[nightfallgrey2018]

One thing that I've learned in life is that to never trust anything written by CR. Whether it is about a dishwasher, a broom or a car.

 

[neile300c]

One thing that I've learned in life is that to never trust anything written by CR. Whether it is about a dishwasher, a broom or a car.

I agree to a certain extent, but I think that their review is accurate for the Gen2 Cruze, it's a good car overall. And I know the reliability ratings come from surveys, and it seems the reliability is not great, with several issues posted on this board.

 

[nightfallgrey2018]

Go on any forum, of any brand and people post about all kind of mishaps. Try Honda, Toyota, Ford or whatever brand and you will find all kind of people having different issues. It's been this way since the internet was invented. It's also the same for dishwashers etc etc...

 

[Eddy Cruze]

I wonder if it has anything to do with Mexico or the fact that Lordstown has seen the writing on the wall with the demise of CRUZE worldwide growth. Plus they're Fugly these days!

 

[Pegasus]

I wonder if it has anything to do with Mexico or the fact that Lordstown has seen the writing on the wall with the demise of CRUZE worldwide growth. Plus they're Fugly these days!

I guess it depends on taste. I thought the looks of the 2017 was fine, and so does my wife. Much better looking than my 18 yr old Toyota Echo. I guess that's like comparing a male or female model to Rodney Dangerfield. My concern was of the reliability, as compared to it's competition. I'm not talking about minor issues, but the major ones that end up costing thousands of dollars. It is my wife's car however, and she made the ultimate decision. I would've felt better if she had bought a honda or toyota, but she got a better price on the cruze. Every Japanese car I've had has generally been excellent in reliability, and every modern American made car I've had personal experience with (with the exception of the Ford escort) has been less so, reliability wise.

So far the initial minor problems she's had have not repeated itself (like sputtering up a steep hill) and it's been running great, with excellent MPG and great acceleration when needed. We have some very short Interstate on ramps here, and if you don't have good acceleration it could cause an accident in heavy traffic. So far so good, but it's only got 1700 miles on it so far however. Hopefully my wife won't come to regret her decision to buy the Cruze.

 

[snowwy66]

I like the newer models better then the older models. Better looks and better technology. ONly time will tell though.

I"m really debating to buying a chev 4wd though, some time down the road. LIke the trax.

As for japan.

I"m not a big fan of colder thermostats, high idles, and timing belt motors.

 

[Eddy Cruze]

I don't know guys, I look at the Volt or the Bolt and my jaw drops. I sat in a 17 Cruze Hatch for two hours at the Dealer and became ill, noticed how bland and plain it seems and couldn't wait to get out. Looks similar to an Elantra or a Forenza and a few others. The Gen 1 looks more like a car to me

 

[Taxman]

Eddy does have a point.
I parked my pretty red 2016 next to my haircutter's KIA yesterday, and the KIA was the better looking car of the two.

 

[2015LT2]

I do see a similarity between the 2nd Gen Cruze, and the Elantra, in the body line that runs along the side of the car. I bought a used 15', time will tell if it was a good choice.

 

[jblackburn]

CR's "reliablity" scale takes into account things like infotainment, which GM has always had glitches with. IIRC that was one of the Gen 2 Cruze's demerits from CR, too - not powertrain or other reliability. I thought I'd be in for some issues for sure buying a first-year Gen 2. All I've had was a rattle from the heater core lines at idle, and the radio was sometimes glitchy (mostly fixed by a software update).

It's been dead reliable, and I love it for that and hope it continues. My Gen 1 Cruze had issues starting 3 months off the lot and then continued every few months. Super annoying to have a transmission go out in 50k. Had zero faith in the car beyond the warranty period.

 

[17Hatch6MT]

Does anyone have a full subscription to CR & can tell us what 'reliability' demerits the Gen 2 Cruze got?

 

[jblackburn]

Does anyone have a full subscription to CR & can tell us what 'reliability' demerits the Gen 2 Cruze got?

I have a magazine one. There's a cars issue coming soon. I'll upload a picture.

 

[obermd]

CR's "reliablity" scale takes into account things like infotainment, which GM has always had glitches with. IIRC that was one of the Gen 2 Cruze's demerits from CR, too - not powertrain or other reliability. I thought I'd be in for some issues for sure buying a first-year Gen 2. All I've had was a rattle from the heater core lines at idle, and the radio was sometimes glitchy (mostly fixed by a software update).

It's been dead reliable, and I love it for that and hope it continues. My Gen 1 Cruze had issues starting 3 months off the lot and then continued every few months. Super annoying to have a transmission go out in 50k. Had zero faith in the car beyond the warranty period.

This was one of my deciding factors to take the buyout of my ECO. I was at 103,000 miles and my nose was warning me it was developing another oil leak.

 

[Mattd04639]

Being somebody who has sold cell phones and plans for the past 7 years, I've come to ignore a lot of what Consumer Reports says.

I've had my Gen2 Cruze for 8 months now, and couldn't be happier. Not only is it much nicer than it's predecessor (inside and out), but the 2 cobalts I had were not the most reliable cars. I constantly had to take my '09 Cobalt to the dealer for service issues.

Only time will tell when it comes to reliability, but I'm certainly enjoying driving and detailing my Cruze.

 

[UpstateNYBill]

My 2017 Hatch with 60,000 miles has so far been more reliable than my 2012 Gen1 sedan at that mileage.

 

[Pegasus]

I like the newer models better then the older models. Better looks and better technology. ONly time will tell though.

I"m really debating to buying a chev 4wd though, some time down the road. LIke the trax.

As for japan.

I"m not a big fan of colder thermostats, high idles, and timing belt motors.

My Toyota's thermostat is fine, there's only a high idle when the engine is completely cold (just like most cars) and it has a timing chain.

CR's "reliablity" scale takes into account things like infotainment, which GM has always had glitches with. IIRC that was one of the Gen 2 Cruze's demerits from CR, too - not powertrain or other reliability. I thought I'd be in for some issues for sure buying a first-year Gen 2. All I've had was a rattle from the heater core lines at idle, and the radio was sometimes glitchy (mostly fixed by a software update).

It's been dead reliable, and I love it for that and hope it continues. My Gen 1 Cruze had issues starting 3 months off the lot and then continued every few months. Super annoying to have a transmission go out in 50k. Had zero faith in the car beyond the warranty period.

What you mention is really the most important thing for a lot of people my age, not the "infotainment" system. I would however hope the AM radio keeps working, so I can listen to local traffic reports and the ball game.

 

[snowwy66]

My Toyota's thermostat is fine, there's only a high idle when the engine is completely cold (just like most cars) and it has a timing chain.

The imports I've seen lately come with 180 where as the americans have been 190. Colder thermostat. When january hits. Those of us in the north want all the heat we can get.

The imports start off at 1500 - 2000 rpms. From what I've witnessed so far. When the weather is cold. Oil gets thick. The crankshaft has a harder time splashing oil up to the cylinder walls. Till the oil warms up. Compound that with high idle. Raises the wear and tear factor.
I like that the cruze starts off at 1000 rpm. In cold weather i like to let the oil warm up a bit before driving.

Now I"m not sure on engines these days. There may be some time of squirter on the crankshaft or piston rods to help alleviate the cold wear and tear. So that may not be a big factor anymore.

When i bought my 14 hyundai. I was told by the dealer timing chains were started 1 year earlier then my model car. Come to find out it's a timing belt. Imports WERE belts. I"m not up to date on if or what engines may have chains now. I do know that some STILL have belts. And some motors are STILL interference motors. If the belt breaks. Kiss the motor goodbye. AS of a couple of years ago.
It also had a 180 thermostat. Spent the majority of it's time running at 170. The heater SUCKED in January. And unless it was peak warm. Had a high idle of 1500 to start with. Regardless of temp. Not a big deal with warm oil. Very big deal overnight when the oil temp reads 30 degrees. Or colder.

This ONLY refers to the 4 cylinder engines. And i know yota's had 4 cylinder chains. This also refers to what I've witnessed so far. I haven't seen ALL cars so i can't vouch for ALL cars.

 

[17Hatch6MT]

I had an '89 Accord LXi (the Pgm.F.I. variant). It had a belt that had to be replaced periodically and tappets that had to be adjusted. I drove it about 170,000 miles, sold it on to a friend who drove it another 100,000 miles, who then sold it to someone else who continued driving it i don't know how far. The Honda left me stranded once (at home, thankfully) with about (not 80,000) roughly 140,000 miles on it when the fuel pump and/or relay quit.

Then had a 2001 Sentra with the 1.8, a timing chain engine. I drove it about 170,000 miles, then sold it to an associate who loves it and continues to drive it. It probably has over 200,000 miles on it. It failed to start once, was flooded, I didn't realize that's all it was. Had started it and moved it a few feet 3x in succession (put it there, no put it there... ok mom), have never flooded an e-controlled engine before, wasn't thinking about it. Had a cable throttle, so the ECU would've had to tell me to floor it, but it didn't talk or print messages.

Neither of those were maintenance free, but. I will take either of these two over engines and transmissions that grenade or develop internal leaks below 150,000 miles. I hope this is not what the Cruze's problem is, but we've already seen LSPI...

Re-Honda manual... Both of those cars were manuals, and the transmissions were just fine at 170,000, and I never heard of problems from subsequent owners. I did change the oil in them every 50,000 or so, I did rev-match and not hurry shifts. Made for leisurely launches, but does save the transmission.

 

[spaycace]

I recall a few years back ... maybe quite a few now depending upon how you look at it, when CR rated Bosch dishwashers very low because they were expensive to repair. REALLY? That's what they base their recommendations on? They don't break down as often as other brands like maytag, whirlpool, kenmore, etc ... so you won't have to make any repairs anyway. I had a 13 year old Bosh that I never had a problem with, and was still as quiet as the day I bought it, but sold it to a co-worker because the wife wanted the latest and greatest. It too is quiet and has had no issues so far in the 3 years we've owned it.
I lost all faith in CR at some point many moons ago, and don't really care what they have to say. I like to read reviews of ACTUAL customers that have the product(s) I'm considering a purchase of. Can't say I've been disappointed yet ...