Why You Should Take Notice of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is just one more proof that an American auto maker can compete in the compact sedan segment. Not only can it compete, but in many ways the Cruze out performs many of the foreign auto makers offering a great look, a veritable laundry least of features, and excellent fuel economy to put it near the top of this segment.

Offering comfort with the performance and fuel economy helps the Cruze stand out from the competition and allows owners to enjoy a unique driving experience not found in many cars in this class. Added to this year’s lineup is a turbodiesel engine which has been very popular with the European owners of the Cruze. This car has also been named to the Kelley Blue Book list of 10 Best Sedans Under $25,000 for 2014, a great feather in its cap over the stiff competition.

Many cars in this class do well in the city when running errands, but lack the power and capability once on the highway; the Cruze does not have this problem. Offering a nice amount of passing power and excellent suspension and steering this is a great car for both running errands and as a daily commuter and is sure to please any owner. Add to this a good amount of insulation and the cabin is fairly quiet allowing for the occupants to enjoy their choice of sounds rather than a bunch of road noises.

Starting off the engine lineup for the Cruze LS model is a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine that offers 138 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque. Chevrolet Indianapolis tells us that this is a nice engine for the size and economy and when set up with the six-speed manual transmission offers a fuel efficiency of 25 city/36 hwy mpg and when matched with the six-speed automatic transmission offers 22 city/35 hwy mpg.

Next up for the Cruze LT, LTZ and Eco is a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine offering 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. The fuel efficiency for this engine when paired with the manual transmission offers 26 city/38 hwy mpg and 26 city/38 hwy mpg for the automatic. When the Eco model is chosen the fuel economy comes in at 28 city/42 hwy mpg for the manual transmission and 26 city/39 hwy mpg for the automatic. This is the engine set up many should choose to get the best of both worlds under the hood of their Cruze.

Finally the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel offers 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline four-cylinder engine that comes in with 148 horsepower but a massive 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The only option for a transmission with this engine is the six-speed automatic with allows for a fuel economy of 27 city/46 hwy mpg. This engine does require the use of an emissions fluid that needs to be changed every 10,000 miles but does offer the best fuel efficiency of the three engines.

Even though this is a compact sedan the interior is surprisingly roomy with plenty of space in the back seat for full-sized adults. Add to this the tow-toned look, excellent choice of materials from cloth to metals and plastics throughout the interior and it is an impressive cabin indeed. All controls are intuitively placed throughout the dashboard to make for ease of use and keep the driver’s attention on the road ahead.

Offering a fairly plain upon first glance exterior the Cruze does have some interest and appeal once a second look is taken. With very sleek lines and wrap around headlights the car shows style and quality not often found in this segment. A lower body molding across both doors adds some nice interest and the front grill does give a bit of a smile as if it knows what a great car it really is. With beautifully spoked wheels that range from 16 to 18-inches the appeal is evident and this look will not go off into the sunset as just a fad.

With six trim levels to choose from the Cruze has a pretty nice list of standard features. Starting with the LS model the features include premium cloth seating, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker audio system with an auxiliary port, keyless entry, and six-months of OnStar service. Other models offer cruise control and the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. For the Diesel model leather seats, remote start, MyLink audio controls with a 7.0-inch touchscreen are all standard. All models come equipped with ten airbags to keep everyone safe in the event of a collision.

The options for the Cruze, just like many other models of cars are trim based and include such niceties as a navigation system, a rearview camera, a nine-speaker Pioneer premium audio system, a power driver’s seat, a power sunroof, and a remote starter. The RS package offers a rear spoiler, lower bodywork, fog lights, and front and rear fascias. To upgrade the safety features the blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and rear parking assistance can be added to the car.

Starting out for the base LS model the Cruze has a price around $18,000 for the manual transmission and adds $1,000 to add automatic transmission. At the top of the gasoline powered models is the LTZ which starts above $24,000. The starting point for the Turbo Diesel is at $25,695 and all these price points are right in line with much of the competition that doesn’t offer the same spacious cabin or the features that are included in this car.

Whether searching for a great car to run daily errands or for a commuter car the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze makes a great choice. Offering plenty of power and fuel economy for both in town driving and highway cruising there is sure to be a Cruze to please almost every shopper.   With a very reasonable price tag and a long list of standard equipment the Cruze is a leader in its class and well worth consideration.