Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015) At A Glance
Good value for money. Also comes with a six-speed automatic. Decent VCDi diesels. Driver and passenger seats both height adjustable.
Lacks more sophisticated rear suspension of Astra on the same platform.
The proportions of the body are very pleasing from all angles. And though ‘C Sector saloons aren't offered by many manufacturers, they are precisely what a lot of people want, particularly the recently retired who have got hooked on golf.
It's got everything most people are likely to want, it drives, rides and handles decently, and it's a really good looking car.
What do owners think of the Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015)? Check out our
Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.
Real MPG average for a Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
Satisfaction Index
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Reviews for Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015)'s top 3 rivals
Ask Honest John
Height adjustable passenger seats?
"Looking for a normal medium size car two to four years old with height adjustable passenger seat and enough roof height after adjusting, probably to the maximum, for a 6 feet tall passenger. Something like a Golf (?Plus). Don't want SUV's, 4x4 etc. Max Price £10,000. Thanks"
The Chevrolet Cruze always had this feature.
Is buying on finance the best way of getting a good deal?
"Does the Chevrolet Cruze have the same engine and automatic gearbox as an Astra, Suzuki, or SAAB? I went to a car dealer about a Honda Jazz and the finance manager tried to convince me that it's better for the finance to go for a newer Jazz like the Hybrid, which will save me money in the long run. I was quite confused and not sure about it. What do you think?"
The Cruze has a belt cam engine and 6-speed torque converter automatic. It's tested here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/chevrolet/chevrolet-cruze-road-test//
I don't answer questions about finance except to say ""nothing is for nothing"" and if something sounds too good to be true it won't be true.
What car fits these requirements?
"Here's a conundrum. I'm tall. So I need a car with the following.
1. Seat height adjustment for both driver AND passenger.
2. Auto gearbox.
3. Full length glass roof. (Doesn't necessarily have to open.)
Priced up to £23,000"
Can't help. Can tell you from memory that Chevy Cruise all have driver and passenger height adjustable seats, but that's all.
Chevrolet Cruze with no cruise!
"I bought a Chevrolet Cruze, my first ever new car after 15 years, in June, pre registered on a 11 reg with 25 miles on the clock from Pentagon Chevrolet Rochdale. I was assured by the salesman that the Cruze had Cruise Control and this was confirmed in the April 2011 brochure which he gave me. When I picked up the car, it was a new salesman who greeted me. When I asked about where the cruise control function is, he told me straight away that it didn't have any. I have contacted the original salesman responsible for selling me the car, who said that he was, "Under the impression at the time that it had cruise control," but he told me that it wasn't his problem and to phone Chevrolet as it is actually a 2010 model which doesn't have cruise control. This was never brought to my attention and I think that this attitude is outrageous. What should I do? "
Demand a substantial discount for selling you an old car as a new one.
More Questions
Inside of the Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015)
Dimensions
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Length
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4597–4603 mm
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Width
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1788 mm
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Height
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1477 mm
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Wheelbase
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2685 mm
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Full specifications |
The large 450-litre boot easily swallows two sets of clubs lying sideways in the handy indentations behind of the wheel-arches, with enough space for two compact trolleys tucked away in front of them.
Another unusual but much requested feature is height-adjustable driver and passenger seats across the range, starting with the £11,495 1.6 S model, which also has air-conditioning, electric front windows and electric mirrors.
Sold already? I'll go on. The fascia is nicely styled with the radio controls set sensibly high. There are adjustable cup-holders between the front seats and bottle-holders in the doors. There's enough leg and headroom for three across the back.
Car seat chooser
Child seats that fit a Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015)
Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.
Which car seat will suit you?
Driving Chevrolet Cruze (2009 – 2015)
Out on the road, the steering is light, but with enough ‘feel' to let you know what the wheels are doing. Our 1.6S could hardly be called a tearaway, but it had only done 600 miles, so the engine was still ‘tight'. Handling and roadholding are perfectly safe, and fine for most people's requirements. North West Monsoonal weather conditions ensured we checked that out with due diligence.
In contrast, the 2.0 150PS diesel LT at a rather more money grabbing £15,195 (£3,700 more than the perfectly adequate 1.6S) at first seemed a disappointment. When the engine is relatively cold there's very little pulling power under 2,000rpm and it's reluctant to trickle along at low revs. It improves as it warms up, but the fuel metering is nothing like as precise as a VAG Piezo system and can leave the engine gasping if you leave it in too high a gear when you're turning into a roundabout, for instance.
But eventually I got used to it, and also to its inclination to understeer, which can be countered by letting it move a little bit on its tyres. I guess if I could settle into the car in half an hour, any owner could in a day or two. But I'd still question the wisdom of forking out that extra £3,700 for the benefit of just nine more miles per gallon on the combined cycle. The cheaper, lower spec 125PS version, coming late summer, will obviously narrow this particular gap, of course.
Finally, we got to try the 1.8LT automatic that comes in at £14,695. Though a 6-speeder, it doesn't hunt between gears in the 30 and 40 limits and is pleasant to drive. On the motorway it cruises at the same relaxed 35mph per 1,000 rpm in 6th as the diesel does in its top gear. Its disadvantage, of course, is a relatively high CO2 of 184g/km that puts it in Band J for road tax.