A lot can be learned from the safe and luxurious 2016 Chevy Cruze
Want to know a dirty little secret? Gasoline isn’t going to stay at $2 a gallon forever.
Today, buyers are snatching up every Leviathan pickup truck, SUV and crossover they can find, meaning many sedans, especially smaller and more fuel efficient ones, are languishing on dealer lots.
And when gas goes back to $4 or $5 a gallon one day - and it surely will eventually - economy cars will again become the rage. But if you want one, the time to buy is now, when deals are readily made.
This week’s test car was an all-new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, and spending a week with it was a revelation in a good way. In a mix of mostly city and some highway driving, the Cruze delivered a solid 30.4 miles per gallon from its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Although it produces a relatively modest 153 horsepower, the engine propels the Cruze from 0-to-60 miles per hour in a relatively quick 7.7 seconds, plenty of punch for most situations.
The new Cruze comes in four trim levels: L, LS, LT and Premier. Our tester was the top-of-the-line Premier, equipped with just about every desirable feature available on a small car: heated leather seats, navigation system, LED lights, back-up camera and a high-quality audio system that supports Apple Car Play and Android Audio.
From a safety standpoint, it also has 10 air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert warnings, all good things to have.
No matter which trim level you opt for, the new Cruze is 2.8 inches longer and slightly lower than the outgoing model, plus it’s about 250 pounds lighter. Adding lightness, of course, helps every aspect of performance: economy, acceleration, braking and cornering.
Wisely, Chevrolet made the Cruze large inside and small on the outside, with more rear leg room and knee room than the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra, two of its most formidable competitors.
Some positives about the 2016 Cruze: The build quality on the interior was better than I expected with very luxurious leather seats and trim bits on the dashboard that looked like they were from a higher grade of car than a compact.
In addition, Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system is tops in my book. Way too often, new cars have exceedingly complicated electronics systems. And it seems like the more expensive the car, the harder the controls are to decipher.
Not so here. MyLink is simple to understand and operate, which is very much appreciated.
On the debit side of the ledger, the Cruze is a small, lightweight car and lacks either the agility of a true sports sedan or the ride quality of a bigger, more comfortable. It’s fine for what you’re paying for, mind you; just don’t except it to replace a BMW or a Cadillac.
Speaking of what you pay for, the Cruze is a screaming deal, starting with a base price of $17,495 for the entry level, with the top-of-the-line Premier being just $23,995 - that’s a ton of content for the money.
Chevrolet has big plans for the Cruze, which it will sell in 75 markets worldwide.
“The 2016 Cruze builds on a very successful program that introduced Chevrolet to new customers the world over,” said Alan Batey, president, General Motors North America. “We retained all the attributes that made the original Cruze a hit around the globe and built on them to make this car more sophisticated, more fun and more Chevrolet.”
We think Chevrolet will enjoy great success with this car. And if you can live without a $40,000 sport ute, you can get a very nice, well-equipped car for not much money.
