Chevrolet Cruze
A lesson in luxury
“You’re riding in luxury, girl.”
That’s what I was told by a bystander as I returned to my parked 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ.
Cruze LTZ, starting at $22,695, includes:
■Standard 1.4-liter Ecotec turbo and six-speed automatic transmission
■Standard six-way power driver seat, leather seating surfaces, heated seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
■Standard cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB port with audio interface, steering-wheel mounted audio controls and remote vehicle start
■Standard automatic climate control, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror and ultrasonic rear-parking assist
■18-inch alloy wheels with four-wheel disc brakes.
Along with the standard safety features on all models – including a tire pressure monitoring system, daytime running lamps and automatic headlamps – LTZ models include four-wheel disc brakes and rear-parking assist.
But there is no way the bystander could have known all this. What she did see is Cruze’s design, distinguished with a bold face – including a two-tier grille with the iconic bowtie logo, Chevrolet’s signature look around the globe. An arching roofline connects a steeply raked windshield and fast-sloping rear pillars give the car a sporty, coupe-like proportion.
The sporty aesthetic is also seen in prominent headlamp housings that wrap around the corners and sweep upward in the fenders and sculpted hood, as well as a short rear deck typically found on sport coupes. The wheels are at the corners, too, with minimal front and rear overhangs. All the elements work cohesively to give Cruze an aggressive look that is complemented by a wide, confident-looking stance.
Cruze also affirms Chevrolet’s commitment to building refined, fuel-efficient vehicles using new, small-displacement, four-cylinder engines.
We drove the Cruze LS, starting at $16,995, earlier in the year. It includes:
■Standard 1.8-liter Ecotec engine and six-speed manual transmission
■10 air bags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control, anti-lock brakes, collapsible pedal system, power rear-door child safety locks
■Standard OnStar, with a six-month subscription including Turn-by-Turn navigation
■Standard convenience features including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, driver information center, an auxiliary jack for personal playback devices and XM Satellite Radio with three-month trial subscription.
I did find it odd that a car named Cruze LS did not have cruise control. But it did get 35 miles per gallon on the highway, so that can possibly be overlooked for the price.
— Mary Ann Van Osdell
Published in April 2011
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