I have been considering getting another car to replace my 2006 Fusion SEL V6 (although it could easily last another five years...only 54K miles); I'm bored with it and very fickle, I don't think I need to explain.
Rented the Cruze from Hertz for a day to assess the differences between the 3.0L Duratec six/6-speed and the 1.4L Ecotec 4/6speed. Only recently have I come to the surprising conclusion that a quiet car with
a supple and well damped suspension allied with an unobtrusive, smooth-shifting transmission is more important than outright power and impressive 0-60 mph times. I've done all the popular, shade-tree mods
to the Fusion (courtesy of Steeda) resulting in discernible performance gains but I simply don't enjoy driving her anymore. I don't like the drone of the Magnaflow exhaust and I find the sport suspension harsh.
It is more commonly known as "the itch"
My impressions of the Cruze, in brief:
- Calibration of the six-speed is very good in my opinion. Minimal jolt felt when shifting and unit always felt alert. By contrast a 2013 Focus rental I recently drove felt hobbled from the line by its DCT and often slammed
into gear at low speeds. In fairness though it probably never adapted to a single driver, hence the erratic behavior.
- The Ecotec motor is surprisingly responsive from the line and is pleasurable to drive at high speeds. I was able to (slightly) wind her out on the interstate and the performance astonished me. The harder i pushed
the better she felt. A deal breaker could be the moan heard from the engine upon application of the throttle. I would expect some commotion from such a small engine but the character of this noise brings to mind
a dying animal and disturbs the serenity of the cabin. It might be a broken motor mount.
- The seats are firmish but comfortable and provide good support. Would probably spring for an LTZ for the power seats (shame on GM for with holding power recline at that trim level)
- Fit and finish is quite acceptable. At 25K rental miles the doors still close with a satisfying "thunk" and I heard only one creak from the IP trim. All switches and knobs impress with a firm tactility.
- The steering is precise but devoid of feel. The Focus, and my Fusion, excel in this area. The car handles very well and the suspension is engaging but never harsh; however, the sophistication of the
Focus in this area is marked.
Would I buy? The Cruze is certainly competitive with cars of its price but I might quickly begin to pine for a car with more "substance" when it finally dawns on me that I'm driving an economy car. I don't
have a long commute and i have driven midsized cars for the last 20 years. I think it has a better powertrain than the Focus and would seriously consider one if the droning issue is anomalous and not common.
Rented the Cruze from Hertz for a day to assess the differences between the 3.0L Duratec six/6-speed and the 1.4L Ecotec 4/6speed. Only recently have I come to the surprising conclusion that a quiet car with
a supple and well damped suspension allied with an unobtrusive, smooth-shifting transmission is more important than outright power and impressive 0-60 mph times. I've done all the popular, shade-tree mods
to the Fusion (courtesy of Steeda) resulting in discernible performance gains but I simply don't enjoy driving her anymore. I don't like the drone of the Magnaflow exhaust and I find the sport suspension harsh.
It is more commonly known as "the itch"
My impressions of the Cruze, in brief:
- Calibration of the six-speed is very good in my opinion. Minimal jolt felt when shifting and unit always felt alert. By contrast a 2013 Focus rental I recently drove felt hobbled from the line by its DCT and often slammed
into gear at low speeds. In fairness though it probably never adapted to a single driver, hence the erratic behavior.
- The Ecotec motor is surprisingly responsive from the line and is pleasurable to drive at high speeds. I was able to (slightly) wind her out on the interstate and the performance astonished me. The harder i pushed
the better she felt. A deal breaker could be the moan heard from the engine upon application of the throttle. I would expect some commotion from such a small engine but the character of this noise brings to mind
a dying animal and disturbs the serenity of the cabin. It might be a broken motor mount.
- The seats are firmish but comfortable and provide good support. Would probably spring for an LTZ for the power seats (shame on GM for with holding power recline at that trim level)
- Fit and finish is quite acceptable. At 25K rental miles the doors still close with a satisfying "thunk" and I heard only one creak from the IP trim. All switches and knobs impress with a firm tactility.
- The steering is precise but devoid of feel. The Focus, and my Fusion, excel in this area. The car handles very well and the suspension is engaging but never harsh; however, the sophistication of the
Focus in this area is marked.
Would I buy? The Cruze is certainly competitive with cars of its price but I might quickly begin to pine for a car with more "substance" when it finally dawns on me that I'm driving an economy car. I don't
have a long commute and i have driven midsized cars for the last 20 years. I think it has a better powertrain than the Focus and would seriously consider one if the droning issue is anomalous and not common.