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Never mind the Cobalt. Forget you ever heard the name Cavalier. The newest compact C-car from Chevrolet is the Cruze – a globally engineered vehicle designed not just to compete in the growing small-car segment, but to win.

And for the first time, well, ever, this isn’t just marketing hype behind a lackluster model with a typically low-grade interior.

Already on sale in 60 countries worldwide, this global platform still has a few surprises for its North American debut. Most notably is the launch of a new turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, designed to deliver the power and driving experience of a larger powerplant with class leading fuel economy. In fact, Chevy claims an ECO model (with a 6-speed manual transmission) will get 40-mpg on the highway. An automatic ECO model will get slightly less, with standard models most likely in the mid 30s range – although no official numbers have yet to be released.

The engine looks tiny in the cavernous space under the hood, its puny turbocharger about the size of a fist. Yet despite its size, the 1.4 delivers both power and fuel economy. During our day with the Cruze, we registered an average of 27-mpg (under what can easily be considered harder than average driving conditions). As for power, the little engine makes a total of 138-hp and 148 ft-lbs of torque, with that torque number coming on strong at 1850 rpm.

More: 2011 Chevy Cruze First Drive (http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/chevrolet/2011-chevrolet-cruze-review-first-drive-1403.html) at AutoGuide.com

I test drove the Cruze last weekend, an Automatic with the Turbo, and yawn... :doh:

I tried the manual shift mode out and that left a lot to be desired. And the pick up was way under what I was expecting. From a stop, foot to the floor, you got several sequences of odd noises, like an old person struggeling to get up some stairs. Then after a few seconds the care would start to move, and get up over 30 mph. The ride was choppy, and while there was ok power to move from 50 mph to 65 mph, it still wasnt a ton of power.

Overall the interior felt cheap, oddly not as cheap as the Camaros interior.

On an upside, it is better than the Cobalt, it has tons of room, tons of airbags, and does look good.


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No I do not drive a V8 Super Charged Triple Turbo Super Car, my only car is a '07 Pontiac G6 I4 2.4L, so I was going from really big and slow to the Cruze which was slower and smaller and more expensive, so I was disappointed. My mom has a '06 Saab 9-3 Turbo and to be honest I was hoping for something alteast close to that, given this was a 2011 and GM should have atleast some ex-Saab employees, I figured they could have mode something a little better.

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I would likely save 1/2 the money and buy a used V6 G6 instead.

my G6s are the last GMs I will ever buy!!!! I am tired of dealing with incompetent and uneducated sales and service departments.Ive taken my car to the dealer at least 5 times for the same raddling in my roof i took it in 3 times for the same popping noise in the front end and the first time specificaly told them that the cv axel was bad the third time it was in the shop they replaced the cv axel and the popping noise stopped and they had just replaced a bushing in my covertable top for the fourth time and the front main seal on my engine was leaking and i was told by the service manager that it was a seep not a leak LMAO!!! i called the service department and asked them if things are covered under the certified warranty and most of the time the response was idk i go on a gm website and it says plain as day that it is but this is enough of my rant for today!! P.S. i think ill be buying a taurus sho or F150 RAPTOR next !!!!!!!!!

I like the SHO!!! But its $47 grand....Think I'd rather have a used Shelby Mustang GT350 with a supercharger for that much.

Roommate has a new SHO. That's one hell of a car!!! performance is actually astonishing, not to mention the features.

try to put 4 people in a mustang!! that is why i am driving a G6 convertable and not a mustang convertable.

I just don't understand why Chevy has to offer two engine options that offer similar power. I'd think Chevy would save more money by focusing on one engine.

I just don't understand why Chevy has to offer two engine options that offer similar power. I'd think Chevy would save more money by focusing on one engine.

And focus on getting the turbo right in this car, major turbo fail in this thing. I had to check the sticker to make sure it really had one.

And focus on getting the turbo right in this car, major turbo fail in this thing. I had to check the sticker to make sure it really had one.

It's a Cruze LT and LTZ... it's not meant to be "fast" If they can get it right with the cobalt SS then I'm sure if/when they decide to produce a Cruze SS it'll provide all the power you need. The Cruze base model is an economy car and has no need for a large turbo.

It's a Cruze LT and LTZ... it's not meant to be "fast" If they can get it right with the cobalt SS then I'm sure if/when they decide to produce a Cruze SS it'll provide all the power you need. The Cruze base model is an economy car and has no need for a large turbo.

I can get around the idea that this car wasn't meant to go fast, I figured with a turbo in such a small car that it would be fast. Either way, the fact still remains that I drove a Cruze with 5 miles on it and a turbo, and when I put the pedal down it made lots of weird noises, none of which were good, and yes I know what a turbo sounds like, and I never heard that, just weird transmission and engine noises. The car looks cool, and has a decent interior but the engine sucks for everything, even if you get over the slowness, it makes sounds that would make you want to take it to your mechanic and ask him if it was ok or now.

Yeah but it's a small turbo on a very small motor. It's also tuned for reliability and mpg not performance. I'm sure GM will have something special for the SS model =)

2012 Chevy Cruze Hatchback was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show

According to General Motors, 65% of all compact cars sold in Europe are hatchback versions. That is why the company decided to build a hatchback. The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze five-door hatchback (HB5) was presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The new vehicle attracts the customers with useful rear cargo space, better fuel economy, sportier and sleeker body with front and rear overhangs comparing to the previous four-door version.

The new body style looks sharper and sportier, with short overhangs. In profile, the sloped roofline, spoiler, and steep rear glass create a look akin to that of the Subaru Impreza hatchback. There are even LED front accent lights, but whether they will make the leap from this show car to production is unknown.

I'm considering trading my G6 for a Cruze, but after reading this I'm having second thoughts about it.

I'm considering trading my G6 for a Cruze, but after reading this I'm having second thoughts about it.
I absolutely hate the cruze. My mom had to rent one after someone wrecked her grand prix gt. I figured is drive it to keep the miles of the g6 due to commuting 100 miles a day at the time. I drove it to work and then had my dad come swap me out and give me my g6 back. It has no get up and go even for having a turbo and then when you do step on it, it makes the wierdest noises. As mentioned before. Yes it was a rental, but the car had 15 miles on it so of course we were the first to use it.



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Thank you for replying. I'm supposed to go check one out, but I think I'll back out of it. For a 2011 1LT(I think it is) they want my 2010 g6 gt with 35,300 miles plus $10,000.

Well I went and test drove a cruze today. I have until tomorrow to decide what I'm doing and I'm confused. I like the color of the cruze and that it's new with 8 miles on it, but it looks very small and the noise from the motor worries me. I also know if I trade my g6 in I can't get it back. What do you all think?

Keep the six. If your confused or worried about anything its not the right car.

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haha... good advice J!

I don't think I could by a car that was making worrisome noises right off the lot. Because then if something is actually wrong, will I be able to tell or will I write it off as just another of the cars noises. Plus that price seems a little steep for such a small car.

Pops always told me, never buy the first model because 10-1 they haven't worked out the kinks. If u really like the car, I'd wait till the come out with the next model. That way some the flaws are worked out.

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Pops always told me, never buy the first model because 10-1 they haven't worked out the kinks. If u really like the car, I'd wait till the come out with the next model. That way some the flaws are worked out.

Good advice. I bought the 1988 Pontiac Grand Am with the first year of the Quad 4 engine. It made lots of power for its time but there were lots of design flaws that cost me $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ in maintenance and repairs. The flaws were solved in the models two years later, but those changes didn't apply to my version of the engine.

I'm not a big fan of turbo'ing small engines to make them perform like a "normal" car. I know that when I'm in an underpowered car I spend a lot of time with the gas pedal floored waiting for it to catch up, and that negates all the so-called economy advantages of the small engine. It's a rare occasion that I need to do that in the '6, and if I can keep it around 65 I can get close to 31 MPG.

~ MattInSoCal

Thanks everyone for the advice. I decided to keep my 6. They even tried to sell me a 2012 malibu, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I would have went right back into a car payment(the 6 was cash) and the malibu looks very simillar to the 6 inside. I think I need to just spend my money adding things to my 6 like tinted windows, etc. The car dealership has called me nonstop wanting to trade really bad for some reason. At one time they had 10 base models in and sold them all so I think maybe that's why they want it so bad. They were even willing to give me what I paid for trade value. Thanks again everyone.

I hate dealerships that do that. I'm glad to hear you kept the g6.

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Keep the g6, Malibu's are the same, my girlfriends cousin has one and its just like the g6's just a little bit different. Also, the Chevy cruze just isn't sporty at all, I know when i'm looking for a car i want sporty, Seeing that I have a g6 gt, I love it. I want the keep the g6 till it dies, I already have it paid off and there is nothing wrong. Shoot, my girlfriend has a 2001 Pontiac grand am gt with 150,000 and it keeps up with my 2008 g6, Pontiac's live forever no sense trading for a Chevy and have it die. Plus is I have the gt model and I get great gas mileage for a sporty car with a V6, I make a full tank last a week sometimes 2 and that is driving 80 miles a day.

Yeah I know when I was looking at the Malibu a lot of the insides looked just like my G6. I used to have a 2001 grand am se and it was the best car I ever had. That's why I knew I wanted a g6 when I finally had the money to buy a new car. I love a sporty car that also gives me room for my 2 daughters and this is it. I'm so glad I decided not to trade it off. As far as gas mileage I get about 20-23mpg based on what the DIC says. I got 32 mpg with the grand am, but it was a 4 cyl. My last car was a ford Taurus and I hated it so I'm very happy to be back to a Pontiac. I just wish I could of got a new one instead of a rental car. I did get the extended warranty on it because my factory is almost out and I hope to keep the car for a very long time. Thanks for all the replies.:D

Pontiac's live forever no sense trading for a Chevy and have it die.

im sorry but that has to be one of the dumbest comments i have ever heard especially since nowadays pontiacs and chevys share the same engines, transmissions, etc :confused:

It was a joke, sorry for stating my option. Personally I like Pontiac better than Chevy's.