One of the great things about the modern Chevy lineup is that there really is something for everyone. A lot of other manufacturers pick a half dozen markets or vehicle types and stick to that – but with Chevy, there are a lot of options whether you want a car, truck, or SUV. With that in mind, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is an excellent choice if you are looking for a compact car and want to get excellent gas mileage while cruising around town or on the highway.
One important thing to note about the 2019 Chevy Cruze is that there are two main versions available: either a standard sedan or a hatchback. Beyond that distinction, there are four different trim levels available – five for the sedan – though they mostly line up and offer the same interior and safety features regardless of the configuration you choose. There’s even a diesel engine available for both builds, so if that’s something you’re interested in with a compact car, then the Cruze is a great choice.
Here’s what you need to know about your options…
Hatchback vs. Sedan
The first major thing to consider when looking at the 2019 Chevy Cruze is whether you want a standard sedan or a hatchback because both configurations are available. Fortunately, this doesn’t have an impact on the kinds of options you can get inside them, so really it comes down to functionality. The standard sedan configuration offers up to 14.8 cu. ft. of cargo space and has an optimal fuel economy of 28mpg/38mpg in the city and on the highway. By comparison, the hatchback configuration gives you over 47 cu. ft. of cargo space and optimal gas mileage of up to 28mpg/38mpg.
So, sedan means less room inside for cargo but excellent gas mileage; while hatchback gives you a massive amount of cargo space for a compact car along with the excellent gas mileage.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze L
Now that we’ve considered the great hatchback vs. sedan issue let’s take a look at the different trim levels for the 2019 Chevy Cruze and see what’s to offer. This first one, the L, is only available with the sedan configuration – the hatchback starts with the LS. After this one, however, they both have the same trim options.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze L comes with a 1.4L Turbo EcoTec 4-cylinder engine that provides up to 153hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s not much compared to a sports car or heavy-duty pickup, but for a compact car, it will definitely get you where you’re going. It also has a 6-speed automatic transmission – and this setup is standard for every trim level other than the diesel trim level.
The L comes with a 7-inch Infotainment display with Bluetooth support and compatibility with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a 4-speaker sound system, 6-way manual driver seat and 2-way manual front passenger seat, with cloth trim and a standard steering wheel. It has air conditioning and other basic features. In terms of safety, you get 10 airbags, a standard rear vision camera, daytime running lamps, and StabiliTrak with electronic stability and traction control. Pretty straightforward.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze LS
From there, you can step up to the 2019 Chevy Cruze LS, which is the starting trim for the hatchback version. This has the same engine and overall performance as the L. Many of the interior features are also the same, with a 7-inch Infotainment display and 4-speaker sound system. The major differences with the LS, which really doesn’t cost much more to start compared to the L, are the available options.
Features like remote start, all-weather floor mats and liners, and a cargo net are available on the LS and not available with the L. Additional features like cruise control and steering-wheel mounted controls are also available with the LS but not the L. You can see why this is the starting trim for the hatchback, and I can’t help but feel it should be the starting option for the sedan version too.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze LT
If you want more standard features and additional options with your 2019 Chevy Cruze, then you should consider the LT trim level. Certain features like remote start, cruise control, and single-zone automatic climate control become standard at this point, with more available. The Infotainment system is the same between the LS and LT, but a Bose Premium sound system is available on the LT and not the LS.
Overall performance is the same: same engine and transmission in these models. Power-adjustable front seats become an option with the LT trim level as do more safety features. The Driver Confidence Package, which includes rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, and side blind zone alert, is an available option with the LT trim but not the LS.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze Premier
For the best overall experience in the 2019 Chevy Cruze, with the standard engine, the Premier trim is the way to go – as you might imagine. A lot of the optional features in the LT trim become standard with the Premier, and a few more things are options that you can’t get on any other trim level.
Standard features with the Premier include driver and front passenger visors with illuminated mirrors, heated front seats, and an 8-way power adjustable driver seat. A heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel is standard with the Premier, as is keyless open functionality and leatherette-trim seating. If I have one gripe about this trim level it is that it still has the same 7-inch Infotainment display and the Bose Premium sound system is still only an option and not standard.
More safety features become available with the Premier, which is nice, including low-speed forward automatic braking, forward collision alert, and lane keep assist with lane departure warning. I like seeing so many safety features available on a compact car, though to be honest, it frustrates me that they are locked behind a trim level. I understand not having them standard at every price point, but I always feel that safety features should be available, even as an optional package, for everyone.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze Diesel
Finally, there is the 2019 Chevy Cruze Diesel trim level, which is available for both the sedan and hatchback. As you might expect, the major distinction here is that it comes with a 1.6L Turbo-Diesel EcoTec 4-cylinder engine, which offers up to 137hp and 240 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a considerable amount of torque for a little compact car like this; if you plan on going with the hatchback and really want to load it up, then you should strongly consider this engine. The diesel engine also comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission and offers the best fuel economy.
In a lot of ways, the Diesel trim is pretty comparable to the LT, rather than the Premier. Features like illuminated vanity mirrors are optional, and it lacks the leather-wrapped steering wheel of the Premier. Fortunately, it has the same 8-way power adjustable driver seat, which is good, and it actually comes with a lot of safety features that are optional with the Premier. The Diesel has lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, and rear park assist all standard, which are options for the Premier.
Final Analysis
The 2019 Chevy Cruze is a great compact car if you’re looking for the option of a hatchback build with a lot more interior cargo space. I also really like the available diesel engine, and the features that come with it are excellent, especially the robust safety package that comes standard. My only real complaint is the lack of upgraded entertainment features at higher trim levels and the fact that many safety features are not available at lower trims. Otherwise, if you’re interested in a compact, then strongly consider the Cruze.
