(Note: sorry it took me so long to get this out -- I rented this over a month ago! Due to a family emergency and a lot of other things happening, I didn't get around to resizing photos until tonight. Hope you enjoy this! J)

For my fall break I decided to do some more sightseeing, this time going to Fossil Butte National Monument near Kemmerer, Wyoming. Once again taking advantage of the Weekender Special rates, I was picked up in and initially offered a 2011 Sentra! I asked if they had anything else, fully prepared to go swap at the airport, but then they surprised me with a Chevrolet Cruze 2LT I've been wanting to drive a Cruze for ages, and now I finally had the chance to do so, and in a nicely equipped one too!


www.chevrolet.com/2012-cruze-compact-car.html

Car Description: 12 SIR CRUZE 4D S (2012 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT sedan w/ Sirius)
Class: C4/EDAR (Intermediate Fuel Saver, formerly Green Choice)

The 2LT trim is the higher of two available mid-level LT trims. With a $22,680 MSRP, the Cruze 2LT is somewhat expensive for a compact midsize car. I received the car with 16,833 miles on the odometer, and drove around 431 miles over a two-day period. I also recommend you check out drzoidberg's report of a nearly identical Cruze 2LT he rented earlier this year


Powertrain: The Cruze 2LT is powered by a seemingly-small 1.4L inline 4-cylinder GM "Family 0" Ecotec engine. It doesn't seem like much -- until you see the turbocharger next to it It produces 138 horsepower, the same power output as its 1.8L brother (found on lower trims); on the other hand, it produces 148 ft-lbs. of torque at only 1850 rpm! There's a short lag in acceleration as the turbocharger spins up, but once it's going, it feels like a jet. It was my first time ever driving a vehicle with a turbocharger, and it's incredible. This Cruze has the optional 6-speed automatic transmission (+$1,185) with a very responsive manual mode. This system provides plenty of power for the Cruze, and cruising in 6th gear is effortless. Rated at 26 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, I averaged around 29 with mostly highway driving; I attribute this to some steep hills, high-speed cruising, and the altitude (ranging from 4,200 to over 8,000 feet above sea level, with most of the driving over 6,000 feet). Normally, a car with a turbocharger would use less fuel than a non-equipped vehicle at higher altitudes, but any vehicle will take a hit of some sort. If I drove like a normal human being I expect I would have been able to average in the upper 30s.


Ride/Handling: The Cruze handled well in my opinion. The suspension is stiff enough to prevent body lean during tight turns, but not so much that you feel every single bump in the road. Steering definitely felt light and perhaps even boosted, but it wasn't to the point where you didn't know how tight the turn would be; on a related note, the Cruze has an excellent turning radius. Brakes are firm and effective. One issue I did have with this Cruze was the traction; driving on some gravel roads, I had a lot of trouble trying to stay on the road in turns, and it skidded pretty easily. Perhaps this is due to the tires, but I would have expected more effort from the car's traction control It makes me wonder how well this car would manage in the winter here in Utah.

Interior: Having only driven one other midsize car model in recent history (Toyota Corollas), the Cruze 2LT blows that out of the water and is very nicely equipped. The Jet Black leather seats are relatively comfortable but could be more cushioned and supportive. The driver seat was adjustable 6 ways power, and reclined manually, while the passenger seat was fully manual; both seats were heated. On the other hand, the steering wheel, also wrapped in leather, was very comfortable and the thumb grips were very welcome. Audio, bluetooth, and cruise (cruze? ) controls were all located on the front of the steering wheel in a very intuitive layout; the wheel itself also tilts and telescopes in terms of adjustment.


The gauge cluster was easy to read, and I liked the information screen in the center; this is something I could get used to, and I hope to see something similar in future Chevrolets. The entertainment system was also easy to use; however the large screen could definitely have taken a higher resolution. The 6-speaker sound system is connected to an AM/FM/satellite radio/CD player and also has USB and auxiliary input jacks. The Cruze is also equipped with Bluetooth phone connectivity, which is very simple to utilize and uses voice commands. There are also two DC power outlets (one in the front and one in the rear). All of the windows have express-down capability from the driver's seat, and the driver's window has express-up. The automatically dimming rearview mirror was also appreciated. The trunk is also as large as an Altima's ^

Not everything is wonderful with the Cruze, though. The buttons don't always respond unless pushed very firmly. The center console is tiny and not even large enough for the rental contract. The reading lamps look like something you'd see in a car 10 years ago. The engine is small and surprisingly quiet, but when pushed very hard can be buzzy. Road noise is also not very well muted in the Cruze, but can be masked by turning up the radio volume.


Exterior/Design: The Cruze really does look sort of generic from many angles. The grill with the oversized Chevy bow does give it a slightly aggressive demeanor, but it otherwise didn't have much going for it. The rear light layout is unmemorable. The Silver Ice Metallic paint scheme works well with many Chevys, including the Cruze. I also liked the 17-inch 5-spoke flangeless alloy wheels.


Features: The 2LT trim comes with many standard features: foldable key with remote lock/unlock and remote start; 6-speaker audio system featuring AM/FM/satellite radio with CD and MP3 capability, auxiliary jack, USB input, active SiriusXM subscription ^; Bluetooth phone connectivity; tilt-and-telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and Bluetooth/audio controls; 6-way power adjustable drivers seat; heated front seats with 3 settings; rear bench armrest with cupholders; center console with sliding armrest; two DC power outlets; power windows with express-down on all and express-up for driver; foldable key with remote start; automatic exterior lamps; 17" 5-spoke wheels; and an automatic dimming rearview mirror with OnStar. Optional features that were included were the 6-speed automatic transmission ($1,185) and the front license plate bracket ($15).

Value: Using the USAA CDP and the "Weekender Special" rate quote, I was quoted around $36 for a Compact (B/CCAR) vehicle before applying the $10 off per-day PC which brought my rate down to a little under $18 for two days; unfortunately, Hertz has caught on to this practice and now prohibits combining the two. My friends at my HLE were able to take off $15 as a "taxi reimbursement" bringing my final total down to $21.39.


Summary

• 1.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine (138 hp, 148 ft-lb)
• 6-speed automatic transmission w/ overdrive and manual mode
• 26/38 mpg (regular fuel)
• Higher of the mid-level LT trims

PROS:

• Incredible fuel economy
• Handles well
• Huge trunk
• Folding key with remote start

CONS:

• Seat comfort
• Non-responsiveness of buttons
• Tiny center storage console
• Traction on unimproved roads

Final Verdict: The Cruze is a fun midsize car to drive around with a stunning fuel economy. Some imperfections remind you that it's a Daewoo at heart, but in Hertz's midsize category you can't do much better than this. I'd happily take one of these again.

-J.