The Cruze (any trim/option level) is a great car with the manual transmission. The automatic transmission used in them is a piece of crap. I leased a 2012 LS with automatic (no manual transmission cars on the lot that day - I should have waited or ordered one) and after a few months, I was complaining so much that the dealer said if I waited one full year, I could swap it for a 2013 with manual transmission and a new lease, all for $21 more per month on the lease payment. I took them up on that offer and the manual shift car is fun, reliable and economical. I presume that an 86 mile daily round trip involves a lot of highway miles, so not a lot of shifting to do. So I am curious about your question about long horrific stop and go commute. Indeed, a long horrific stop and go commute with a manual shift car would be no fun and would cause faster wear on the clutch and thow out bearing, so anyone with that situation should buy an automatic car - just not a Cruze.

 

The Cruze (any trim/option level) is a great car with the manual transmission. The automatic transmission used in them is a piece of crap.

Take that back! I love my automatic :tongue:

 

Chevy Cruze (2LT) is my first good car after I got my first real job. It is my daily driver to work (88 Miles a day round trip), but unlike your commute mine is mostly highway and hardly any stop and go traffic (I average 34 MPG). It drives really well as compared to other competitors in the market (honda civic, toyota corolla, elantra etc) and it comes with 10 standard airbags which makes it safe. Well I can't comment much about durability as I have had it only for 4 months now but its been holding good so far.

I am pretty sure you would lean towards the Cruze if you test drive other cars in the same segment and considering your daily commute I would suggest you buy an ECO (simply cause of the high MPG)

 

With an 86 mile daily commute you will want either an ECO MT or a Diesel. The clutch in the ECO MT is very easy on the leg. I have a bad left knee and don't have any issues.

 

I agree with Obermd with a 86 mile commute either the Eco or the Diesel would do you well. The manual tranny in these cars is no problem in stop and go driving. Either car would save you plenty of gas over the Jeep and make you ride much more enjoyable. The only thing you may want to look at if it is going to be a kid hauler: Leg room in the rear seat. Esp if you have tall kids and you are tall and will put the front seats back far.

 

You should definitely consider the Cruze! I was a Jeep (Liberty) driver myself until a couple years ago, but my 2-3000 miles a month at 15 mpg just wasn't working out. I kept the Jeep for towing (rated for 5000lb.), snow, and any time I'm leaving the pavement, but it mostly just spends its days in the garage. If your 86 mile commute has many highway miles, then I would highly recommend the Diesel. Mine has been great. It only comes in an automatic, but it's a different automatic than the gasoline models, so the negative transmission experience doesn't translate. I'll admit the downshifted are a little rough at first (upshifts were always super-smooth), but after the first 3000 miles or so, it settles in and shifts very comfortably. If you're driving more city miles or too many short trips between commutes, the eco might be a better choice, but the Diesel comes pretty much loaded (2LT options standard plus a few extras like the electric heat, spoiler, and aero package), and has been seen by many on the forums to blow away it's EPA-estimated 46mpg, making the cost pretty comparable, if not better than a comparably-equipped eco automatic.

 

Commuter car - yes, absolutely. The MPG will make a HUGE difference in your monthly gas bill. It's not a race car, but then again, neither are Jeeps, so you may actually feel there's more than enough power under the hood. I drove my dad's Liberty around for a few errands after Christmas, and used about 1/3 a tank of gas in 100 miles...

Kid hauler - I hope your kids are under 12 and you don't need 2+ car seats in the back seat. The Cruze's back seat is really, really small, especially with the front seats put back for taller drivers/passengers. Take them with you for a test drive.

Surprisingly, I really don't hate having a MT in this car and spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic. It's very easy to drive.

 

I have a '12 auto 1.4T 1LT-RS and I think it is great. 19K trouble free miles. Plenty of room in the front. I am 6'5 and noone can sit in the rear seat behind me. However, for a tall driver in a small car, the seat moves all the way back and I'm happy with the leg room as the driver. The car is no rocket ship but it def has plenty of power for a commuter car. The auto works just fine in traffic. The manual shift mode is fun to play with but it is really only affective while spirited driving on off ramp sweepers or curving roads to hold the rpm. Speaking of RPMs, the little engine runs out of steam at about 5K rpms which is expected in this small of an engine but below that, it is very peppy.
I would suggest you go rent one somewhere. Uber cheap long term test drive to see if you can live with it. Most major rental car companies have them and if you look around hard enough, there are LTZs on the rental lots as well. Not just the base LSs. Good luck and let us know.


Also, I drive anywhere from 50-100 miles per day commuting depending on my work shedule and I drive pretty agressively, 75+ on highway and sprited around town and I still overall average is 30mpgs.

What I know now and what would I change? I would buy at least a 2LT to get rear discs and larger wheels and I would probably buy the diesel for better mpg and more TQ down low. (The diesel was not avail when I bought ours)

 

The ECO MT consistently exceeds EPA fuel economy estimates. You won't have any trouble getting 50mpg with it if you're doing 100% highway driving.

 

I read a lot of comments about lack of room in the back seat and yet I am 6'2, have driven on a trip that overall took a week with 4 adults plus luggage and we were all comfortable and not cramped. From what I have seen the NA Cruze is almost identical on the outside, so where is this coming from?

 

I'm 5'11, I can not drive the cruze without the driver seat all the way back, I don't think even a small child would fit behind me. Problem is if I telescope the wheel in and move my seat forward the pedals are too close to me and I push them down much harder than necessary. My MPG really suffers and I actually start getting pain my my ankle from the strange angle.

GM if you listening give the cruze telescoping pedals, having a steering wheel alone move does not make sense.

 

You're basically in my exact position. I have 3 little ones, and a 140 mile a day commute. My car is secondary to my wife's minivan. The Cruze has been rock solid and awesome for us. We also find we take it more often than the van anymore. 1 infant, 1 kid in a booster, and one on seat, they all fit fine. Obviously, it's no minivan, but they're all comfortable and safe. We've done several long trips this way, no problems.

You can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the trunk, too.

 

I bought a 2012 Eco March 1st. It just turned over 81,000. Most of the miles are highway but about 25% are in city traffic. Have not had any issues and the highway mpg is usually near 40. I'd buy another in a heartbeat...

 

40 grand extra buying a Caddy CTS only gets you one more inch in the rear seat. At 53", wider than some SUV's that are only 51".

Can only get opinions with a question like this. Took us awhile to get use to it, now a very important part of the family and a very fun and comfortable car to drive. Wife loves those electrically heated seats. Can't seem to live without that DIC anymore. We both love a stick, but that is your choice, but we are a thousand bucks richer. Plus tax.