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GEN 2 LS vs. LT, differences and DIY Conversion

15926 Views 31 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  cruze2011white, 
C
In the GEN 1 Cruze most of us on the forum significantly valued the engine choice between the 1.8L in the LS, vs. the Turbo. 1.4.

Chevy.com now has the build a Cruze tool open, and you can configure a Cruze. That's nothing new. We're all car enthusiasts on the forum, what I'd like to do is document the changes between LS, and LT, and if they can be addressed by the DIY croud.

I believe the powertrain's engine and transmission are the same between LS & LT, at least for Automatics. Therefore the difference in price between them is really options. What if we had a thread that addressed the how to add the differences from the LS to the LT by yourself.

  • Rims

    The LS comes with 15" steelies. The LT with 16" alloys. Comparable Alloys and tires can be added for $XX.

  • Cruise Control

    The LS doesn't come standard with Cruze, but the fleet ordering guide comes with an option for dealer added Cruze control. This can be addressed $XX

  • Seats
    It appears same cloth material used. LT gets power adjuster. This may require some work, like a seat swap, and power drop to the seats..

Sure there's no drivers alert monitors, and there's no convenience package with remote start. If someone wants those they will probably go LT. With what appears to be a difference in $2,000 MSRP between LS and LT, where is the value?

Sure you get the alloys and cruise control, maybe I'm missing something.

Many don't like the factory tires anyway, cruise control has been shown on GEN 1 to be pretty easy to add. Drivers seat.. maybe more difficult, but that's manual in the base LT as well. You have to pay extra for the convenience package to get the power seat, but your also paying for the remote start which won't be needed. I think they also heat the cloth seats. I did a How To for that on the GEN 1, it can be done for <$100.

Thoughts & Idea's Welcome!
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chevrasaki
I think that's a very astute observation. The reason I chose the 1LT over the LS was for two main reasons and a few minor reasons. Main things: The dealer wasn't offering nearly the same amount of money off in incentives on the LS vs the LT. The cash back rebates were much greater for the 1LT. Second main reason, was the wheels. I'm really not a fan of the 15" steel wheels and really had no desire for aftermarket wheels at the time. Minor reasons: The 1LT came with the 1.4L turbo, cruise control, and XM (Not sure if LS had XM or not)

My 1LT had a sticker price of $19,655. After my GMS pricing and the $4,000 rebate, my brand new car's price was $13,955 before taxes and paperwork fees. I believe it came with such great rebates for a few reasons. First, the new face of the 2015 was out, making the '14 model look old. Second, my car had been in dealer inventory for 381 days, and third it was a manual which only a small percentage of the population can drive. They really wanted to sell me my car.

If there were no old models for me to choose from, I would have likely ended up with the '15 LS.
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N
When I looked at my 14 LT, they had an ECO with the same options, same color. The ECO was $1k more. That included the ECO wheels of course, the spoiler, and the loss of the spare. I knew if I wanted to add the wheels and spoiler down the road, it would be more expensive, but I went with the LT. I have not gotten the wheels or spoiler, probably won't. I don't regret it one bit.
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jblackburn
The main deciding difference between the LS and 1LT for me was...the engine.

I went in wanting to buy a LS manual. FINALLY found a 1.4T that wasn't an Eco, and the difference between the two was night and day.

Now that they have the same engine across the lineup, I think they HAD to keep some options out of the LS or they simply wouldn't sell very many LT's.

I'm really not a fan of the 15" steel wheels and really had no desire for aftermarket wheels at the time.
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15" on the new ones, 16" on the old

(Not sure if LS had XM or not)
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Used to. Think they stripped it out in later years. Or maybe that was just the L model.
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chevrasaki
jblackburn said:
The main deciding difference between the LS and 1LT for me was...the engine.

I went in wanting to buy a LS manual. FINALLY found a 1.4T that wasn't an Eco, and the difference between the two was night and day.

Now that they have the same engine across the lineup, I think they HAD to keep some options out of the LS or they simply wouldn't sell very many LT's.


15" on the new ones, 16" on the old


Used to. Think they stripped it out in later years. Or maybe that was just the L model.
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It's hard trying to keep up with which model years included what haha. I'm so glad I ended up getting the 1.4L turbo. A true gem of an engine. Less displacement than most Harley Davidsons, and better gas mileage while lugging around 5 times the weight and much more aerodynamic drag, it's truly astonishing.
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C
Back to the GEN 2.

It appears that the LS has a smaller fuel tank than the LT as well. Small differences but does it justify the added MSRP, we'll have to see how dealers order them and where the discounts are.

Based on the GEN 2 RPO codes, the Manual and Automatic transmission is the same between LS & LT.
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chevrasaki
carbon02 said:
Back to the GEN 2.

It appears that the LS has a smaller fuel tank than the LT as well. Small differences but does it justify the added MSRP, we'll have to see how dealers order them and where the discounts are.

Based on the GEN 2 RPO codes, the Manual and Automatic transmission is the same between LS & LT.
Click to expand...
Interesting about the gas tank size, wonder what the reason for that is? Likely it's what was stated above, since the 1.4L engine is standard in all models, they must do something to set them apart. I also haven't looked into the gen II for the differences between the L model and the LS. But really, how much more basic can it get?

I'm just thrilled they didn't drop the manual transmission. Hopefully they'll add a manual option for the 1.6L diesel.
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jblackburn
carbon02 said:
Back to the GEN 2.

It appears that the LS has a smaller fuel tank than the LT as well. Small differences but does it justify the added MSRP, we'll have to see how dealers order them and where the discounts are.

Based on the GEN 2 RPO codes, the Manual and Automatic transmission is the same between LS & LT.
Click to expand...
If it is like the current Eco MT, that's a simple fuel pump swap to negate the difference - the actual tank is the same size. But that's more money added on to "convert" the two.
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ChevyGuy
Don't forget resale value. A LT will sell for more than a LS. The buyer may not get down to looking at the options.
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spacedout
The 16in aluminum rims/tires and cruze control are with the $2,000 to me. On the previous generation cruise control was a $500 dealer installed option. Also not all differences are listed options, previous generation cruze LS had the light grey cloth, which will show dirt easier, so I opted for the 1LT with all black interior.

Driving on 13,14 and 15in wheels for years, its a night and day difference having 16in wheels on a rough road with potholes. The 16in rolls over 99% of the potholes, smaller tires drop right to the bottom every time!!! Not only that living in an area that uses tons of salt in the winter Aluminum rims last allot longer before they start to degrade. A steel rim can be rusty in as few as 4 winters, and unseen corrosion can effect the TPMS.


If anything what we should be complaining about is the only $2000 difference starting price between the LT and the Premier. No way I would buy an LT when I can get the premier for so little upgrade cash. Also no way I want a non-leather wrapped steering wheel, and it seems GM has kept this constant from the LT the previous year.

Cruze For Sale: New 2016 Cruze Pricing | Chevrolet
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jblackburn
If only they'd make top level trims available with a manual again...
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N
when comparing the LT manual vs automatic, it states the manual has electric heating, but there is no heater listed for the automatic. Also, I cannot get the upgraded 8" mylink with the manual option, ugh.
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jblackburn
neile300c said:
when comparing the LT manual vs automatic, it states the manual has electric heating, but there is no heater listed for the automatic. Also, I cannot get the upgraded 8" mylink with the manual option, ugh.
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Isn't it part of the convenience package? Includes remote start for the autos.
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spacedout
jblackburn said:
If only they'd make top level trims available with a manual again...
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Though I'm an automatic guy, I would love the option of a slightly cheaper starting price for the premier model. I really would like the heated steering wheel that's standard on the premiere.

Besides my current cruze being slow to warm up in the winter, it seems to have one of the coldest steering wheels I can remember. I did a test this winter, even though I had heat in 10-15 minutes of driving it was 27 minutes later when I no longer get that frostbite feeling from touching the steering wheel without gloves. I hate driving with gloves so that's not an option.

Coworker complained his 2015 Tahoe took 7 minutes to have a warm steering wheel, told him it was better than the 30 minutes it takes to warm mine without the heater.
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N
For 2012 model years after settling on the Cruze, we compared the LS through the LTZ and wanted a manual transmission. LS was out of the question with those tiny wheels on ice and snow, and can't get a spare tire in an Eco with a manual transmission, didn't want the LTZ, only an automatic, then flipping between the LT and the 2LT.

2LT had on package option we liked for a thousand bucks, leather interior, leather wrap steering wheel and gear shift knob, electrically heated front seats, power drivers seat, improved radio, better suspension, and a spare tire with a jack. Of course it had cruise control, a necessity for maintaining cop laden roads.

If you are thinking of converting an LS to a 2LT the way dealers prices are, would probably cost a zillion dollars. And with larger tires your speedometer would be reading slow with less torque due to a higher numeric overall gear ratio.

Gentleman here spent 700 bucks to put a spare tire in his Eco, marketing can shove that can of spray up their butts, worthless.

If you thinking about switching a 1.8 L to the 1.4, think again, not only the engine, exhaust, ECU, BCM, complete wiring harness, radiator, oil cooler, just a wild guess, least 12,000 bucks doing the work yourself. Then issues with your title, the EPA, your insurance company, and the DOT. All go by the VIN Alloy wheels and tires, guessing around at least 1,500 bucks. Cruise around another 300, adds up in a hurry.
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jblackburn said:
If only they'd make top level trims available with a manual again...
Click to expand...
Chevy marketing lost another customer by slapping an AT in the 2LT and not going to spend a fortune for data.
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dhpnet
I chose the LT for two reasons, the 1.4T and the sunroof. Sunroof was mandatory for me, and it was only available on the LT and up. If I could have purchased an LS with the 1.4T and sunroof, I would have done it. I would have preferred the light grey interior. Cruise control can be added, rims can be upgraded, and I don't care about the other options.

In order to get the sunroof on the Gen2 Cruze, the LT automatic (not manual) or higher is required, AND the convenience package AND the technology package AND the MYLink with the 8" screen. Due to this requirement, the sunroof adds $2645 to the cost of the Gen2 LT Auto. I DO NOT want any of the features in the technology package or the convenience package, and I could care less about the 8" MYLink screen. I had actually considered upgrading to a Gen2 until I saw this requirement. I will probably just keep my Gen1 Cruze longer, or I might consider other brands.

The cheapest Gen2 with a sunroof is almost $3K more than the cheapest Gen1 with a sunroof.
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jblackburn
^Wow, that's dumb. A sunroof is something I would have wanted on my next car, but I don't care for the tech package options either.

They're starting to package these options like Honda and Toyota, where you HAVE to have a specific trim to even get any of the option packages.
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brian v
Yous guys are funny ..look at yerselves nit picking the heck out of GM and their system of boneheadedness ...

I'm cool with me new Gen Boosted , now if IT will stop Smowing .
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Merc6
5 year 60K is what turned me off. At 61K in 3 years on my Gen 1, I'm having all kinds of stuff still happen to me that would be all my problem to deal with.
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