2026 Chevy Cruze Specs, Colors, Release Date

2026 Chevy Cruze Specs, Colors, Release Date   –  Just one year after a refresh, an all-new Chevrolet Cruze hit the market for 2016. A competitor to models like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Dodge Dart, and Nissan Sentra, the Cruze was a smaller economy-oriented car that was big on safety features, connectivity, and selection. The Cruze nameplate was discontinued after model year 2019, moving the model fully into used-car territory.

Both sedan and hatchback models were available, and shoppers could find features like automatic climate control, OnStar, a sunroof, built-in Wi-Fi, a back-up camera, and more. Higher-end features included wireless smartphone charging and a heated leather steering wheel.

A Teen Driver feature helped add peace for parents sharing their vehicle with younger motorists, and with up to 1,336 L of cargo space, the Cruze was noted to be flexible and easily adaptable to virtually any task – all while keeping fuel bills in check.

2026 Chevy Cruze Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Inside, the aero-design theme continues with panels that flow from front to rear, more leg and kneeroom for rear passengers and a dual-cockpit arrangement up front. Leather interiors are available, as are heated rear seats, depending on the trim level. Soft-touch surfaces and finely etched trim elements are evident throughout. The overall look and feel of the Cruze interior is that materials are of a higher quality; everything seems to have gone “up market.”

2026 Chevy Cruze Specs

Cruze is one of the first vehicles to offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as a supplement to the MyLink infotainment interface with which all Chevrolets cars will be equipped for 2016. The systems require integration of an Apple iPhone 5 or newer, or an Android phone using Android Lollipop 5.0 or above. Compatible apps will need to be downloaded to the phones and data plan rates may also apply.

Additional new features that are up for grabs include a heated steering wheel that is coated in leather and wireless phone charging capabilities. Additional amenities include heated seats as standard equipment in the LT and Premier trim levels, four-wheel disc brakes (which were carried over from the Cruze that was discontinued), and a rear-view camera that is standard in all versions.

Engine and Performance

Under the hood, look for a 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 153 hp. Though displacement is shared with an available engine in earlier Cruze models, the 1.4L turbo engine fitted to this generation is a new powerplant that employs idle stop-start technology aimed at reducing emissions. Fuel consumption, meanwhile, can be as low as 5.6 L/100 km when equipped with the more efficient automatic transmission.

The new engine also contributes to a reduction in vehicle weight compared to the outgoing model. Manual and automatic transmissions were available. Note that the remainder of this write-up focuses on gasoline powered models. Though a diesel engine was available from 2026 and on, low sales volumes and just a couple of years on the market mean we can’t provide much useful information on pre-purchase checks. 2026 Chevy Cruze Specs

2026 Chevy Cruze Fuel Economy

Contributing to improved driving dynamics and fuel economy, the 2016 Cruze will be up to 113 kg lighter than the equivalent outgoing model (even though it gains 68 mm in length), and its chassis 27 percent stiffer. Cruze adds start/stop technology to further improve fuel economy. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h will require just over eight seconds and fuel consumption is estimated at 5.9 L/100 km when driving on the highway.  2026 Chevy Cruze Specs

2026 Chevy Cruze Safety Features

In terms of safety, a major consideration when frequenting the “deathtrap” – my nickname for the Queen’s Highway 401 – the Cruze has ten airbags, including one for the driver’s knee. While you do not want to watch the crash-test video for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, the IIHS rates the Cruze as “Good” overall (it’s not a Top Safety Pick as the 2016 model forward has not yet been fully tested).  2026 Chevy Cruze Specs

2026 Chevy Cruze Price and Release Date

The 2026 Cruze tested was an LT Auto with the 1SD package ($21,595 MSRP). Cheaper units can be had for $16,295 in the L trim (manual transmission only); but most folk in North America have foregone shifting for themselves and would instead consider the LS Auto ($20,595), the as-tested LT, or the Premier at $24,195.  2026 Chevy Cruze Specs