2016 Chevrolet Cruze Road Test and Review

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Side Profile 03 ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze proves that GM's post-bankruptcy renaissance really started from the ground up. The true test of any automaker's mettle is how well the most affordable models in the lineup stand up when compared to the priciest fare, and in this respect the second-generation Cruze is a respectable achievement.

I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to spend some time behind the wheel of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. After two days of tooling around America's country music hot spot, it became clear that by building on what made the original Cruze so appealing when it hit the market back in 2011, Chevrolet has succeeded in pulling even with today's top players in the compact sedan segment.

Mild Facelift Brings Out Modern Elements

The Chevrolet Cruze was already one of the more handsome members of the compact car cohort, but for 2016 an effort has been made to further enhance the classy lines of the small sedan. The changes are subtle, but when taken together the effect is quite pleasant: a longer wheelbase and slight overall stretching of the Cruze's body work gave designers more room to imbue it with Chevy's established set of design cues. The addition of LED running lights, a more pointed snout, and just a hint of additional muscle in the car's flanks add personality to the automobile.

The interior of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze has undergone a similar rearrangement, particularly up front, where the car's infotainment screen is now flanked on either side by more prominent HVAC vents as compared to the departed model. The rest of the center stack shrinks to offer up a small cubby just ahead of the shifter, which has been pushed to one side to accommodate a pair of cup holders (with a phone-friendly slot located just behind the gear selector). There's still a fair amount of plastic to be found inside the Cruze, particularly on more modest trim levels, but it's well in keeping with expectations for an affordable family car.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Larger Interior Boosts Rear Seat Room

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze's more generous exterior proportions have also contributed to an interior arrangement that takes into better account the needs of taller riders. Chevrolet claims that the Cruze is now more generous than rivals from Ford (the Focus) and Hyundai (the Elantra) when it comes to leg and knee room in the rear quarters, which is particularly interesting since these two designs are among both the oldest and newest compact sedans sitting around the Cruze's price point. The Cruze also happens to feel wider inside than it actually is, making it a more viable mid-size sedan for those whose backseats will most likely be occupied by children or child seats rather than lanky teens.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

All Turbo, All The Time

Perhaps the most important aspect of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze's redesign isn't appreciated until you open the sedan's hood—or hit the throttle. Chevrolet has consolidated the Cruze's engine options into a single 1.4-liter turbocharged motor, doing away with the larger, naturally-aspirated mill that was offered with the original version of the car. Not only that, but the 1.4-liter is an all-new design itself, one that shares only its displacement with the 2015 Cruze's optional motor.

The new turbocharged engine features direct fuel injection, an aluminum block, and aluminum heads in order to drop weight as compared to the power plant it replaces. Output is up, too: 153 horses versus 138, along with an additional 29 lb-ft of torque to put the final number at 177 lb-ft. A six-speed manual transmission is offered, alongside a six-speed automatic. There's no word yet on a diesel option for the Cruze, but it's important to note that unlike, say, the Honda Civic, when you order the base Chevrolet you get the same turbo engine as you would on a top trim model.

Efficiency Remains Top Notch

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze bolsters its reputation for fuel efficiency, which has now expanded across the entire lineup thanks to the democratization of the turbo engine, the inclusion of direct fuel injection, and the introduction of a new automatic engine start/stop feature. This means that even manual transmission cars enjoy 29 mpg in city driving and 41 mpg on the highway, with the autobox boosting these figures by a single mile per gallon for each respective measure. Overall, this compares quite favorably with the 26 mpg city / 38 mpg turned in by the 2015 edition of the car.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

New Infotainment Features Aim To Snag Connected Buyers

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is available with a seven-inch LCD touch panel that hosts the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system. Although MyLink will be familiar to anyone who has driven a recent Chevrolet product, new for the current model year is the availability of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a pair of software tools that integrate their respective mobile device ecosystems more directly into the vehicle.

I'm personally not a fan of Android Auto, as it essentially bricks your phone while it's connected to the car and introduces only a limited sub-set of apps to be used through the MyLink interface. While I may not be an iOS user, I have been told by colleagues that the implementation is marginally better for Apple users. Still, there's one aspect of the Cruze's infotainment suite that works well across any platform, and that's its standard 4G LTE wireless internet service. Seemingly targeted at parents who want to be able to stream content to the kids on longer road trips, the feature works flawlessly as long as you are willing to pay for a second data plan for your car, alongside your existing mobile device subscriptions.

Active Safety Takes Center Stage

Further evidence of GM's massive cost-amortization capability can be found when examining the level of safety equipment that can be ordered with the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. In addition to the 10 airbags that come standard with every model, you can spec the Cruze to include a blind spot monitoring system, a lane keeping assistance feature, a lane departure warning system and a forward collision warning system. When compared to rivals like the Toyota Corolla, the Nissan Sentra, and the Honda Civic, this is a comprehensive active safety haul. The time when small, affordable cars were locked out of the protective technologies built into their larger siblings is largely a thing of the past, and the compact space is heating up when it comes to comprehensive safety equipment.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Comfort Over Performance

Despite the presence of additional grunt under the hood, and even though the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is up to 250 lbs. lighter than the original model, it's fair to say that the compact sedan is more content to serve as a comfortable commuter car than it is to carve corners. The Cruze serves up mile after calming mile inside a cabin that blocks out much of the outside world, reducing stress by way of its competent power, confident handling, and excellent fuel efficiency.

Heat things up on a curvy road and you'll start to expose cracks in the Chevrolet's façade, but really, that's by design; this car isn't intended to compete with similarly-priced sporty options, but rather provide an alternative to the legions of Corolla fans who simply want a good-looking daily driver at an affordable price. It's safe to say that Chevy has left room in the Cruze lineup for an SS model should it choose to pursue the enthusiast demographic, but there's far more butter on the other side of the bread.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

The Price Is Right

Even with all of the improvements that have been made—including the now-standard turbocharged engine—the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze remains an affordable buy. The base L model, with manual transmission, starts at $17,495, while an LS with automatic jumps to $19,995. Chevrolet has introduced a new "Premier" edition of the sedan for 2016, which starts at $23,995, a number that translates into roughly $27,000 once fully loaded with features like the RS package and much of the car's available safety gear.

Confusingly, GM is currently selling off older Cruze inventory as the Cruze Limited, which has also been listed as a 2016 model year vehicle despite offering the previous-generation design. It's intended to appeal to rental fleet buyers and the like, but should you really want one, you can still march into your local dealership and order at a roughly $500 discount over the new model for entry-level editions, and surprisingly, a higher MSRP for top-tier versions like the LTZ.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Pros / Cons

•    Affordable pricing •    Efficient and powerful turbo engine is now standard •    Six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes available •    Larger interior •    High level of active safety equipment •    Comfortable ride •    More power does not equal better performance •    RS model is simply for appearances •    Handling is average for its class •    Android Auto more of a gimmick than a boon

Photo by Benjamin Hunting