Although i haven't got a cruze, had a lacetti 1.6 sw, got an epica diesel and an aveo 1.4lt, my neighbour has a 1.6ls aircon and is very very pleased with it. Suggest you read the forum on chevroletownerscllub.co.uk. and one of the cruze owners works for a dealer in redditch and gives excellent parts ofers to ownwers club forum members. It's a free club and you will also get discounts with opie oils. personally had a few initial gripes with dealers, but if you get 1 with the 5 year warranty it's a cracking deal, like my epica the room for driver and passengers is very very good. if the car you get has steel wheels you don't get a spare, so try to get one that has a full size spare.

I've owned one for 9 months now. Bought it at 10 months old and it's just gone in for its 20K mile service.

Pros: Extremely comfortable. Return trip to Zurich and no back ache! Good steering / suspension. Like the gearchange - on the chunky side. Quite roomy for a smallish car. Paintwork more robust than some other makes I've owned. Tyres still good for another 6 months so not hard on its boots.

Cons: VERY sluggish engine. Never known such a poorly performing 1600cc. Suggest you try before you buy over a long test drive. Leaking brake caliper at 20K miles. Can't see the radio/cd/clock display in bright sunlight.

Real world petrol consumption averages 33 mpg...ish.

On the Zurich run it maxed at 40.5mpg. I used a full tank the other month doing nothing but very short runs and that was 25mpg.

If you're used to small cars I think it should suit and the prices are good. If you're down sizing be very careful that you don't find it underpowered.

Hope this helps.

I have the Cruze Diesel auto 150 bhp and will not be buying another one due to very poor mpg and because it does not come with soon to be mandatory DRL, tyre pressure monitor and also has no powered foldback door mirrors plus very high insurance premium.Have just run approx 290 miles on Shell fuelsaver V power diesel and and only got 27.8 mpg combined despite display showing up to 44 mpg. I am trying another tankful of ordinary Shell fuelsaver diesel. Next car probably the new CEED diesel auto for Sept 1 reg. The Cruze looks good has comfortable seats large useful boot and space saver wheel but not on latest model. available with over £3K off. v good value. The gunge supplied should be made illegal totally useless if split sidewall on tyre. uncomfortable ride on rough London/UK roads incredibly it is impossible to read the instruments safely when travelling fast or when wearing sunglasses display lights up like a XMAS tree at night but dangerous during the day, should have black markings on a white background.