Topic: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: More Compact Car for the Money

[TopGun]

So they've managed to make a similarly dull and insulated driving car....like a Corolla.
....

Ah yes...we can't let 10 minutes go by without throwing some negativity on the General.  So now it's too much like a Corolla!

I might have suggested the following changed to the TTAC PJ:

.....auto makers have learned the hard way that there simply aren’t many enthusiasts who truly appreciate—and will pay for—communicative steering and an agile chassis. versus The typical car buyer who would much rather have a high quality interior, refined ride, and fuel economy......

[Ice]

...Just with a way better interior, build and raid quality. I was too impressed with that last weekend when I took one out around the block and I think the review is spot on.
Not my type of car overall (I loved the front seats though), but I have to give GM credit for this one.

If they can make it reliable, they might have a hit on their hands.  Will be interesting to see if it can unseat the Corolla/Civic from the top rungs of the sales board...

You can't tell anthying about reliability either way, good or bad at this time. I'm not sure if Cruze can unseat the Corolla/Civic and I have doubts it will do. It takes more than a good product to do that. The perception is deep into people's mind and you know that very well. It may take many years and sustained good product, service, corporate behaviour, etc to see major shifts in public's perception.

It'll be the Mark III Cruze before they really turn public perception around... If they manage to meet high expectations throughout that period.  Hopefully the General's attention span is longer than mine

[diceman]

A truly glowing review, and from The Truth About Cars, no less:

The real story is inside the car. The Cruze’s interior is not only infinitely better than that of the Cobalt, but easily best-in-class. The plastics look and feel very high in quality. And, thanks to the fabric trim panels on the doors and dash, the ambiance isn’t one of plastic, plastic, and more plastic. The doors even close with a Teutonic whumpf (that continues to elude Cadillac) and feel rock solid in the process. The Kia and Mitsubishi compacts I drove the same afternoon felt like junk in comparison. Even the much more expensive Audi that provided design inspiration could learn a thing or two.

And that’s not all there is to love about the interior. The front seats are outstanding, moderately firm without being too firm and providing support in all of the right places. Why don’t the CTS and Corvette have seats this good? Front and rear seat height is separately adjustable—for both seats. While these adjustments used to be common for the driver’s seat in affordable cars, bean counters have been hunting it to extinction. The seating position is low, so all but the tallest drivers will want to take advantage of them. Unfortunately, there’s no such solution for GM’s typical ultra-thick A-pillars. The leather wrapped steering wheel, which tilts and telescopes, is a joy to grip. The HVAC and audio controls have a quality feel and are well-designed, with knobs for major functions. For once, the General truly seems to have sweated the details...

....Chevrolet clearly did not intend the Cruze LT for enthusiasts. But auto makers have learned the hard way that there simply aren’t many enthusiasts who truly appreciate—and will pay for—communicative steering and an agile chassis. The typical car buyer would much rather have a high quality interior, refined ride, and fuel economy. In these respects the Cruze is a shockingly good car. After decades of failed attempts, GM has finally managed to out-Toyota Toyota.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/10/review-2011-chevrolet-cruze-lt/

So they've managed to make a similarly dull and insulated driving car....like a Corolla.

Though free of lag, this engine vibrates at idle (an exception to the generally high level of refinement) and often sounds like it’s working hard. The transmission shifts frequently in a failed bid to make the engine seem energetic, but does not react promptly to manual inputs. Let’s just say there’s little here that the powertrain from the Cobalt SS wouldn’t fix.

Handling similarly begs for the SS treatment. As is, the Cruze feels compact but heavy. Agility isn’t part of the equation. The steering is fairly quick, but numb. The suspension has a commendable tautness to it thanks to well-tuned dampers, but the priority was clearly on a smooth, quiet ride. Mission accomplished: the Cruze thoroughly insulates the driver from the driving experience.

Like every small car but with a nice interior Good job GM

[Thinking Out Loud]

If they can make it reliable, they might have a hit on their hands.  Will be interesting to see if it can unseat the Corolla/Civic from the top rungs of the sales board...

I think it has a better chance than before - typically with GM splitting its essentially identical product, it's placement in sales numbers were diluted relative to the one-brand competition.

The Silverado and the Sierra always reportsed different numbers although essentially the same vehicle.   Same with the Cavalier/Sunfire, Cobalt/G5.  In combination, they are spitting distance if I recall of their competition (F150 and Corolla). 

GM's branding issues conspired to a great extent as to the appearance of their lack of success.  Hopefully the demise of Pontiac once and for all will eliminate that split-sales issue.

And even if the Cruze IS on the bread and butter side of things in drivability, it's served Corolla well over the years.  Pedestrian and reliable are a great place to start. 

[rrocket]

Ah yes...we can't let 10 minutes go by without throwing some negativity on the General.  So now it's too much like a Corolla!

Not at all....maybe you're just particularly sensitive.  I noted that this car is a potential hit.  But "boring" has ALWAYS been the "war cry" of the Corolla naysayers and the cautionary note from those who like it....that it was just soooo dull and appliance like to drive.  I have even told people the Corolla is a good little car..but generally a snooze-fest to drive.  Now from that review, this seems to be the same case with the Cruze.  Everyone used to say if you want entertaining, buy a Mazda3 or perhaps a VW...but DO NOT buy a dull Corolla.  Just a bit perplexed why it was unacceptable and reason NOT to buy a Corolla, but seems to be unacceptable to be pointed out for the Cruze. 

[dougjp]

Taking a different approach to all this - If some negativity wasn't warranted, then it would be a perfect car for all kinds of tastes, and it would be the only car sold.

I think in this category and sub compacts as well, its a "maturing process" in North America. It isn't like Europe where small cars are everywhere and there is much more competition, many more engine options and so on. It looks like the Cruze is a good effort overall, especially for what seems to be their non enthusiast target market. Maybe there will be an SS type version later. And GM has a history of blowing it in terms of missing momentum, bringing the "good stuff" along far too late instead of at the beginning of a model's lifespan.   

[Ice]

So they've managed to make a similarly dull and insulated driving car....like a Corolla.
....

Ah yes...we can't let 10 minutes go by without throwing some negativity on the General.  So now it's too much like a Corolla!

I might have suggested the following changed to the TTAC PJ:

.....auto makers have learned the hard way that there simply aren’t many enthusiasts who truly appreciate—and will pay for—communicative steering and an agile chassis. versus The typical car buyer who would much rather have a high quality interior, refined ride, and fuel economy......

Seriously... comparing the Cruze to Corolla is high praise in this segment. The Corolla is one of the defacto small sedans in the world. If GM has made the Cruze to be as good as the Corolla in all of the aspects that it needs to... plus add a little something extra... then they have a winner on their hands. People will pay attention... It will take them some time to build credibility but if it's that good. That's not a problem.

Again.. need to separate out the enthusiast viewpoint from the reality of car buying. People will buy the most aweful cars and be ok with them so long as it gets them from point A to point B reliably. Cruze is mostly oriented at those people... they want dull, insulated, and without too much fuss. They are not car enthusiasts   If everyone were enthusiasts then the base level next gen Focus would be the ST

[rrocket]

Seriously... comparing the Cruze to Corolla is high praise in this segment. The Corolla is one of the defacto small sedans in the world. If GM has made the Cruze to be as good as the Corolla in all of the aspects that it needs to... plus add a little something extra... then they have a winner on their hands. People will pay attention... It will take them some time to build credibility but if it's that good. That's not a problem.

Again.. need to separate out the enthusiast viewpoint from the reality of car buying. People will buy the most aweful cars and be ok with them so long as it gets them from point A to point B reliably. Cruze is mostly oriented at those people... they want dull, insulated, and without too much fuss. They are not car enthusiasts   If everyone were enthusiasts then the base level next gen Focus would be the ST

Yea, that pretty much sums it up, I think  high praise for sure (especially as I'm rather fond of a nice interior).  I don't think that a car being "boring" is bad for something being used as a commuter.  What I was musing was if "boring" will be one of the reasons NOT to recommend a Cruze like you would with a Corolla.

[Jaeger]

Seriously... comparing the Cruze to Corolla is high praise in this segment. The Corolla is one of the defacto small sedans in the world. If GM has made the Cruze to be as good as the Corolla in all of the aspects that it needs to... plus add a little something extra... then they have a winner on their hands. People will pay attention... It will take them some time to build credibility but if it's that good. That's not a problem.

Again.. need to separate out the enthusiast viewpoint from the reality of car buying. People will buy the most aweful cars and be ok with them so long as it gets them from point A to point B reliably. Cruze is mostly oriented at those people... they want dull, insulated, and without too much fuss. They are not car enthusiasts   If everyone were enthusiasts then the base level next gen Focus would be the ST

Yea, that pretty much sums it up, I think  high praise for sure (especially as I'm rather fond of a nice interior).  I don't think that a car being "boring" is bad for something being used as a commuter.  What I was musing was if "boring" will be one of the reasons NOT to recommend a Cruze like you would with a Corolla.

Agreed with all of the above.  The Cruze would do very well indeed to establish the kind of market position that the Corolla has.  Only someone with a very anti-import mentality would perceive that comparison as an insult.

Jaeger

[TopGun]

Agreed with all of the above.  The Cruze would do very well indeed to establish the kind of market position that the Corolla has.  Only someone with a very anti-import mentality would perceive that comparison as an insult.

Jaeger

Yup...fits me perfectly...'cause I'm very anti-import when you check my car line-up.

Alright, well, only someone with a very anti-GM would perceive that as an insult.  I merely pointed out the irony that the Corolla has always been held in high regard and now that someone has posted ONE article that GM as out-Toyota'd Toyota, then...well...we need to point out that the Corolla is dull.  Ya, no kidding.

[Jaeger]

Agreed with all of the above.  The Cruze would do very well indeed to establish the kind of market position that the Corolla has.  Only someone with a very anti-import mentality would perceive that comparison as an insult.

Jaeger

Yup...fits me perfectly...'cause I'm very anti-import when you check my car line-up.

Yeah, but haven't you loudly announced multiple times that you're going domestic only from now on?  It's not like the content of your posts don't speak for themselves, y'know.

What you "merely" did was the typical slappie rectionary response: perceiving a negative even where none exists.  It's symptomatic of your group paranoid persecution complex.

I'm sure GM would be delighted to have a compact offering favorably compared with the Corolla - a boring, but highly successfuly segment competitor.

Jaeger

[TopGun]

...
Yeah, but haven't you loudly announced multiple times that you're going domestic only from now on?  It's not like the content of your posts don't speak for themselves, y'know.
.....

Maybe you haven't seen some of my recent positive posts on Hyundai/Kia products.   What's that symptomatic of?

I will try awfully hard to go "domestic" next time around though.  All bets are off if it comes down to an Alfa though...if that situation ever arises.

[Jaeger]

Maybe you haven't seen some of my recent positive posts on Hyundai/Kia products.   What's that symptomatic of?

I'm not sure yet.  But I am hopeful that it is symptomatic of some desire on your part to be something better than a knuckle-dragging troll.  We have quite enough of those.

Jaeger

[CatsEye68]

I'm not sure yet.  But I am hopeful that it is symptomatic of some desire on your part to be something better than a knuckle-dragging troll.  We have quite enough of those.

Pot, meet kettle. His name is Jaeger.

[CatsEye68]

I find myself wondering if Chevy is running a different equipment level for the Cruse in Canada than they do in the US. GM has done this before with other models so it's certainly quite possible.

I first noticed that on GM's Canada site, they do not offer the Ice Blue Metallic paint option on the Cruze, whereas it is available when you visit the USA site. Then I noted that on the US site, the 2LT trim gets you leather seats standard, but apparently not here. Hmmm.

[Bubba]

Cruise is not available on the Cruze LS?  Glaring omission.

[dougjp]

Cruise is not available on the Cruze LS?  Glaring omission.

Good "find". Nearly $ 20k before cruise control is available. That doesn't make any sense.

[Dante]

Cruise is not available on the Cruze LS?  Glaring omission.

Good "find". Nearly $ 20k before cruise control is available. That doesn't make any sense.

LS is the base model right? I thought many compact cars don't have the cruise control standard. Available with a package, yes. Is this the case with the Cruze? I haven't checked the features/prices/option myself so I don't know, just asking.

[ArticSteve]

Appearance, goodies, nationalism, .... doesn't make a hoot of difference in this segment.  It's all about the finance rate.  If GM puts 0/60 on this vehicle right out of the gate it will sell well.  If not, .... fleet hell.

[Jaeger]

I'm not sure yet.  But I am hopeful that it is symptomatic of some desire on your part to be something better than a knuckle-dragging troll.  We have quite enough of those.

Pot, meet kettle. His name is Jaeger.

Coming from you, that is outrageously funny. 

Back to the car, I think I my have to take one out for a spin.  It seems to have a lot going for it.

Jaeger