy is improved for 2012, and the list of standard equipment has grown longer, especially in the mid-range LT level. Otherwise, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is unchanged from 2011. Launched as a 2011 model, the Cruze replaced the sturdy but boring Cobalt, and represented a great leap forward in technology, features and appeal.  The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is available in four model levels, with a choice of four-cylinder engines and either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

Powering the 2012 Cruze

The 2012 Cruze is offered with a choice of two adequately powered engines: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder and 1.4-liter four-cylinder with a turbocharger. As with most cars in this class, the Cruze is front-wheel drive. Both the manual and automatic are 6-speed-transmissions, which is rare in this class. The automatic offers some high-tech features that help conserve fuel. Ride quality is outstanding, yet the car is nimble, balanced and handles exceptionally well. Its steering is powered by electricity to save fuel. Underway, the steering feels sharp, with decent feel.

2012 Chevy Cruze Design

The Cruze is large, as compact cars go. Measuring 181.0 inches bumper-to-bumper, on a wheelbase of 105.7 inches, the Cruze is slightly larger than most of its competitors, including the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and the all-new 2012 Ford Focus. Cruze is more angular than other recent Chevrolet sedans, including the popular Malibu. Its front end mimics the Volt plug-in sedan with a prominent Chevrolet Bowtie logo. The headlight housings are large, sweeping upward and around the front edges of the car. The Cruze Eco is a slightly different beast, because it's designed to be Chevrolet's conventional-engine fuel economy leader. The differences start with 42 steps intended to trim weight, right down the size and location of welds in the body. As a result, the Eco tips the scales at 3,009 pounds, or 214 pounds less than the mid-level Cruze LT. Cruze Eco adds a host of aerodynamic tweaks, including some adapted from the Chevrolet Volt.

Inside the new Cruze

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is roomy inside, with ample dimensions in most directions. The cabin is finished nicely with quality materials. Sound deadening measures result in quiet operation. Overall, the Cruze cabin delivers an excellent balance of quality, coziness and space to breathe. Gauges are big and crisp, illuminated with ice-blue LED lighting. With the RS appearance package, they're trimmed with chrome and covered with bezels that make them pop even more in darkness. The tachometer is located on the left and the speedometer on the right, with smaller fuel and temperature gauges in the middle. The rear seat is roomy and impressively supportive. The cushions for outboard passengers are carved, countered and bolstered almost as much as the front seats in some inexpensive cars. This is really a four-passenger car. The outside passengers, though, will find plenty of headroom and decent legroom, with enough space under the front seats to easily accommodate large feet.

2012 Cruze Lineup

Cruze LS is powered by 1.8-liter inline four delivering 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, with a standard 6-speed manual. Cruze LS comes with air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, floor mats, and six-speaker audio with single CD, an auxiliary jack and XM satellite radio. The standard wheels are 16-inch steel.

Cruze Eco is optimized for fuel economy. It's powered by a smaller, 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that delivers the same 138 hp as the base engine, with an increase in torque to 148 lb-ft. It's lighter than other Cruze models, with aerodynamic aids that make in slipperier through the air, and low-rolling-resistance tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. The 2012 Cruze Eco comes with Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB port, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Cruise LT is powered by the same frugal turbocharged engine plus body-color power side mirrors and all the new goodies that have been added to the Cruze Eco. Sixteen-inch machined-face alloy wheels are standard on 2012 Cruze LT models.

Cruze LTZ comes standard with the automatic transmission and the contents of the 2LT package plus automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, ultrasonic rear-parking assist, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The 2012 Cruze LTZ also comes standard with fog lights, keyless entry and keyless start.

Cruze RS is an LTZ with an RS Appearance package, which includes unique bumpers, rocker moldings, and a rear spoiler. A similar package for the LT2 adds all that plus fog lights and racier instruments. Navigation is available for LT2, LTZ, and Eco.

Conclusions

The Chevrolet Cruze is an excellent choice among compact sedans. It's the best small car GM has offered in North America in decades. More important, it's among the best cars in its class. The Cruze comes standard with a long list of safety features, including advanced electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and a full complement of 10 airbags. There are knee-protection airbags for front passengers, side-impact airbags for rear passengers, and head-protection curtains with rollover deployment. Every Cruze comes with GM's OnStar telematics system, including a six-month subscription for automatic accident response and other services, a great safety feature. For more on this model, visit the official Chevy Cruze website!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com