2019 Chevrolet Cruze Pros vs Cons

The Cruze is a popular compact car from Chevrolet. It is available as a four-door sedan or as a hatchback. The vehicle is small in size but big on efficiency and high-tech features. An optional diesel engine is unique for cars in this class within the U.S. The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze gets a new look this year. It also offers a comfortable ride with plenty of luxury appointments for the interior.

What's New For 2019?

You can still recognize the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze, but it has received some updated styling. The front grille, headlamps and fascia all look different this year. Dual-element taillights have been added to the rear. The wheels get an upgraded look as well. On the inside, you'll have a few more choices for interior colors and materials. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with a 7" screen is now standard on all models.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze – The Pros

1. Outstanding Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is one of the best reasons to buy a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The 4-cylinder, turbo, gas engine gets 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway in the sedan. This makes for a combined rating of 32 mpg. This drops just slightly in the hatchback model because of the body shape being less aerodynamic. With the diesel engine you get an amazing 31 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway and a combined rating of 37 mpg. This makes it one of the best cars in its class for fuel economy.

2. The Choice of a Diesel Engine

The option to select a diesel engine makes the Cruze unique in its class. Diesel engines are known for being more efficient and durable. They are generally able to provide more torque. In the case of the Chevy Cruze, these perks are obvious. The Cruze equipped with a diesel engine has much better fuel economy and acceleration. This engine choice really sets the Chevy Cruze apart from the competition.

3. Spacious Cabin and Rear Seats

The Chevy Cruze features a nice-sized interior for a compact car. The cabin area is spacious and comfortable. The rear seats offer a good amount of head and leg room for passengers. The Cruze can seat five passengers. Four large adults can easily be transported around with plenty of room to spare.

4. A Large Trunk for a Compact Car

The trunk or hatchback area gives you a good amount of cargo space for a compact vehicle. The hatchback provides a bit more space with 22.7 cubic feet. This can be greatly increased with the rear seats lowered flat. In this configuration, you can get a handy 47.2 cubic feet of storage space.

5. Brilliant Standard Infotainment System

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze offers a fantastic infotainment system. Best of all, this system comes standard on even the base model. You won't need to upgrade trim levels to enjoy this system and all of its perks. The system comes with a 7" touchscreen with a crisp, color display. It has Bluetooth compatibility and a 4G WiFi hotspot built in. It also is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

6. Excellent Safety Features

This compact car gives you ten standard airbags on all models. Chevy's StabiliTrak system is standard on all models as well. This provides traction control, stability and rollover protection. You also get anti-lock brakes and a rear-view camera. If you upgrade the trim level, you can also have parking assist, blind-zone alerts, forward-collision detection and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premier package includes lane-change alert, front pedestrian braking and a following-distance indicator.

7. Nice Steering and Handling

The Cruze handles turns and corners nicely. Steering is tight and responsive. It has a great, sporty feel to it as you zip around town or on open highways. The best performance feel is with the diesel engine, as this gives you better acceleration and the option for a manual transmission system. It's not a speedster, but the Cruze does steer and handle very well.

8. The Compact Size is Convenient

The small size of the Chevy Cruze makes it easy to maneuver. It's a great city driver. You will rarely have trouble finding a parking space that the Cruze can fit into. Best of all, you still have a comfortable interior and a good amount of cargo space. Depending on the body style, the Cruze dimensions are 175 to 184" long, 71" wide and 57 to 58" high.

9. Great Interior Style and Comfort

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze offers a comfortable ride. Part of this is due to the smooth-running engine, the suspension system and the quiet cabin. The rest is due to the comfortable seats and cabin area. There is plenty of room inside and the seats are all very cozy. Heated front seats add to this comfort on cold days. The style is sleek and modern. You can choose from an array of beautiful colors and materials. The dashboard and controls are all well designed and laid out too.

10. It's Affordable and Reliable

The Chevy Cruze has been a reliable performer for years now. It's expected that the 2019 models should see the same level of reliability. These cars aren't very expensive either. They will save you money during the initial purchase and then at the gas pump for years to come. The base price of the Cruze is on the low end of the spectrum for compact cars.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze – The Cons

1. The Base Engine Could be Quicker

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze comes standard with a 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder, turbo engine. Unfortunately, this option is a bit sluggish when it comes to acceleration. It does okay once it gets going on an open stretch of the road, but passing and starting acceleration need to be better than this. If this is important to you, then opt for the diesel engine. It provides much better acceleration.

2. It Gets Pricey With Options

This is a trend with all vehicles and not just the Chevy Cruze. The base cost is very affordable and the lower-tier trims are all competitively priced. Unfortunately, some of the best options are only available on more expensive trim packages. Once you start adding up all of the best perks that Chevy offers, your economy car is suddenly no longer economical.

3. No Manual Transmission This Year

The base model and most trims lose the option for having a manual transmission. This will be disappointing to anyone who appreciates the Cruze's otherwise sporty handling. Chevy is likely taking into consideration that purchases of manual-transmission models only accounted for a small percentage of sales in 2018. The good news is that the automatic transmission works well enough. You can also opt for a manual 6-speed if you purchase a Cruze with a diesel engine.

4. Lift-over Height Makes Loading Difficult

The Chevy Cruze has a good amount of cargo space. This is especially true when you consider that it is a compact car. Unfortunately, it suffers from a tall lift-over height that makes loading heavy cargo more difficult than it should be. This is the case whether you choose a sedan or the hatchback model. If you just use the cargo area for groceries and lighter items, this shouldn't be too much of a problem though.

How the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Stacks up to the Competition

The Cruze has three main competitors in the field of compact cars. These are the Ford Focus, the Kia Forte and the Honda Civic. When it comes to the Ford, the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze has better predicted reliability. This is based on the performance of both vehicles in previous years. The Cruze comes in at a lower price too.

The Forte offers a lower base price and a slightly larger interior than the Cruze. The Cruze beats it out in comfort and fuel economy. The Honda Civic offers more cargo space. The Civic's base engine provides better acceleration too. The Cruze again wins out in price and reliability when compared to the Civic.

All four of these cars are good, quality vehicles. What really sets the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze apart is its option for a diesel engine. This is also what helps the Cruze to succeed in providing the best fuel economy of the bunch. If you want to save money at the pump, then the Cruze is the best pick here.

In Conclusion

The 2019 Chevrolet Cruze presents great value. It offers a very competitive base price and excellent fuel economy. The small size may not be right for everyone, but it makes the Cruze fun and easy to zip around town in. This car has a reliable track record and tons of great safety features. Sporty handling, a diesel engine and a wonderful infotainment system round out some of the best features here. If you're in the market for a compact car, you can't go wrong by choosing the Chevy Cruze.