Can someone tell me what's so exciting about the Cruze?

[VGplay]

There seems to be a lot of hoopla about the new Chevy Cruze. Ever since I first saw it I haven't understood what the hype is about. The exterior is bland (Seriously, is GM trying to make Chevy's identity to be bland and boring?) and I haven't heard praises of it's driving capabilities.

The interior looks very nice, but if you're releasing a car in 2010 the interior better be nice. And the 35mpg highway is only average for compact cars.

I'm just wondering what I'm missing. Maybe there isn't much excitement, and it only seems that way because the car is being built a half hour down the highway from me? If I were looking for a ~$20k car its not even a contest between the Cruze and the new Focus, even considering the few months until the Focus is released.

[Zinky]

I don't see anything exciting about it. It's just going to be relatively competitive when it is released, but it was the same things they were saying about the Cobalt when it came out (i.e. it's so much better then the car it replaces). The only claim to something new is the 40mpg for certain versions, but I'm guessing in the next year or two, that is going to be sort of ho-hum thing too.

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by Zinky

I don't see anything exciting about it. It's just going to be relatively competitive when it is released, but it was the same things they were saying about the Cobalt when it came out (i.e. it's so much better then the car it replaces). The only claim to something new is the 40mpg for certain versions, but I'm guessing in the next year or two, that is going to be sort of ho-hum thing too.

I agree the sedan exterior screams "fleet car". However, the hatchback (which GM has decided we don't want) looks MUCH better

[tjl]

As far as styling goes, there are probably a significant number of buyers (mainly not people who post here) who would prefer a more conservatively styled sedan and would therefore prefer the Cruze's styling over the styling of much of the competition.

As far as EPA fuel economy:

LS 1.8L manual: 26/36 according to some magazine articles
LS 1.8L automatic: 22/35
LT 1.4L automatic: 24/36
Eco 1.4L manual: well, they are trying for 40 highway

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by tjl

As far as styling goes, there are probably a significant number of buyers (mainly not people who post here) who would prefer a more conservatively styled sedan...

Then they can take the Toyota Corolla... you can't get much more "conservatively styled" than that! Other 'beige box' C-segment cars (within the Focus/Cruze price range) to consider:

• Hyundai Elantra
• Honda Civic
• Kia Forte
• Dodge Avenger
• Volkswagen Jetta

All of these offer bland, conservative styling. The Nissan Sentra, Suzuki Kizashi, 2012 Ford Focus, and the Chevrolet Cruze (hatchback) break the mold of C-segment "appliancemobiles". I think GM has an opportunity to stand out in the United States, and just like overpricing the Saturn Astra, they're killing a golden opportunity.

[PowerShift]

For much of the time I was considering Fiesta the Cruze was my #2 car. When I first encountered the Cruze in early 2009 it was supposed to have a Direct Injected 1.4 Turbo and get 40 MPG. But they dropped the DI and now the 40 mpg only applies to the yet-to-be introduced ECO model. So now it's a pretty ordinary car and would have been a long way down my list if the Fiesta purchase fell through.

[tjl]

Originally Posted by dirtyblueshirt

Then they can take the Toyota Corolla... you can't get much more "conservatively styled" than that! Other 'beige box' C-segment cars (within the Focus/Cruze price range) to consider:

• Hyundai Elantra
• Honda Civic
• Kia Forte
• Dodge Avenger
• Volkswagen Jetta

All of these offer bland, conservative styling.

The Civic is not exactly conservatively styled on the inside.

[Corvair]

The name is kind of cool. The car is well just another Coblat, Cavalier, Monza and Vega. Just another "improved" compact. The last time Chevy did something different in the compact segment was in 1960, the Corvair. And then they got beat up bad by the Ford Falcon. (The Corvair was the better car)

[Audrey]

I test drove a Civic when I was looking at cars. I really liked the simplicity and layout of its interior over the Fiesta's (CUP HOLDERS!) and the digital speedometer was unusual, but "safer" the Honda saleswoman said. I didn't feel the interior was radical (versus conservative) at all.

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by tjl

The Civic is not exactly conservatively styled on the inside.

Granted, I debated adding it to the list, but the exterior is bland and forgettable, even on the 2012 "spy shots".