Chevrolet Cruze (2011-2017) review: the compact sedan Chevrolet quietly gave up on in the Gulf
3.3/5motorssouq Editorial Team
Buy a used Cruze in Bahrain today only at a genuinely low price, because that is the only thing it still has going for it against Japanese and Korean rivals of the same age. The 1.8-litre four and conventional six-speed automatic are honest, low-drama mechanicals with none of the dual-clutch or turbo-reliability questions that dog some rivals, but resale value is weak and independent workshops see far fewer of them than a Corolla or an Elantra, so routine service takes longer to source parts for.
Pros
- Naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four avoids the turbo/DCT reliability questions of some rivals
- Comfortable, well-isolated ride for causeway and highway driving
- Reasonable fuel economy for a naturally aspirated compact sedan
- 60-litre tank means fewer stops on the Saudi run
Cons
- Depreciates faster than a same-age Corolla or Elantra purely on lower demand
- Independent workshops stock fewer Cruze-specific parts than for class leaders
- Feels a generation behind after Chevrolet moved other markets to the newer platform
- Chevrolet withdrew the nameplate from Gulf showrooms around 2018
Chevrolet kept the first-generation Cruze on sale in the Gulf years after North America and Europe had moved on to the redesigned second-generation car, offering it with a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four and a conventional six-speed automatic rather than the smaller turbocharged engines other markets got. That decision made the Gulf-spec Cruze a simpler, more predictable car than its export badge-mates, at the cost of feeling a generation behind by the time it left dealerships around 2018.
On Bahrain's roads
The 141 hp four is adequate rather than eager, and the six-speed automatic shifts smoothly without ever feeling urgent — which suits a car most owners used for the daily commute and the occasional causeway run to Saudi Arabia rather than for enthusiasm. Ride quality favours comfort over sharpness, cabin insulation is reasonable for the class, and the air conditioning copes with a Bahraini summer without complaint, which is the one area where GM's global engineering clearly did its job.
Fuel economy in the high 7s to low 8s L/100 km in mixed use is respectable for a naturally aspirated compact sedan of this size, and the 60-litre tank means fewer stops on the Saudi run than most rivals its size.
Ownership reality
The Cruze's real weakness in Bahrain is not the car itself but its footprint. Chevrolet sells far fewer compact sedans here than Toyota or Hyundai, so independent workshops handle Corollas and Elantras constantly and Cruzes only occasionally — parts for routine service are available but usually take a day or two longer to source than for the class leaders. Resale reflects the same reality: a Cruze depreciates faster than a Corolla of the same age purely because fewer buyers are shopping for one.
What it does not suffer from is the reputation some turbocharged, dual-clutch rivals picked up for expensive gearbox and turbo problems out of warranty. The naturally aspirated four and torque-converter automatic are about as low-drama as compact-sedan mechanicals get. If you find a clean, well-serviced Cruze at a price that reflects its weaker resale standing, it is a perfectly competent daily car — just do not expect it to hold value.