2018 Chevrolet Cruze Road Test and Review

Sometimes you buy a small car because you’re looking for the lowest possible price. And no question, there are some terrific bargains among today’s compact cars. But the least expensive options aren’t always for everyone.

The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, a compact sedan and hatchback, isn’t the cheapest car in its class. But it rewards buyers with an experience that’s upscale of the economy-car norm. Maturely understated looks, a refined driving experience, comfortable seats, and well-executed smartphone connectivity make for an appealing combination. And although some competitors are less expensive, the Cruze is still affordable, starting at just $16,975. Let’s see if it’s the right fit for you.

Even at its base price of $16,975, the Cruze includes power windows and locks; Bluetooth connectivity; a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration; and General Motors’ OnStar service with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. However, prices can rise for basic options. To get an automatic transmission, you need to step up from the L to the LS model and spend $19,525. To add cruise control or power-adjustable mirrors, you need the $21,520 LT. And some safety gear comes only on the Premier, which starts at $23,520 and adds leather upholstery. You can also upgrade to a fuel-efficient diesel engine for about $3,000 extra.

If you want the extra cargo space of a five-door hatchback, it costs just a few hundred dollars more than the four-door sedan, but it comes only in the LT or Premier trims. New for 2018, the diesel engine is also available on the hatchback. We tested a 2018 Cruze LT hatchback with the standard gas engine. It cost $27,130 with options that included a sunroof, an upgraded stereo, a power driver’s seat, and aesthetic add-ons.

Some small cars try so hard to look cool that some will feel too embarrassed to drive one. The Cruze isn’t the flashiest car on the market, particularly the sedan version. Its understated lines and gentle curves are handsomely inoffensive, yet its aerodynamic silhouette keeps it from looking dated while also improving gas mileage.

The hatchback is more aggressive-looking, with a hunched-forward shape that conveys more energy than the sedan version. But because of its clean and simple details, it avoids looking over-the-top. Our tested 2018 Cruze hatchback came dressed up with two appearance packages: the Redline Edition and the RS Package. Collectively, they bring a body kit, blacked-out alloy wheels (with small red stripes) and Chevrolet logos, fog lights, and a rear spoiler. They add personality to the Cruze, but they total nearly $1,700.

As with its exterior, the interior of the Cruze has clean styling. Some may find the dashboard design a little plain, but others will appreciate that Chevrolet didn’t go over the top. Best of all, the Cruze features simple, user-friendly ergonomics — no-fuss buttons and knobs surrounding a vibrant touchscreen infotainment system. Our LT test car had an optional 8-inch screen, but even the standard 7-inch system offers advanced connectivity with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Fit and finish isn’t luxury-grade, but the Cruze’s cabin ambiance is reasonable for the price. Chevrolet adds a swatch of upholstery (matching the cloth or leather on your seats) to the dashboard — an unusual cue that keeps things interesting. One complaint: The foot-operated parking brake operates stiffly and feels dated compared to the electronic push-button parking brakes found in some competitors, or even a simple handbrake.

Hatchbacks tend to offer excellent cargo space and versatility, and the five-door Cruze is no different. It has 23 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seat and 47 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. We also appreciated the easy-folding seatbacks and the simple-to-remove cargo cover — there’s no need to wrestle with a reluctant clip, remove rear head restraints, or slide the front seats forward to make room. Even the Cruze sedan has a roomy trunk for its class, with about 14 cubic feet (varying by trim level).

Front-seat comfort is excellent, with well-shaped and supportive chairs, and plenty of fore-aft adjustment to let tall drivers fit better behind the wheel. Rear-seat room is a little tighter — a few competitors offer more space, but four adults can fit in the Cruze without too much squeezing. A fifth passenger’s knees may end up wedged between the front seats, though.

The Cruze isn’t an overtly sporty car like a Mazda3, but its steering feels tighter than some small cars. It firms up nicely at higher speeds while remaining conveniently light while you’re parking. And its well-executed suspension gives the car higher handling limits than some of its more basic-feeling competitors. A nicely composed, impressively quiet ride is another plus, making the Cruze feel more upscale on the road. Its ride and handling compare favorably of the outgoing generation of the Volkswagen Jetta.

Speaking of the Jetta, that VW used to be the only compact car to offer a diesel engine. Now, it’s the Cruze with that class-exclusive powertrain option. Diesel engines combine excellent highway fuel economy with ample torque. However, neither the Cruze’s 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 153-horsepower gas engine nor the 1.6-liter 137-hp turbodiesel delivers thrilling acceleration. Both engines remain impressively quiet, avoiding the wheezing sound of an overworked economy car, but they’re just not all that quick.

The EPA estimates that the gas-powered Cruze gets between 31 and 33 miles per gallon in mixed driving, varying by trim, body style, and transmission. That's above average for a compact car. The best performance comes from the LS or LT sedans with an automatic transmission, which are rated for 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. Our LT automatic hatchback was close behind at 29 mpg city/38 mpg highway. However, during a weeklong test, we averaged only about 31 mpg in mostly highway driving. The Cruze uses regular fuel despite its turbocharged engine.

The diesel Cruze is the mileage standout, at least on the highway. Its city mileage is in line with the gas engine’s, but highway ratings are astronomical. The most efficient diesel variant, the sedan with a manual transmission, hits 52 mpg on the highway. The least efficient, the automatic hatchback, still has an excellent 45-mpg highway rating. Last year, we averaged about 44 mpg in a diesel sedan with the automatic transmission.

The Cruze earned five out of five stars in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash testing, and it also received top scores in each test it faced from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, the IIHS hasn’t yet subjected the Cruze to its most demanding tests.

Disappointingly, the Cruze lacks emergency automatic braking, an increasingly common safety feature that can slow or stop the car if sensors determine a collision is imminent. It does offer a forward-collision warning — an alert that the driver needs to brake — but only on the top-of-the-line Premier. Several competitors provide emergency automatic braking as standard equipment, and most others at least have it as an option. A blind-spot monitoring system is also less widely available on the Cruze than on most competitors.

If you’re interested in a compact sedan or hatchback, the Cruze is one of many compelling options. The Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla offer spacious cabins and lots of features for the money, but the Cruze is quieter, handles more nimbly, and feels more refined overall. The Ford Focus and Mazda3 deliver zestier handling but cramped rear seating, and the Focus gets mediocre fuel economy. The Honda Civic blends driving enjoyment, fuel efficiency, safety, interior space, and a range of body styles, but the Honda's dashboard controls have some flaws and not everyone will love its bold styling.

If you’re not buying right away, also keep an eye out for the newly redesigned 2019 Kia Forte and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, two promising contenders in the class. Also note that Chevrolet is releasing an updated 2019 Cruze this fall, which will include revised styling, an upgraded infotainment system, and some new features — including, at last, automatic emergency braking.

Overall, the Cruze is a pleasant, refined compact car that’s happy both around town and on long road trips. The driving experience is superior to many other economy cars, and the five-door model delivers user-friendly versatility. And no one would consider the Cruze to be garish, with its attractively understated interior and exterior.

It may not be your first choice if you want a car with the lowest possible price, the most exuberant personality, or all the latest safety tech. But if you’re looking for a pleasant, affordable sedan or hatchback that’s quieter than you might expect — or if you want the only diesel available in a small car — don't miss the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.