2022 Chevy Cruze: Everything We Know So Far
2022 Chevy Cruze – Despite rumors of plans to discontinue the Chevrolet Cruze in North America and halting production of the gm’s Lordstown facility and GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant earlier this year, that doesn’t mean the model will be discontinued.
At once. In fact, General Motors will continue to manufacture and sell Chevy Cruze in other global markets where sales of such models have remained stable, falling at a not-so-flashy rate or even rising – as is the case in South America.
2022 Chevy Cruze
We Expected for a 2022 Chevy Cruze
The Cruze received a mid-cycle upgrade (MCE), otherwise known as a facelift or refresher, for the 2022 model year. Therefore, we expect only minor changes and updates for Cruze 2022 in global markets, including:
- Minor changes to the structure of feature groups/equipment
- One or two new exterior colors
- One or two new interior color combinations
- No updates or powertrain changes are expected.
Chevy Cruze Body Style
The Chevy Cruze 2022 will continue to be offered in two body models:
- Four-door sedan
- Four-door hatchback
2022 Chevy Cruze Powertrain
The Cruze’s base powertrain is a live turbocharged 153 hp four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Normally, we prefer manual transmissions, but not in this case. In our experience, manuals are unpleasant because the clutch pedal is too light, and the gearshift throws are inaccurate and long.
Equipped with an optional six-speed automatic, however, the Cruze is eager to accelerate. The available Cruze diesel is a turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a nine-speed automatic. This diesel engine is louder and rougher than a gasoline engine, but it’s silent enough for a gasoline engine to pass through when traveling at a highway speed.
The Cruze feels sturdy on the road, bigger and more stable than its dimensions. The steering wheel is quite sturdy, and the car goes straight on the road and is happy to respond to the input. Cruze’s padded suspension makes it feel inappropriate when driven aggressively around the corner, but the result is a smooth ride through the mounds and holes.
Fuel Economy
When fuel efficiency and not performance are a priority, the Cruze shines brighter. The powertrain is among the most efficient in the already low-cost class, and its diesel powertrains beat them all — even some hybrids.
The gas-powered, six-speed Cruze sedan produced 36 mpg in our highway’s 200-mile fuel-economy test, far from the EPA’s rating of 39 mpg. We also run the diesel-powered Cruze through the same testing and produce an EPA-beating 52 mpg, far beyond the most efficient gasoline-powered compact sedan we’ve ever tested.
2022 Chevy Cruze Interior
The Cruze sedan and hatchback have an almost identical head and legroom interior size. The Cruze hatchback passenger benefited from a tall, flat roof in the back seat, with an extra half-inch headspace compared to a sedan passenger.
Depending on the trim level, the Cruze cabin can be selected to a surprisingly high-end level for such a compact car, but many Cruze customers will be rewarded from this desired extra.
The fabric seats found in the base model are indeed comfortable, but buyers must choose premier trim before they can get a power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard. The Optional Premier steering wheel with heating and a rear seat that warms the bun is a treat in this segment; the fact that cruise control is not standard makes the sheen dull.
Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system is excellent, and the Cruze gives buyers access to technologies such as 4G LTE connectivity.
Displayed on a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen with an excessive array of buttons for key functions along the bottom of the screen, MyLink is a simple system that most users can easily understand. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard and allow users to search for directions from smartphones, among other functions.
On both sedans and hatchbacks, the Cruze’s rear seats can be folded easily through a lever mounted on the top of each outboard rear seat.
Many cars in this segment have a two-step upholstery folding process that must first start using a lever located in the trunk or cargo area, then require you to walk around the car to lower the seat. Chevrolet deserves credit for implementing this clear, operator-friendly solution. With the rear seats folded, we managed to put 15 carry-on suitcases into the hatchback model.
Safety Features
The Cruze performed well in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash test but has not been fully evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Most driver assistance features are optional or not available at all on the Cruze.
Automatic emergency braking, lane-lane warnings, lane maintenance assistance, and front collision warnings are available but only at the top Premier trim level as part of the Driver Confidence II package. Key security features include:
- Automatic emergency braking available
- Line guard assistance available
- Front collision warning available
2022 Chevy Cruze Release Date and Price
There is no official price yet, but we expect the Cruze 2022 will follow the regular GM model year’s rollover order and launch in the third quarter of the 2022 calendar year in the available market.
