2019 Chevrolet Cruze

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Rating7.2

Ranked #5 in 

Compact Sedan
Write Review
$17,995 - $26,120
Starting Price 
M. Hannigan's image
M. Hannigan 

Content Writer,

Updated on July 17, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Sporty Handling

No manual transmission even as an option

No Manual Transmission

Intuitive Touchscreen Infotainment System

Dormant Acceleration from the Engine

7" Infotainment System standard on all trims

Exhaustive list of Standard Features

Build Quality could have been improved

New Front Bumper and Grill

Impressive Fuel Economy

Redesigned Tail Lights

Copious amount of Space in the Interior

Specs & Features

$17,995

price

153 hp @ 5600 rpm

horsepower

177 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

torque

6-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

1.4L 4cyl FWD 6A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Best Selling car from the Chevrolet Stable, the Cruze has arrived in a refreshed avatar for 2020. The 2020 Cruze Sedan starts at $18,870 and is dearer than the 2018 model by nearly $1,000. Available in 4 trims namely L, LS, LT and the Premier trim, you get a Gasoline powered 1.4L Turbocharged Inline 4 Cylinder Motor that delivers 153hp and 177lbs-ft of Torque. The biggest change for the 2020 Models include a 7” Touchscreen system as Standard and a long list of Safety Equipment.

The Cruze sedan starts at just $18,870 for the base L Trim and goes over $24,000 for the Top of the Line Fully Loaded Premier Trim. The LS and LT trims are the Trims in between the base L and top end Premier Trim. The Manual transmission has been given a miss for 2020 which may be a bummer for some driving purists.

Buying Advice

Considering the Bump in features for 2020, most people who are on a budget will be happy with the base L Variant while the LT will be the pick for users looking for some exclusivity.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The Cruze is the most selling model from Chevrolet and with the rising competition from Japanese Brands, GM decided to soup up its most “sought after” model for 2019 in a bet to lure new buyers. Doing duty in the Cruze gasoline is a familiar 1.4L turbocharged inline 4 motor that generates 153hp and 177lbs-ft of torque while delivering an astounding 33MPG combined gas average.

Features
6.0/10

For 2019, Chevrolet has bumped up the features in the Cruze. There are a total of 4 Trims to choose from the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan. The base L Trim has some great features like 7” touchscreen system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, 10 Airbags and more as standard while the top end premier model has nifty features like powered driver seat, LED tail lamps and more.

Trim

L

LS

LT

Premier

MSRP

$18,870

$19,995

$22,595

$24,395

Features

Engine Immobilizer and Theft Deterrent System

Adds these to the features of the previous trims

Adds these to the features of the previous trims

Adds these to the features of the previous trims

 

Daytime Running Lamps

Front Carpeted Floor Mats

LED Daytime Running Lamps

Driver and Front Passenger illuminated mirror

 

15” Steel Wheels with Bolt On Covers

5yrs/60,000 Miles of 24hr Roadside Assistance

16” Aluminum Wheels with Spare Wheel

Heated Leather upholstered Driver and Passenger Seats

 

Remote Keyless Entry

2 Way Front Passenger Manual Adjust Seats

6 Speaker Audio System

4 Way Manual Adjust Front Passenger Seat

 

Rear Window Defogger

6 way manual adjust driver seat

Sirius XM Radio

8 way powered driver adjust seat

 

Traction Control with ESC

Cruise Control

Heated Steering

 
 

Twin Reflector Halogen Headlamps and Interior Overhead Courtesy Lamp

Halogen Projector Beam Headlamps with LED Signature

LED Accent Tail Lamps

 
 

Outside Powered Mirrors and Rear Vision Camera

60/40 Split Folding Rear Bench Seat

   
 

10 Airbags and Tire Pressure Monitor System

Steering Wheel Mounted Controls

   
 

4 Speaker Audio System

Remote Start

   
 

4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot and Bluetooth

Dual Reading Lamps

   
 

Chevrolet 7” Touchscreen Infotainment System

Single Zone Auto AC

   
 

Front Center Console Armrest

     

Trims to Choose

Considering the bump in features for 2019, most people who are on a budget will be happy with the base L variant while the LT will be the pick for users looking for some exclusivity.

Fuel Economy
5.4/10

Chevrolet ditched the naturally aspirated engine in the Cruze and moved to a turbocharged version in favor of achieving good fuel economy. This has yielded good returns to the Cruze as it delivers one of the best fuel economy figures in the segment. The 13.7 Gallon Fuel Tank in the Cruze combined with a 33 MPG combined figure gives the Cruze, an amazing 452.1 mile range which means lower gas expenses and fewer trips to the gas station.

Models

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Toyota Corolla Sedan

Honda Civic Sedan

Volkswagen Jetta Sedan

Mazda 3 Sedan

MPG (city)

30

28

28

32

30

27

MPG (highway)

39

37

35

42

39

36

MPG (combined)

33

32

31

36

34

30

Fuel Tank Capacity(Gal.)

13.7

14

13.2

12.39

13.2

13.2

The Honda Civic performs the best in the group in terms of fuel economy (VTEC power yo!). The VW Jetta is a close second followed by the rest of the bunch. But the Honda also has the smallest fuel tank which is a little disappointing. 

Interior
5.4/10

The Cruze has an attractive, handsome cabin. Soft-touch materials abound, and even the hard plastics are smooth and well-built so they don’t feel jarring. The standard touch-screen display further contributes to the Cruze’s modern feel –Cars.USNEWS.com

Layout, Seating and Comfort

Step into the interiors of the Cruze and you will be welcomed by a black and brown theme in front of you on the dashboard. The dashboard has a lot of buttons for various controls like audio, AC etc. The center of the dashboard houses a big 7” touchscreen infotainment system and a few buttons to control the same.

The Cruze is a compact sedan by dimensions and the class it sits in. However, most people will find the interiors anything but compact. There is a generous amount of headroom for passengers in the front and rear while the legroom will be adequate for most passengers. Ingress and egress isn’t much of an issue as well courtesy of the high roof and the wide door openings.

5 passengers can be made to sit in the Cruze but making 3 adults sit at the back won’t be a good proposition for long drives. The rear seats are narrower as compared to segment leaders like the Honda Civic and the raised center tunnel furthermore reduces the practicality of the middle seat in the rear.

Models

Chevrolet Cruze

Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Toyota Corolla Sedan

Honda Civic Sedan

VW Jetta Sedan

Mazda 3 Sedan

Passenger capacity

5

5

5

5

5

5

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

38.9/54.8/42

38.8/56.2/42.3

38.3/54.8/42.3

39.3/57.0/37.1

38.5/55.9/41.1

38.3/54.8/42.3

Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

37.3/53.7/36.1

37.3/55.0/35.7

37.1/55.0/37.4

37.1/55.0/37.4

37.2/54/37.4

37.6/54.4/35.8

The amount of interior space in these vehicles is quite similar. Having said that, the Elantra sedan offers the most space to its passengers both in the front and the rear. Although these vehicles are 5 seater, carrying 3 people in the back might be a little difficult for longer journeys. 

Cargo Capacity

The Cargo Capacity in the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze ranks among the best in class. The loading floor is flat and coupled with the big cargo area helps the Cruze to gulp in plenty of luggage and cargo. There are numerous cubby holes and small storage spaces in the cabin of the Cruze as well.

Models

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Honda Civic Sedan

Mazda 3 Sedan

VW Jetta

Toyota Corolla Sedan

Cargo Capacity (cu.ft)

14.8

14.4

15.2

12.4

14.1

13.0

The trunk lid is big and opens to reveal a big cargo space. The spare tire in the LT and the Premier trim eats up some of the big cargo space but the 60/40 split rear seats pave way for some more useful storage space.

Infotainment System

The Infotainment System inside the 2019 Cruze has to be one of its biggest highlights. The 7” Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System is a rendition of Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system and is standard on all trims. It’s intuitive, easy to learn, operate, understand and has all the functionalities one would ever need from a Car infotainment System. The Cruze is also equipped with a digital driver’s display which might not show as much information as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit but manages to display some vital information about the car. 

Features

  • 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity
  • Chevrolet On Star services
  • Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
  • 2 USB Ports, 1 Auxiliary Input Port and Bluetooth Telephony
  • Sirius XM Radio Trial
  • Navigation System
  • Bose Audio System available as an Optional Extra

Exterior
5.4/10

The Cruze was hardly looking old, but slight updates for 2019 help keep it fresh. Most notable is the new front fascia, which features a larger, more pronounced grille. In back, the Cruze is snazzier with a new, dual-element taillight design, with LED versions available on the Premier trim –KBB.com

Design

The Chevrolet Cruze, starting from its Inception has been one of the most handsome looking sedans in the market. With the 2019 edition, Chevrolet has infused some small changes in the Cruze to keep it fresh against the competition.

The front fascia is all new for 2019 with a more pronounced and big grille housing the Famous “Bowtie”. There are LED inserts in the headlamps and the tail lamps have been given the LED treatment as well in the LT and the premier trims.

There are sharp lines running across the side of the Cruze which start from the hood and end near the Rear Fenders adding visual appeal to the Car. New 18” Alloys also accentuate the overall visual character of the Cruze while adding to the high speed stability of the Compact sedan.

Dimensions and Weight

The Cruze pitches itself in the compact sedan arena with its compact proportions and size. It is the longest in its class and also the tallest which gives it the extra room in the interiors. Talking about weight, the Chevy weighs in at 2870 pounds, which isn’t a lot considering the competition has similar weights. The Cruze also has one of the best ground clearances in the segment which means the underbody of the Sedan will stay protected from big speed humps or other barriers that the Cruze may have to cross.

Model

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Toyota Corolla Sedan

Honda Civic Sedan

VW Jetta

Mazda 3 Sedan

Curb weight (lbs.)

2870

2844

2840

2724

2767

2899

Length(in)

183.7

181.9

183.1

182.3

185.1

180.3

Width(in)

70.5

70.9

69.9

70.8

70.8

70.7

Height(in)

57.4

56.5

57.3

55.7

57.4

57.3

Ground clearance (in)

6.4

5.3

6.7

6.3

5.6

6.1

Wheelbase (in)

106.3

106.3

106.3

106.3

105.7

106.3

All of these vehicles are focused on ease and practicality. Even the dimensions and weight make them very practical. All of these vehicles offer enough ground clearance to cross most of the speed bumps and potholes. The Corolla has the highest clearance in this bunch at 6.7 inches. All six of these vehicles can go on any driveway with ease.  All in all, all these vehicles are very practical in terms of weight and dimensions. 

Exterior Features

The Chevy Cruze is a handsome looking compact sedan with some striking exterior features. The big bowtie grill in the front helps the Cruze distinguish itself from other sedans in the segment and adds to the visual appeal of the sedan. The 2019 Edition comes with features like

  • New Bigger Front Grille
  • Dual Element LED Tail Lamps
  • Redesigned Head Lamps with LED treatment on the Top Trims
  • New Design 18” Alloy Wheels

Safety
9.3/10

Safety has been a top priority for Chevrolet considering the rise in number of fatalities in the US due to road accidents. The 2019 Cruze comes packed in with plenty of safety tech and features that offers complete peace of mind and guarantee to the occupants inside the car.

Some of the Safety Features include

  • 10 Airbags including Side Curtain, Knee and Front
  • 4 Wheel ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution
  • Teen Driver Assist Feature
  • Theft Deterrent Unauthorized Entry System
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Display
  • Chevrolet Connected Access
  • Rear Vision Camera
  • StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control

Competition
8.0/10

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan vs. Toyota Corolla Sedan

The Chevrolet Cruze has been GM’s most selling model ever and the Corolla has been one of the world’s most selling cars ever. The Toyota, despite its lower power and torque figure, sells because of its stupendous dependability, practicality and efficiency. However, the current crop of buyers isn’t just satisfied with practicality or frugality. They want all of these but with added performance. The Cruze here presents itself as being able to provide the best of both worlds without compromising on the reliability aspect and adding the performance aspect.

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan vs. Honda Civic Sedan

The Honda Civic has been a runaway success in the US with its superb performance and ton loads of space inside the Cabin. The Honda also has a great resale value and the value of the Civic depreciates way slowly than any other compact sedan. The Civic also has better power output than the Cruze. However, the Cruze offers better mileage and overall a better range than the sedan while the turbocharged engine allows the Cruze to produce a massive amount of torque. This makes the Cruze, a better mile muncher and a better tourer than the Civic.

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan vs. Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

The Mazda 3 has been always known for its good looking interiors and great driving dynamics. The Engine inside the Mazda is one of the refined in its class and has a lively driving character. Mazda, however, is yet to refresh the Mazda 3 sedan for 2019 and the Mazda 3 is starting to show its age. The new age Cruze comes closest to the Mazda in terms of power and betters it with its torque figure. The Cruze also has a better feature list and a great mileage figure makes the Cruze, a better tourer.   

Final Verdict

Chevrolet has done its best to keep the Cruze updated in 2019 against the rapidly evolving competition. The updated instrument console gives a fresh lease of life to the interiors. Standard features like the 7” touchscreen infotainment system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and 10 Airbags create segment benchmarks in terms of equipment offered. On the whole, the 2019 Cruze offers great performance, mileage and a great set of features built-in as standard. With a 5year/60,000 mile warranty, the Cruze also offers great satisfaction to the user.

So, if you are in the market looking for a mile muncher with great handling characteristics and highway manners without being heavy on the pocket, the Chevrolet Cruze seems to fit the bill well.

FAQs about the Chevrolet Cruze

Let's go through some of the most frequently asked questions about the 2019 Chevy Cruze. 

Is the Cruze equipped with LTE Hotspot?

Yes, LTE hotspot connectivity is available as an option in the 2019 Chevy Cruze. 

Is the Chevrolet Cruze Sedan turbocharged?

Yes, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is powered by a 1.4 L turbo charged engine. Even the diesel engine is assisted by a turbo charger.

How quick is the Chevrolet Cruze?

The 2019 Cruze sedan crosses the 60MPH mark in 7.7 seconds. The quarter mile takes 16.3 seconds. 

Trims

    L
    $17,995 onwards
    • A seven-inch touchscreen with navigation
    • Recaro Alcantara- and leather-trimmed seats andamp; steering wheel
    • Red and centered rev counter
    LS
    $19,120 onwards
    • Engine: 1.4L 4cyl FWD 6A
    • Horsepower: 153 hp @ 5600 rpm hp
    • Torque: 177 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 8 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 32 mpg
    LT
    $21,720 onwards
    • Engine: 1.6L 4cyl FWD 9A
    • Horsepower: 137 hp @ 3750 rpm hp
    • Torque: 240 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 8.4 sec
    • Top Speed: 125 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 37 mpg
    Premier
    $23,520 onwards
    • Engine: 1.4L 4cyl FWD 6A
    • Horsepower: 153 hp @ 5600 rpm hp
    • Torque: 177 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 8 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 32 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$18,700- $24,240

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

6.12

Horsepower

132 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

128 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$14,260- $21,340

Gasoline

5.92

120 hp @ 6350 rpm

112 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm

5

Read Review

$25,900- $31,550

Gasoline

5.87

201 hp @ 6800 rpm

180 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm

5

Read Review

$18,745- $29,995

Gasoline

6.25

147 hp @ 5000 rpm

184 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,995- $26,120

Gasoline

7.19

153 hp @ 5600 rpm

240 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,990- $26,040

Gasoline

6.66

130 hp @ 6000 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

5

Read Review

$21,000- $28,900

Gasoline

7.7

186 hp @ 6000 rpm

186 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,200- $23,700

Gasoline

6.13

147 hp @ 6200 rpm

132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$18,595- $25,690

Gasoline

8.27

152 hp @ 6000 rpm

145 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,790- $21,990

Gasoline

6.64

147 hp @ 6200 rpm

132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

2019 Chevrolet Cruze vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    8 sec16.1 sec-
    7.6 sec16 sec127 mph
    7.8 sec15.5 sec106 mph
    2019 Mazda 3

    Ranked #4

    8.2 sec15.9 sec116 mph
    8.7 sec16.6 sec120 mph
    9 sec--

    2019 Chevrolet Cruze vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      28 mpg38 mpg32 mpg13.7 gal.383.6/520.6 mi.
      30 mpg40 mpg34 mpg13.2 gal.396/528 mi.
      28 mpg36 mpg32 mpg13.2 gal.369.6/475.2 mi.
      27 mpg37 mpg31 mpg14 gal.378/518 mi.
      2019 Mazda 3

      Ranked #4

      27 mpg35 mpg30 mpg13.2 gal.343.2/462 mi.
      27 mpg35 mpg30 mpg12.4 gal.334.8/434 mi.

      2019 Chevrolet Cruze vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        183.7 in.70.5 in.57.4 in.6 in.106.3 in.
        185.1 in.70.8 in.57.4 in.5.6 in.105.7 in.
        2019 Mazda 3

        Ranked #3

        183.5 in.70.7 in.56.9 in.5.5 in.107.3 in.
        183.1 in.69.9 in.57.3 in.6.7 in.106.3 in.
        182.7 in.70.9 in.56.5 in.5.3 in.106.3 in.
        182.2 in.70.6 in.55.6 in.4.4 in.105.1 in.

        2019 Chevrolet Cruze vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          14.8 cu.ft.94 cu.ft.12.5 cu.ft.
          15.1 cu.ft.95.9 cu.ft.85 cu.ft.
          12.8 cu.ft.85.1 cu.ft.336.1 cu.ft.
          14.1 cu.ft.94.7 cu.ft.58 cu.ft.
          2019 Mazda 3

          Ranked #4

          13.2 cu.ft.92.8 cu.ft.47.1 cu.ft.
          12.4 cu.ft.89.3 cu.ft.13.5 cu.ft.

          2019 Chevrolet Cruze vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            12.5 cu.ft.14.8 cu.ft.12.5 cu.ft.-
            -14.4 cu.ft.-75 ft.
            2019 Mazda 3

            Ranked #3

            47.1 cu.ft.13.2 cu.ft.47.1 cu.ft.-
            83.1 cu.ft.12.8 cu.ft.336.1 cu.ft.-
            -13 cu.ft.--
            -12.3 cu.ft.--

            2019 Chevrolet Cruze vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              -2870 lbs.
              970 lbs.2888 lbs.
              865 lbs.2840 lbs.
              2019 Mazda 3

              Ranked #1

              -3071 lbs.
              906 lbs.3095 lbs.
              972 lbs.2866 lbs.

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