Article Comments - 2011 Chevy Cruze First Drive

5 messages, Last post on Apr 01, 2009 at 9:37 PM

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze First Drive - First Impressions: The Cruze is exactly as it needs to be — a solidly built, midsize family car that can satisfy a range of needs in every major market around the globe. (more)

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#1 of 5 2011 Chevy Cruze by hpmctorque Aug 23, 2008 (1:09 pm)
The pictures Chevy released suggest this Cobalt replacement is nicely styled, and will be capable of 40 mpg. Hopefully, Chevy will finally have a strong entry in the compact class. Replies to this message: nippononly (Aug 24, 2008 10:32 pm)
#2 of 5 Re: 2011 Chevy Cruze [hpmctorque] by nippononly Aug 24, 2008 (10:32 pm)
Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 23, 2008 1:09 pm) I agree. The styling is better, and hopefully so is the interior. With the newest Corolla having gone in the WRONG direction for '09 with regard to its interior, the time is ripe for GM to strike with the Cruze. But I can't help but wonder how they will pull 40 mpg with any engine besides this new turbo 1.4, and just exactly what price premium they will be expecting for the new engine. I wonder if there won't be some type of price leader "EcoTec" engine for the base cars, pulling the usual 28 mpg combined..... I am also hesitant to believe in a real-world combined 40 mpg from the 1.4L Cruze until they get closer to a working model and do some of the EPA tests on it...
#3 of 5 Re: 2011 Chevy Cruze (nippononly) by hpmctorque Aug 25, 2008 (4:08 am)
The base engine could be a massaged 2.2 Ecotec, for cost purposes and for those who would prefer time tested over leading edge technology. It's also possible that, with a six speed transmission (manual or automatic), a naturally aspirated 2.0 Ecotec would yield a better blend of fuel economy and performance for the base engine. As far as achieving a real-world combined 40 mpg is concerned, we'll have to wait and see. While the laws of physics haven't been repealed, and price remains an important consideration, I'm convinced the Detroit 3 fully understand that they've got to be competitive with the imported brands on fuel economy and reliability, and are doing their best to achieve this. I'm hoping they'll succeed because consumers, the people employed by the domestic companies and their families, and the American economy will be much better off if they succeed than if they fail. Foreign competition was a strong net positive these past few decades, but the pendulum will have swung too far if America ultimately loses its domestic auto industry. Among other things, it would reduce competition, which has served to improve products and values. Replies to this message: nippononly (Aug 25, 2008 8:06 am)
#4 of 5 Re: 2011 Chevy Cruze (nippononly) [hpmctorque] by nippononly Aug 25, 2008 (8:06 am)
Replying to: hpmctorque (Aug 25, 2008 4:08 am) Well, one of the things they really badly need to do is kick the rental car addiction - ie, pump up sales with massive rental sales when retail sales don't go their way. I know popular thinking is that GM and Ford have mostly kicked this habit now, but many individual models, the Cobalt being one, would prove them wrong. They NEED the Cruze to be the car people actually want to BUY, especially on the coasts. Everyone said the Cobalt would be that car, and it was massively improved, but after a strong start it quickly fell back into the trap of fleet sales. I am quite sure the volume trims of the Cruze will not have the vaunted new engine, so I wait to see what mainstream Cruzes will make for mileage. They've got a stick shift Cobalt right now that matches the class leaders on fuel economy, so they can stay at least competitive with the EcoTec engine. My thinking is that even the class leaders right now aren't that great. The class is compact cars, after all. And none can make 35 mpg combined? The 1.4L engine could make for fabulous press, but if they can't sell any 1.4-equipped models under $22K, what impact can it have? I hope they are aiming for at least ONE 1.4L trim to hit around the $18K or $19K mark.
#5 of 5 here we go again by etanretla Apr 01, 2009 (9:37 pm)
i give chevy an a for effort...but until they start building cars that are original and cohesive, chevy (like other american brands, except cadillac maybe) will have the poor appeal of what hyundai used to have...no identity, no flow, no recognition...bmw-ish tail lights?..cmon now, you can do better than that!../