2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO: This new compact is fun to drive

Written by Sally Sanders
Thursday, 17 February 2011 11:47

When was the last time a small Chevrolet really generated a buzz?

Maybe it was the 1980 Chevrolet Citation. We drove a rental-agency Citation at the time and were tremendously impressed by its handling and performance. Sadly, the Citation fell victim to all manner of mechanical and quality-control problems. It’s best remembered nowadays, to the extent it’s remembered at all, for its notoriously defective brakes.

That seems unlikely to be the fate of Chevrolet’s newest compact, the Cruze, an American car with a European personality. It’s quick, agile and smooth-riding, and the turbocharged engine in our test car, a 2011 ECO, was quiet and peppy. And although it has respectable economy-car credentials — including a maximum of 42 mpg with the stick shift, to go along with five-star safety ratings across the board — it’s the most fun-to-drive car we’ve piloted since our last encounter with a Mazda3.

The Cruze, available only as a four-door sedan, replaces the competent but boring Cobalt, which likewise represented a major improvement over its predecessor, the forgettable Cavalier. If build quality and reliability stack up to the Japanese and Korean competition, the Cruze will be a major player on the economy-car circuit.

The Cruze starts at $16,275 for the base LS model with six-speed stick shift and non-turbo, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine. Even the LS comes with traction and stability control, XM satellite radio and numerous amenities in the cabin.

Our taupe gray metallic ECO model, with the 138-horsepower turbocharged engine and optional ($925) six-speed automatic transmission, carried a sticker price of $20,445. Standard features included power locks and windows, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and split-folding rear seats.

A few of the controls are oddly placed — we called OnStar twice by accident while trying to switch from day to night position on the rear-view mirror — but generally, people who are familiar with General Motors cars won’t encounter many surprises.

The greatest oddity, we thought, was GM’s decision to scrimp on rear-seat knee and foot room while providing an uncommonly generous 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space. Tall drivers have to squeeze forward to accommodate even medium-sized adults and teenagers in back.

Although we drove our Cruze fairly gently, we never came close to its EPA-rated 37 mpg. We chalked it up to the test car being new, with barely 500 miles on the odometer. Some compacts are rated above 40 mpg, even with automatic transmission, but the enjoyment built into the Cruze can’t be denied. None of the Japanese and Korean compacts we’ve tested was as fun to drive as the Cruze.

The Cobalt’s reliability was average to worse than average, with body integrity and body hardware the major problem areas. The Cruze is a new model, with no reliability history, but our ECO model struck us as solidly built and meticulously put together — a good sign for its future in a crowded market.

Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.

Price: $20,445

Engine: 1.4-liter inline Four, 138 horsepower, 148 lb.-ft. torque

Transmission: six-speed automanual

Drive: Front-wheel

Weight: 3,009 lb.

Suspension: MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear

Wheels: 17-inch steel with full wheel covers

Tires: P215/55R17 all season tires

Seating capacity: 5

Luggage capacity: 15.4 cu. ft.

Fuel capacity: 12.6 gallons

Fuel economy: 26 mpg city, 37 mpg highway

Fuel type: Regular