6 Features of the New Cruze and How it Compares to Competition

The end of the year is almost here, which means more new models are rolling off the assembly lines across the country. The anticipation of the new model season is intense this year, with plenty of redesigned models to choose from, in nearly every segment. Chevrolet has revamped a good portion of its lineup for 2016, and the bowtie brand did not disregard its Cruze model for its newest model year.

The popular compact has been sold here in the United States since 2009, and the relatively new addition to the Chevy lineup is gaining even more traction, with the upcoming release of the 2016 Chevy Cruze.

The Second Generation Cruze

The 2016 Chevy Cruze is the start of the car’s second generation, and is expected to be a real contender as next year’s segment leader. Chevrolet unveiled the new 2016 Chevy Cruze back in June, and with the changes made to the compact car, it is clear that the brand is setting it’s goal on beating out the competition.

A lot of changes were made to the new Cruze to keep it relevant to today’s consumer, but certain revisions to the car stand out as a real game changer for the Cruze.

Six of the Most Important Changes Made to the 2016 Cruze

We have compiled a list of what we feel, are six of the most important changes that Chevy made to the second generation Cruze model. Each of these changes were deliberate, and applied to the compact car, to keep up with the stiff competition in the compact car segment. Check out these six changes below.

1. Safety: Arguably one of the most important aspects to consider in any new vehicle purchase, Chevrolet upped the safety ante when they designed and equipped the all-new Cruze. Compact cars are one of the most popular choices for new drivers, which makes the importance of safety even more paramount. The 2016 Cruze offers the option of advanced safety systems such as, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind spot detection, and collision warnings. The new Cruze will also offer a standard rear back-up camera on all of its 2016 models.
2. Comfort: One of the biggest offenses of compact cars, is that they don’t offer comfortable interiors due to their smaller size. Chevrolet added a longer wheelbase to the 2016 Cruze, giving rear passengers an extra two inches of legroom. What may seem like a small amount, actually makes a big difference in passenger comfort. The new Cruze also offers a larger trunk, adding to its already growing appeal.
3. Efficiency: No driver wants to spend every other day filling up at the pump. One of the reasons why the compact car segment is a popular one, is that it offers great fuel economy, saving drivers at the pump. On 2016 Cruze models equipped with the standard 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, drivers can expect a generous 40 miles per gallon on the highway. This number does not put the Cruze at the top of its segment for efficiency, but close enough to stay on top of the competition.
4. Lighter Weight: When designing the 2016 Cruze, Chevrolet put a lot of effort into shedding unneeded weight on the compact car. The result? A Cruze that weight 250 pounds less than the outgoing model year, that manages to offer more room for both passengers and cargo. This drop in weight is part of the reason why the new Cruze gets better fuel economy numbers, and also helps the compact car handle and perform better.
5. Styling: There is no denying that the first generation Cruze was a nice looking car. The attractive exterior styling of the original Cruze is what drew many people to purchase the car over competitors. Chevrolet updated the exterior styling of the Cruze to reflect a more modern, sporty car, that gives it an entire new feel. A lowered front end “nose,” sculpted lines on the side of the Cruze, and LED accent lights, all help bring the 2016 Cruze into the second generation.
6. Technology: Last, but most certainly not least, the 2016 Chevy Cruze has made huge strides in the in-vehicle technology department. Already a segment leader in this category, the new Cruze offers class-exclusive 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability, Apple CarPlay technology, and Android Auto. To keep up with this advanced technology, the 2016 Chevy Cruze comes standard with a 7-inch color touch screen display in all of its models.

Chevrolet has not announced pricing for the 2016 Chevy Cruze just yet, but industry insiders expect the compact car to offer a similar price tag to last year’s model, and a slightly lower number than its competition. While it hasn’t yet arrived at dealer showrooms, the 2016 Chevy Cruze is expected to be available early next year.

How Does it Compare?

Chevrolet designed and engineered the new 2016 Chevy Cruze to compete with other compact cars in its segment, so did all of the work pay off? Official numbers, crash test data, and other pertinent information, is still not available to properly compare the new Cruze to other compact models – but that doesn’t mean we can’t try!

Traditionally, the Chevy Cruze has been in direct competition with the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic. The Toyota Corolla has long been the leader of the compact car segment, while the other models have traded off for second, third, and fourth place. Check out how the Cruze performs in the categories below, and how these other models compare.

• Efficiency: As previously stated, the 2016 Chevy Cruze gets 40 miles per gallon highway – an impressive number for the segment. The 2016 Focus pulls ahead with 42 mpg, while the Elantra lags behind both models with an EPA-estimated 38 mpg. The segment-leading Corolla gets 42 miles per gallon, and the Civic comes in last with an estimated 35 mpg highway. Each compact car hovers around the same number, but the Corolla, Focus, and Cruze are clear front runners in this category.
• Technology: The clear winner of this category, is the 2016 Cruze, as it is the only car in the segment to offer 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability. All Cruze models come standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, and a rear backup camera. The Corolla offers a standard 6.1-inch touch screen display, but lacks the standard back up camera. The 2016 Ford Focus does not offer a touch screen display as standard equipment, and also does not include a standard back up camera. The 2016 Hyundai Elantra also falls shot, and does not offer either a touchscreen or back up camera as a standard feature. The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze looks to be the clear winner in this category, which could help it move to the top of its segment next year.
• Price: The official price of the new Cruze has yet to be announced. The 2016 Cruze Limited model starts at $16,120, which is expected to give insight into the base price of the new Cruze. Check out the starting price of the other compact cars, below:
  • 2016 Toyota Corolla – $17,230
  • 2016 Ford Focus – $17,225
  • 2016 Hyundai Elantra – $17,250
  • 2015 Honda Civic – $18,490

It may still be too early to tell how the compact car segment will pan out, but the 2016 Chevy Cruze is certainly poised to be a top contender. Once the final numbers on the Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze are announced, the real competition between these four segment leaders will truly begin!