Overview of the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback is a compact hatchback that has been manufactured by General Motors since 2011. It was first introduced as the successor to the Chevrolet Cobalt and was offered in sedan and hatchback body styles. The Cruze Hatchback provides a sportier, more versatile alternative to the traditional Cruze sedan.
According to Wikipedia, the Chevrolet Cruze debuted in 2008 globally and 2011 in North America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Cruze. There have been two generations of the Cruze Hatchback, spanning from 2011 to 2019. The first generation Cruze Hatchback was produced from 2011 to 2015. The second generation model launched in 2016 and was discontinued after 2019.
Key specifications and features of the Cruze Hatchback have included turbocharged 4-cylinder engine options, up to 40 mpg fuel economy, a spacious rear cargo area, available advanced safety technologies, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a sporty RS trim.
In Chevy’s lineup, the Cruze Hatchback has served as a more practical, efficient, and affordable alternative to performance hatchbacks like the Chevrolet Sonic RS. It appeals to buyers seeking utility, technology, and style in a compact package.
First Generation (2011-2015)
The first generation Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback was introduced in 2011 for the 2012 model year. It was available in LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels. The engine options included a 1.8L 4-cylinder producing 138 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.4L 4-cylinder producing 138 horsepower as well.
The Cruze Hatchback came standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, with a 6-speed automatic transmission available as an option. Some key features included air conditioning, power windows and door locks, a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, and OnStar telematics. Available options included a sunroof, rear parking sensors, and a navigation system.
According to Edmunds[1], the 2015 Cruze Hatchback got EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg city and 37 mpg highway with the manual transmission. The automatic transmission delivered slightly lower fuel economy of 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
Second Generation (2016-2019)
The second generation Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback debuted for the 2016 model year. It featured a more modern and aggressive exterior design compared to the previous generation. Some key updates and new features included:
New exterior styling with a sweptback profile and short rear deck, moving away from the conservative look of the first generation (Cars.com)
An upgraded interior with higher quality materials and additional tech features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, optional heated rear seats, etc. (GM Authority)
Newly available 1.6L diesel engine option for improved fuel efficiency, along with carryover 1.4L turbo gas engine (Wikipedia)
Added availability of a 6-speed manual transmission for hatchback models (Wikipedia)
Enhanced safety features like Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert (GM Authority)
Overall, the second generation Cruze Hatchback aimed to be more stylish, efficient and technologically advanced than the previous version it replaced.
Exterior Design
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback has a sporty and bold exterior design. There have been two generations of the Cruze Hatchback:
First Generation (2011-2015)
The first generation Cruze Hatchback was introduced for the 2011 model year. It had a sleek, coupe-like profile with sweptback headlights, a short rear overhang, and sculpted lines along the sides. The hatchback was about 9 inches shorter than the Cruze sedan overall. The available exterior colors included Summit White, Silver Ice Metallic, Blue Topaz Metallic, and Crystal Red Tintcoat, among others according to Tom Gill Chevrolet.
Second Generation (2016-2019)
The second generation Cruze Hatchback debuted for 2016 with more aggressive styling. It had a bolder front fascia, hexagonal grille, sweptback projector headlights, and prominent air intakes. The profile featured more pronounced character lines and a sloping roofline. The RS trim added unique rocker panels, rear spoiler, and 18-inch wheels. Exterior color options included Orange Burst Metallic, Cajun Red Tintcoat, and Arctic Blue Metallic according to CarBuzz.
Overall, the Cruze Hatchback stands out with its sporty profile, curvaceous lines, and wide range of vibrant exterior colors over two generations. It blends style, practicality, and personality in one sleek package.
Interior Design
The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback features a stylish, driver-focused interior with room for five passengers. Its sculpted front seats offer good comfort and eight-way power adjustability on higher trims.
The hatchback body style provides more cargo flexibility than the sedan. With the rear seats folded down, cargo capacity is 42.7 cubic feet. There is a 60/40 split folding rear seat, providing extra versatility when carrying longer items.
Even the base L trim comes decently equipped, with features like air conditioning, a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and OnStar safety services. Higher trims add more premium touches like leather upholstery, heated front seats, and an upgraded Bose audio system.
Chevrolet designed the Cruze hatchback interior to be intuitive and user-friendly. Key controls are within easy reach and the MyLink infotainment system is straightforward to operate. Some reviewers have noted the interior looks nicer than some rivals, with an understated style.
Optional driver assistance features available include rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and more.
Overall, the Cruze hatchback provides a comfortable, tech-savvy interior focused on utility and everyday usability. With ample cargo space and available upgrades, it offers a lot of practicality in a compact package. More details can be found at 2019 Chevrolet Cruze: 110 Interior Photos.
Fuel Economy
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback offers decent fuel economy, especially when equipped with the efficient turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Here’s a look at the fuel economy ratings by engine and transmission:
The base 1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivers 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway with the 6-speed manual transmission, according to fueleconomy.gov (1). With the 6-speed automatic transmission, it gets 29 mpg city/38 mpg highway. This engine provides a good balance of efficiency and power.
The optional 1.6L turbo-diesel 4-cylinder engine offers outstanding fuel economy. With the 9-speed automatic transmission, it achieves 35 mpg city/49 mpg highway according to Chevrolet (2). This makes it one of the most fuel efficient non-hybrid/electric compact cars available.
In total, the Cruze Hatchback gets up to 40 mpg on the highway depending on configuration. This makes it more efficient than key rivals like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The diesel engine offers hybrid-like fuel economy without the added cost and complexity.
Safety Features
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback features a comprehensive suite of safety technologies to help protect occupants.
Standard safety features include 10 airbags, StabiliTrak stability control system with traction control, and daytime running lights. Available safety technologies include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear park assist, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, rear vision camera, and rear seat reminder alert (IIHS).
The IIHS gave the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback top “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness tests. It earned a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention with optional equipment (Autoblog). In government crash tests conducted by the NHTSA, the Cruze received an overall 5-star safety rating.
By offering advanced driver assistance technologies like automatic emergency braking as options, the Cruze Hatchback aims to help drivers avoid accidents in the first place. Combined with its strong crash test results, the Cruze prioritizes occupant protection.
Infotainment and Technology
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback comes well equipped with the latest technology and infotainment features. All models include Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system with a 7-inch color touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, OnStar with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot capability, voice recognition, and more.
Higher trim levels add an upgraded 8-inch MyLink system, GPS navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, a premium Bose 7-speaker audio system, and wireless device charging. Available driver assist technologies include rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, and more.
According to Car and Driver (Chevrolet Cruze Features and Specs), the Cruze Hatchback is Bluetooth capable for up to 2 active devices and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration for seamless smartphone connectivity and access to apps and features.
Pricing and Availability
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback was first introduced for the 2011 model year. It was offered in 4 trim levels: LS, LT, LTZ, and Eco. The base LS model had an MSRP of $17,250 in 2011. The top-of-the-line LTZ started at $23,370. In 2012, prices rose slightly across the lineup, with the LS now starting at $17,685 and the LTZ at $23,760 (J.D. Power).
In its last model year, 2019, the Cruze Hatchback was offered in 3 trim levels: L, LS, and LT. Prices ranged from $21,240 for the base L to $24,595 for the LT. The mid-level LS trim started at $22,040 (Cars.com).
On the used market, prices for the Cruze Hatchback vary widely depending on model year, trim level, mileage, and condition. Later model year Cruzes generally sell for $12,000 to $18,000. Older models from the early 2010s can be found for under $10,000.
After 2019, Chevrolet discontinued the Cruze Hatchback in the U.S. market. However, it continued to be sold in other markets like Mexico and China.
Comparison to Key Rivals
The Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback faces stiff competition in the compact car segment from rivals like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra. Here’s how the Cruze Hatchback stacks up:
The Cruze Hatchback is very competitively priced, with a starting MSRP of around $21,000. This makes it several thousand dollars cheaper than the Civic and Corolla hatchbacks. The Cruze provides good value for money.
In terms of fuel economy, the Cruze Hatchback gets EPA estimated 28 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. This is on par with the Civic (31/40 mpg) and better than the Corolla (28/37 mpg). The Cruze offers good fuel efficiency.
The Cruze comes standard with a decent amount of safety tech like rear vision camera and 10 airbags. However, the Civic and Corolla offer more advanced safety options. The Cruze’s safety rating is also not as high as its rivals.
For infotainment and technology, the Cruze has a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The Civic and Corolla offer more vibrant touchscreen interfaces and connected services. The Cruze’s tech is fairly basic.
In summary, the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback is an affordable, efficient compact car. But rivals like the Civic and Corolla offer more features, technology, and higher safety ratings. The Cruze is worth considering for budget-conscious buyers.
