2016 Chevy Cruze Limited Review

The 2016 Cruze Limited is simply a renamed 2015 Cruze. The diesel engine is no longer available.

Maybe all you're after is a compact car that foregoes all the latest updates in exchange for a bit of savings. If that's what you want, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited could be for you. This is a continuation of the previous-generation Cruze, and it still offers high fuel economy and an appealing mix of features for an agreeable price. Check out why else we think the Cruze might be the small sedan that fits your needs.

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited might sound like a premium trim level of this small sedan, but in fact it's just a continuation of the original Cruze generation, which dates back to 2011. This placeholder model gives Chevrolet dealers a compact sedan to sell while production of the fully redesigned 2016 Cruze ramps up.

As such, the Cruze Limited remains a competent member of the economy sedan class, with decent fuel efficiency, sharp if aging styling and a solid roster of features for the money. It suffers a bit, though, from a cabin that's not very spacious and an automatic transmission that's not terribly responsive. Moreover, a standout 2015 variant, the peppy and frugal Cruze diesel, is not included in the Cruze Limited lineup.

The Cruze Limited's pricing should be quite attractive due to its carryover status, and the same basic car earned an Edmunds "B" rating not too long ago. Still, there are better choices. The 2016 Honda Civic and 2016 Toyota Corolla each offer appealing content and superior resale value, while the 2016 Kia Forte is a real comer in the segment with solid performance and loads of standard and available features. The 2016 Ford Focus and 2016 Mazda 3, meanwhile, are sportier and more sophisticated. In this impressive company, the 2016 Cruze Limited isn't a top contender, but it could still be worth a look if the price is right.

Every 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited is front-wheel drive. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque powers the Cruze Limited L and LS. The LT, LTZ and Eco are fitted with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder that generates 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the L, LS, LT and Eco. A six-speed automatic is optional on the LS, LT and Eco and is standard for the LTZ.

In Edmunds testing, a first-generation Cruze with the turbo 1.4-liter engine and automatic transmission accelerated from zero to 60 in 9.2 seconds, a slightly slower than average time for this class.

The EPA's fuel economy estimates for the Cruze Limited L and LS are 27 mpg combined (22 city/35 highway) with the automatic transmission and 29 mpg combined (25/36) with the manual. The turbocharged LT and LTZ get an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined (26/38) with either transmission. The Cruze Limited Eco gets a laudable 33 mpg combined (28/42) rating with the manual transmission, but drops a bit to 31 mpg combined (26/39) with the automatic.

All 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited models come with stability control, antilock brakes, full-length side curtain airbags, front knee airbags and front and rear side-impact airbags as standard. A front-disc/rear-drum brake setup is standard on all models except the 2LT and LTZ, which are upgraded to four-wheel disc brakes. Also standard is OnStar, which includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking and stolen-vehicle assistance.

A rearview camera, blind spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system are available on all Cruze Limited models except the L and LS.

In government crash testing, the first-generation Cruze earned a top five-star rating for overall safety performance, with five stars for total frontal-impact protection and five stars for total side-impact protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, the Cruze received a top score of "Good" in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset impact test but a second-worst "Marginal" score in the small-overlap frontal-offset test. In the remaining side-impact roof-strength and seat/head restraint (whiplash protection) tests, the Cruze earned a "Good" rating.

In Edmunds brake testing, a first-generation Cruze LTZ stopped from 60 mph in 120 feet, a slightly better than average distance for this class of car. Even with its less grippy, fuel-economy-friendly tires, the Cruze Eco stopped in about the same distance.

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited combines responsive handling with a comfortable, compliant ride. The sport suspension on the 2LT and LTZ models provides better body control but still serves up an agreeable ride. The Cruze Limited's cabin remains relatively quiet at speed for an economy sedan.

The turbocharged 1.4-liter gas engine is pretty average in terms of outright acceleration, but it's peppier around town than the 1.8-liter, thanks to increased torque that's available at lower rpm. The automatic transmission it's paired to isn't as responsive, however. Programmed for maximum fuel economy, it's reluctant to downshift for quick acceleration and passing unless you really boot the gas pedal.

The Cruze Limited's cabin has a classy two-tone color scheme and looks more upscale than many of its competitors. That said, there still are a lot of hard plastic surfaces that don't show well on closer inspection. We're also ambivalent about the available MyLink touchscreen interface. We like its simple and straightforward menus, useful voice-command functionality and smartphone-app capabilities, but the occasional slow or missed responses to inputs can be frustrating.

Larger drivers may find the Cruze Limited's front seats a bit narrow and overstuffed. But most folks should find them supportive and comfortable, and they offer plenty of adjustment. A low bottom cushion for the backseat diminishes comfort for longer-limbed riders, as it doesn't provide enough thigh support. Rear seat legroom is only average for the segment and feels even smaller in person; you'll find more space in the Civic or Corolla, for example. Considerably above average, however, is the Cruze Limited's large trunk, which measures an impressive 15.0 cubic feet.