Chevrolet News:2019 Chevrolet Cruze, Malibu, and Spark Get New Faces

[William Maley]

---

Chevrolet has introduced mid-cycle refreshes for the bulk of their passenger car lineup. New faces are the big change of note for the 2019 Cruze, Malibu, and Spark. But there are other changes for these models which we will detail below.

2019 Malibu

Out of the three, the 2019 Malibu gets the most significant updates. It begins with the introduction of the RS package that adds a black grille, black badge, dual-outlet exhaust and special 18-inch wheels. Those hoping for some changes with the suspension are out of luck since there are none.

Models equipped with the 1.5L turbo swap the six-speed automatic for a CVT. All Malibus will get an 8-inch touchscreen with the new Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system.

2019 Cruze

We first reported this back in December and it has now been confirmed. The manual transmission will no longer be available on any version of the Cruze. This means only automatics will be available - six-speed for gas and nine-speed for diesel. The Cruze Hatchback lineup gains a new LS variant to serve as the base. We're expecting the LS hatch to be somewhere in the $20,000 to $21,000 range for its base price.

Other changes include the introduction of the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, and LT and Premier models getting automatic climate control and remote start as standard.

2019 Spark

Last up is the 2019 Spark. It gets new styling for the rear and optional low-speed automatic emergency braking.

No word on pricing, but we expect to find out when all of these models go on sale later this year.

Source: Chevrolet
Press Release is on Page 2

---

NEW RS TRIM LEADS RESTYLED 2019 CHEVROLET MALIBU LINEUP

DETROIT — Updated styling across the lineup — led by the first-ever RS trim — introduces additional choices to the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu and improves its presence.

“We see an exciting opportunity with the 2019 Malibu to give customers new, distinctive choices, exemplified by Malibu RS,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet marketing director for Cars and Crossovers. “It offers athletic design and amazing features at an attractive price point starting between Malibu LS and LT trims.”

The first-ever Malibu RS offers a sporty, personalized appearance starting at around $25,000, driven by styling cues that include 18-inch machined wheels, black sport grille, black bowtie emblems, a rear spoiler and a dual-outlet exhaust. Inside, Malibu RS features a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, black cloth seats and a standard 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system.

Offered on five 2019 models, the RS trim is a Chevrolet success story that gives customers distinctive choice, strong value and performance-driven design. 

The new, standard 8-inch diagonal touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system and new CVT transmission mated to the standard 1.5L Turbo engine further refine the 2019 Malibu line. The Premier trim retains its 2.0L Turbo paired to a nine-speed automatic.

Performance-inspired design

The Malibu’s front fascia, grilles and headlamps are all-new. The headlamps are integrated with the upper grille and the larger, bolder lower grille, giving the car a more powerful presence. High-performance LED lighting are integrated into the headlamps for Premier models, and there are new LED signature daytime running lamps for LT and Premier. There’s greater attention to detail in the grille and headlamps, with bold chrome accents reinforcing Malibu’s premium appearance.

A new rear valance pushes the dual-exhaust outlets farther toward the corners, emphasizing the car’s width, while new taillamps deliver a more dramatic execution of Chevrolet’s signature dual-element design. The LT and Premier trims feature LED taillamps.

“The Malibu’s fresh look refines and enhances the sculptural beauty of the Malibu,” said John Cafaro, executive director, Global Chevrolet Design. “It will also be an obvious member of the Chevrolet car family.”

Additional 2019 updates across Malibu’s lineup include:

• A new, standard 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen radio running Chevrolet Infotainment 3
• New 8-inch diagonal reconfigurable driver information center display on the Premier model
• Rear Vision Camera1 system is now standard on the Malibu L model
• The up-level Malibu Premier features standard heated outboard rear seats
• New available interior and exterior colors
• New wheel designs available in multiple sizes, including 16-, 17- and 18-inch

The restyled Malibu joins the 2019 Cruze and Spark as part of Chevrolet’s freshened car portfolio. It goes on sale this fall.

RESTYLED 2019 CHEVROLET CRUZE POSITIONED TO STRENGTHEN MARKET MOMENTUM

DETROIT — Chevrolet today introduced the restyled 2019 Cruze with a more premium appearance that enhances its on-road presence and strengthens its value for customers. The updates for 2019 position Cruze to continue its success in the compact car segment.

“Cruze is a cornerstone of Chevrolet’s car strategy, bringing new customers to the brand,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet marketing director for Cars and Crossovers. “In fact, 53 percent of Cruze customers in 2017 were new to Chevrolet. Cruze has been so successful at attracting new buyers to Chevy because its lineup offers something for every customer, from body style to fuel choice to trim and design.”

Recent introductions of the Cruze Hatch and Diesel models helped push the car to a 0.6-percent retail market share gain in 2017 and helped Chevrolet secure its third consecutive year of higher overall retail market share.

New design
The 2019 Cruze’s front fascia and grilles are all-new. Revised grille designs reinforce Cruze’s premium appearance. In the Premier trim, Chevrolet’s signature dual-element taillamps now feature LED accent lighting, which adds to Cruze’s sculptural beauty.

“Cruze’s refreshed styling gives Cruze a more upscale look while maintaining its Chevrolet design DNA,” said John Cafaro, executive director, Global Chevrolet Design.

What’s new for 2019
Chevrolet is the most awarded, fastest-growing brand for the last four years overall* and as part of that, the first-ever Cruze Hatch LS continues Chevrolet’s commitment and momentum in offering a broad car portfolio with choices for every budget and need.

Additional updates include:

• New Chevrolet Infotainment 3 running on a standard 7-inch diagonal color touchscreen radio
• Remote start and automatic climate control standard on LT and Premier models
• New wheel designs
• Black window moldings, bowtie emblems and 17-inch (and available 18-inch) machined wheels for Cruze’s RS package
• New available Umber interior color

The 2019 Cruze goes on sale later this year, offered in sedan and hatchback models, with 1.4L turbo and available 1.6L turbo-diesel engines. It also features 4G LTE connectivity and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot (with limited service trial), and one of the segment’s biggest rosters of available active safety features, including:

• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear Park Assist
• Following Distance Indicator
• Forward Collision Alert
• Front pedestrian braking
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking

CHEVROLET INTRODUCES RESTYLED 2019 SPARK

DETROIT — An updated face and new available active safety technology for the 2019 Spark add attitude and purpose to Chevrolet’s feisty, segment sales-leading mini-car.

“Customers can easily personalize Spark, which is a main reason why it leads its segment in sales, attracting both young buyers and women to the brand,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet marketing director for Cars and Crossovers. “Spark is an excellent value for customers seeking an affordable car that offers great safety technology and connectivity.”

Spark’s fresh front-end styling takes its cues from the Chevrolet line, while new, available Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking1 can help drivers prevent or reduce the severity of low-speed front-end collisions by applying the brakes or enhancing the driver’s braking.

The new styling boosts Spark’s premium appearance with a rich use of chrome in the grille. Available projector-style headlamps further enhance Spark’s chic styling. The available LED daytime running lamps are moved lower, giving Spark a more powerful presence and a family resemblance to the rest of the Chevrolet car lineup.

At the rear, dual-element taillamps further the signature brand cue. Spark continues its tradition of offering customer personalization through bright and distinctive paint colors.

The 2019 Spark is offered in LS, LT, 2LT and ACTIV trims, with the ACTIV featuring crossover-inspired design cues and a ride height raised by 10mm. All trims feature standard air conditioning, 10 standard airbags2 and a rear-vision camera system.

New, segment-exclusive Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking joins the available Driver Confidence Package, complementing the package’s additional active safety features, Forward Collision Alert1 and Lane Departure Warning. 1

When it comes to connectivity, Spark delivers a standard Chevrolet infotainment system featuring phone integration compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a limited trial of OnStar and connectivity access at no additional cost, plus access to the MyChevrolet mobile app.

Spark is powered by a 1.4L DOHC engine offered with a manual transmission or an available continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The refreshed Spark joins the 2019 Malibu and Cruze as part of Chevrolet’s updated car portfolio, which offers new styling, new technologies and more choices and value. It goes on sale later this year.

View full article

[G. David Felt]

 These all remind me of the Current Gen Honda's now.

And what is up with going stupid CVT and leaving 6 sp in the gas versions and not use the 9sp. At this rate, GM is going to lose me to Ford or even non-American.

GM, wake up as your killing good product for terrible bland blah auto's.

[Drew Dowdell]

Interesting, they're no longer calling the infotainment system MyLink?  I asked about Intellilink at the GMC do in NYC last week and they didn't have an answer.  The GMC systems are no longer branded as Intellilink.  Needs some looking into. 

That would make a really nice looking coupe.

[G. David Felt]

GMC site has the following listed for building:

Shocking to see a Denali XL fully loaded hit 90K. WOW

[frogger]

Cruze needed a nicer butt IMO

[smk4565]

I am not a fan of the big mouth bass look front end grille on these, I think the Impala is the only good looking Chevy car and that includes Corvette.  8 inch Nav screen is pretty standard stuff.  Why on earth would they use a CVT on the Malibu vs the 9 speed auto?  It is like Chevy is begging people to buy the Accord.

[ccap41]

The CVT thing is a little confusing to me as they already have development costs wrapped up into a 9spd. 

[Drew Dowdell]

15 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

I am not a fan of the big mouth bass look front end grille on these, I think the Impala is the only good looking Chevy car and that includes Corvette.  8 inch Nav screen is pretty standard stuff.  Why on earth would they use a CVT on the Malibu vs the 9 speed auto?  It is like Chevy is begging people to buy the Accord.

??

The Accord has a 1.5T and CVT.  So it's not like they're going to get a different transmission there.

1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

The CVT thing is a little confusing to me as they already have development costs wrapped up into a 9spd. 

I assume it is a cost thing. CVTs are cheap and they're great for fuel economy. The 9-speed has got to be an expensive piece of machinery. 

Altima, Accord, Legacy, and now Malibu are all using CVTs. 

[G. David Felt]

19 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

I am not a fan of the big mouth bass look front end grille on these, I think the Impala is the only good looking Chevy car and that includes Corvette.  8 inch Nav screen is pretty standard stuff.  Why on earth would they use a CVT on the Malibu vs the 9 speed auto?  It is like Chevy is begging people to buy the Accord.

Agree that I also do not like the Big Mouth Billy bass look and wonder about why they are not using the 9 spd tranny and are going to a CVT?

[oldshurst442]

Good. Now that some negatives have poured in, I could now unashamedly do some bashing of my own of the re-freshed Malibu.

The new Big Mouth Billy Bass face of the Malibu looks like shyte! 

On the Cruze, it aint that much better. 

The Fusion re-freshed face is a million times better. And that too is a year older than the Malibu.... I CANNOT believe Ford is thinking about ditching the Fusion. 

 

About the CVT transmission. 

I heard a rumor

 

that CVT transmissions are really not all that reliable. Nissan's CVT to be exact. The steel belt...unlike Superman, is not indestructible.  

So why for the possible headaches? 

Edited April 6, 2018 by oldshurst442

[Drew Dowdell]

6 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Good. Now that some negatives have poured in, I could now unashamedly do some bashing of my own of the re-freshed Malibu.

The new Big Mouth Billy Bass face of the Malibu looks like shyte! 

On the Cruze, it aint that much better. 

The Fusion re-freshed face is a million times better. And that too is a year older than the Malibu.... I CANNOT believe Ford is thinking about ditching the Fusion. 

 

About the CVT transmission. 

 

CVTs are only any decent when there is some relatively good low end torque.  The 1.5T isn't spectacular in that regard.

The only Chevy I like with that face is the Traverse. 

[smk4565]

I think the new Traverse looks good (by crossover standards).  The Chevy look works there.  I read an Accord review with the 2 liter so that was a 9 speed I think, I didn't realize they used a CVT now in the base car, because they used to use a 6 speed auto I think.

[Drew Dowdell]

11 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

I think the new Traverse looks good (by crossover standards).  The Chevy look works there.  I read an Accord review with the 2 liter so that was a 9 speed I think, I didn't realize they used a CVT now in the base car, because they used to use a 6 speed auto I think.

Malibu and Accord power train options are pretty near evenly matched. Probably more so than any other in the class.

[smk4565]

4 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Malibu and Accord power train options are pretty near evenly matched. Probably more so than any other in the class.

Similar set up, but the Accord 1.5T makes 30 more hp than Chevy's and gets better gas mileage.  And the Accord has a rather good interior, they really did that well. 

[Drew Dowdell]

1.5T + CVT v. 1.5T + CVT

2.0T + 9speed v. 2.0T + 10speed

Hybrid CVT v. Hybrid CVT

The offerings are pretty darn close.

Each one has pluses and minuses.  The Malibu and Accord are quite competitive here.  For the interior, add in the newest Mazda 6 and you have probably the three top interiors in the segment.

[regfootball]

6 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Interesting, they're no longer calling the infotainment system MyLink?  I asked about Intellilink at the GMC do in NYC last week and they didn't have an answer.  The GMC systems are no longer branded as Intellilink.  Needs some looking into. 

That would make a really nice looking coupe.

didn't this start with Cadillac's infotainment upgrade?  Visteon, Delphi, Harman? is providing the whole systems now?  The system in our pacifica has the same font as the new cadillac infotainment.  I wonder if these systems are not all starting to come either from the same manufacturer or one or two typical vendors....... and thus using an industry standard font or something

 

 

Edited April 7, 2018 by regfootball

[regfootball]

Funny story, but not, and true.  The dealer when they changed the oil on my 1.5t a couple weeks ago said the oil leak was back.  So i brought it in again to fix it (again).  BUt then they said it wasn't leaking ("Just some residue left over").  Some of you have seen my complaints about the power in the car (being borderline unacceptable).  Well, two things happened recently.  First was, i am on the freeway and a large commercial truck pulls into the lane RIGHT behind my car....literally it was moving over to free up the left lane and had not seen me in the middle lane.  I can swear he may be have missed my rear end and bumper by 3-10 feet at 70 mph.  I saw this transpiring in the rear view mirror, and it scared the shit out of me.  I FLOORED it like my life depended on it and the CAR WOULD NOT get up and go!  No power, no tranny help.  I could not escape the situation!  At least the truck driver saw their mistake and slowed down.  So i mentioned this to my wife after she told me her story.  She never drives the car , but one day did and she told me 'it seems like the car is losing power'.  So when i was getting the car checked, i told them about the sense of losing power (since this engine has a rep of cracked pistons and other maladies to go with its low power / losing power on some malibu sites).  So they claim to have done yet another ECU upgrade.  I haven't noticed a power difference and now mpg seems to have taken a 10-15% hit.........

When this lease is hope i was so hoping that the 2.0 would be an accessible option in cloth seat Malibu, but instead I get to dream about a CVT!!!!!!

Chevy needs to think about their relentless CAFE and cost cutting pushes here.  Do you want buyers who like the car or not.  I just saw on the car and driver FB post for this another malibu 1.5 owner like me complaining about the lack of juice in the 1.5.  I do love the gas mileage when i take trips but Chevy seems to be only concerned with autonomous vehicles, CAFE, no v6's, smaller and smaller interiors, removing good styling....I think GM needs product people again.  They are too consumed with PR, social media, etc.  EPA may rollback some CAFE soon and not a moment too soon.  I am for good mpg but there is a middle ground too and 1.5 + CVT is something that is being forced..... at least give the choice of the 2.0 on the lower trim cars or give us a 1.8 option.  Or even the v6.

Rumor is the Impala will get cut soon too and in which case no Chevy v6 sedan.  I love turbo fours but after this Malibu and my two Chrysler vans with their v6, i am missing the v6 again..... 

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

I think the new Traverse looks good (by crossover standards).  The Chevy look works there.  I read an Accord review with the 2 liter so that was a 9 speed I think, I didn't realize they used a CVT now in the base car, because they used to use a 6 speed auto I think.

I may skip the Malibu next time because of the CVT and just find a base equipped Traverse as my next ride.

Edited April 7, 2018 by regfootball

[riviera74]

Maybe GM wants all of us to buy the crossovers rather than the sedans, since the firm makes more profits that way.

I would rather have an Envision or an XT5, but if I were to go Chevy, the Impala is the best choice (for me).  As for the smaller cars, it is obvious why Chevy is using the same front-end look: $$$$$.

[daves87rs]

Well, I did ask for a base hatch...guess I got my wish.....

Like the RS pack for the Mali..needed a sporty package.

GIves me more good options if things change in the economy....

[ocnblu]

I think the updates look good.  Good to see them checking their own freshness dates.  Not a fan of CVT after owning one and driving two others fairly often.

[G. David Felt]

CVT sucks, people know that, ugly refresh, GM seems to be focused on moving everyone whether they like it or not to CUV/SUV/Trucks as they kill off cars. Yet that just seems narrow thinking in my business book.

Why can the American auto companies not figure out how to keep a couple good looking, selling auto's around and still also supply what the bulk of the public has moved too. 

[A Horse With No Name]

19 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I am not a fan of the big mouth bass look front end grille on these, I think the Impala is the only good looking Chevy car and that includes Corvette.  8 inch Nav screen is pretty standard stuff.  Why on earth would they use a CVT on the Malibu vs the 9 speed auto?  It is like Chevy is begging people to buy the Accord.

For once I could not agree more.

[riviera74]

On 4/7/2018 at 12:48 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

For once I could not agree more.

Why would anyone buy an Accord when they can buy a CR-V or a Pilot instead these days?

Then again, GM wants us to buy more Chevy CUVs for one reason: the search for more money.

[ocnblu]

Now I'm wondering (hoping) the Colorado/Canyon receive a facelift as well for 2019.  And maybe a new seat design.

[ccap41]

On 4/6/2018 at 9:43 PM, regfootball said:

Funny story, but not, and true.  The dealer when they changed the oil on my 1.5t a couple weeks ago said the oil leak was back.  So i brought it in again to fix it (again).  BUt then they said it wasn't leaking ("Just some residue left over").  Some of you have seen my complaints about the power in the car (being borderline unacceptable).  Well, two things happened recently.  First was, i am on the freeway and a large commercial truck pulls into the lane RIGHT behind my car....literally it was moving over to free up the left lane and had not seen me in the middle lane.  I can swear he may be have missed my rear end and bumper by 3-10 feet at 70 mph.  I saw this transpiring in the rear view mirror, and it scared the $h! out of me.  I FLOORED it like my life depended on it and the CAR WOULD NOT get up and go!  No power, no tranny help.  I could not escape the situation!  At least the truck driver saw their mistake and slowed down.  So i mentioned this to my wife after she told me her story.  She never drives the car , but one day did and she told me 'it seems like the car is losing power'.  So when i was getting the car checked, i told them about the sense of losing power (since this engine has a rep of cracked pistons and other maladies to go with its low power / losing power on some malibu sites).  So they claim to have done yet another ECU upgrade.  I haven't noticed a power difference and now mpg seems to have taken a 10-15% hit.........

When this lease is hope i was so hoping that the 2.0 would be an accessible option in cloth seat Malibu, but instead I get to dream about a CVT!!!!!!

Chevy needs to think about their relentless CAFE and cost cutting pushes here.  Do you want buyers who like the car or not.  I just saw on the car and driver FB post for this another malibu 1.5 owner like me complaining about the lack of juice in the 1.5.  I do love the gas mileage when i take trips but Chevy seems to be only concerned with autonomous vehicles, CAFE, no v6's, smaller and smaller interiors, removing good styling....I think GM needs product people again.  They are too consumed with PR, social media, etc.  EPA may rollback some CAFE soon and not a moment too soon.  I am for good mpg but there is a middle ground too and 1.5 + CVT is something that is being forced..... at least give the choice of the 2.0 on the lower trim cars or give us a 1.8 option.  Or even the v6.

Rumor is the Impala will get cut soon too and in which case no Chevy v6 sedan.  I love turbo fours but after this Malibu and my two Chrysler vans with their v6, i am missing the v6 again..... 

I may skip the Malibu next time because of the CVT and just find a base equipped Traverse as my next ride.

Luckily there's an easy fix.. Don't buy a Malibu with the 1.5 next time. Also, make sure you take it for a good test drive because that also would have prevented this. 

[Drew Dowdell]

On 4/6/2018 at 10:43 PM, regfootball said:

Funny story, but not, and true.  The dealer when they changed the oil on my 1.5t a couple weeks ago said the oil leak was back.  So i brought it in again to fix it (again).  BUt then they said it wasn't leaking ("Just some residue left over").  Some of you have seen my complaints about the power in the car (being borderline unacceptable).  Well, two things happened recently.  First was, i am on the freeway and a large commercial truck pulls into the lane RIGHT behind my car....literally it was moving over to free up the left lane and had not seen me in the middle lane.  I can swear he may be have missed my rear end and bumper by 3-10 feet at 70 mph.  I saw this transpiring in the rear view mirror, and it scared the shit out of me.  I FLOORED it like my life depended on it and the CAR WOULD NOT get up and go!  No power, no tranny help.  I could not escape the situation!  At least the truck driver saw their mistake and slowed down.  So i mentioned this to my wife after she told me her story.  She never drives the car , but one day did and she told me 'it seems like the car is losing power'.  So when i was getting the car checked, i told them about the sense of losing power (since this engine has a rep of cracked pistons and other maladies to go with its low power / losing power on some malibu sites).  So they claim to have done yet another ECU upgrade.  I haven't noticed a power difference and now mpg seems to have taken a 10-15% hit.........

When this lease is hope i was so hoping that the 2.0 would be an accessible option in cloth seat Malibu, but instead I get to dream about a CVT!!!!!!

Chevy needs to think about their relentless CAFE and cost cutting pushes here.  Do you want buyers who like the car or not.  I just saw on the car and driver FB post for this another malibu 1.5 owner like me complaining about the lack of juice in the 1.5.  I do love the gas mileage when i take trips but Chevy seems to be only concerned with autonomous vehicles, CAFE, no v6's, smaller and smaller interiors, removing good styling....I think GM needs product people again.  They are too consumed with PR, social media, etc.  EPA may rollback some CAFE soon and not a moment too soon.  I am for good mpg but there is a middle ground too and 1.5 + CVT is something that is being forced..... at least give the choice of the 2.0 on the lower trim cars or give us a 1.8 option.  Or even the v6.

Rumor is the Impala will get cut soon too and in which case no Chevy v6 sedan.  I love turbo fours but after this Malibu and my two Chrysler vans with their v6, i am missing the v6 again..... 

I may skip the Malibu next time because of the CVT and just find a base equipped Traverse as my next ride.

Still not sure why you bought the 1.5T.  I was surprised you did when you announced it. 

[regfootball]

I think it performed better when new. I'm actually looking forward to see if the CVT helps. It might. I've said many times, the 1.5 is a great road car. It's very bipolar in that regard. It's the in town stoplight to stoplight stuff that the car gets tedious to drive. And at the time it was an improvement over what I had. So, progress. 

I'm real curious to see if the EPA numbers go up any. If not then I am not sure what the point it. Cruze would have been better to put CVT in first IMO. 

Edited April 9, 2018 by regfootball

[A Horse With No Name]

18 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Now I'm wondering (hoping) the Colorado/Canyon receive a facelift as well for 2019.  And maybe a new seat design.

Colorado/Canyon is extremely nice product.  Were I to buy anything from GM with my own money right now, this might well be it.

[ccap41]

19 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Colorado/Canyon is extremely nice product.  Were I to buy anything from GM with my own money right now, this might well be it.

My GM purchase would definitely be a truck. Nothing else really does it for me over the competition. 

I enjoy Caddys a lot but I don't think I'd buy one over a Mercedes if I were actually spending my own cash. 

[A Horse With No Name]

32 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

My GM purchase would definitely be a truck. Nothing else really does it for me over the competition. 

I enjoy Caddys a lot but I don't think I'd buy one over a Mercedes if I were actually spending my own cash. 

I love the V versions of the Caddies but spending that much i would buy a used 911 I think.  However the Cadillac V cars are sublimely good IMHO.

Definitely love the big Benz coupes though...

[ccap41]

I'm actually going to go through their lineup and see what I'd buy over their stuff without thinking too much...

Spark - What is a super sub compact? If I'm driving one of these there is no choice to buy anything else...

Sonic - Sonic

Cruze - Golf/Mazda 3

Malibu - Accord

Impala - Avalon

Trax - CX-3

Equinox - CX-5

Traverse - Edge/JGC

Tahoe - This would be a good comparison to drive back to back with the Expedition. I really don't know which I'd prefer in this class of 2.

Suburban - Same as above. 

Volt - Volt

Bolt - Model 3..? 

Corvette - At it's entry price it seems like a bargain and I'd take it but as a loaded up 100k Z06 I think I'd prefer something else like an F-Type Coupe, 911, or entry AMG GT. But I guess when I stop and think of a 60k base Vette I'd prefer a ZL1 or whatever comparable Shelby is out there too.

[Drew Dowdell]

31 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I'm actually going to go through their lineup and see what I'd buy over their stuff without thinking too much...

Spark - What is a super sub compact? If I'm driving one of these there is no choice to buy anything else...

Sonic - Sonic

Cruze - Golf/Mazda 3

Malibu - Accord

Impala - Avalon

Trax - CX-3

Equinox - CX-5

Traverse - Edge/JGC

Tahoe - This would be a good comparison to drive back to back with the Expedition. I really don't know which I'd prefer in this class of 2.

Suburban - Same as above. 

Volt - Volt

Bolt - Model 3..? 

Corvette - At it's entry price it seems like a bargain and I'd take it but as a loaded up 100k Z06 I think I'd prefer something else like an F-Type Coupe, 911, or entry AMG GT. But I guess when I stop and think of a 60k base Vette I'd prefer a ZL1 or whatever comparable Shelby is out there too.

I agree with most of this except the Trax-CX3... not because the Trax is better or the CX3 isn't, they're just different enough in size that they might not really be a direct comparison.  The CX3 is really just a Mazda 2 hatchback with AWD and more power. In that respect, it is an excellent vehicle and put together better than the Trax, but the Trax has a lot more usable passenger and cargo room.... so it is a bit squishy to compare these two directly. IMHO, the CX3 compares more directly with the CH-R and Juke.  Trax more with Ecosport, HR-V, EclipseCross.

Tahoe/Suburban - Expedition will be really damn close. I give the edge to the Expedition on interior niceness, but you wouldn't catch me crying in a Suburban either. 

Bolt - Model 3 - Model 3 has some coolness factor to it, but when it comes down to it, the Bolt will be easier (financially) to buy and own.  Tesla is possibly 4 months from bankruptcy, so I wouldn't own a Model 3, only lease.  GM build quality is better than Tesla as well. Plus, the Bolt works really really well and is actually fun to drive.

The rest of your list is spot on.  Though you forgot Camaro.... and I'd go with a Challenger or Mustang because favor comfort over sporting pretense. I completely ignore which one gets the best 0-60 or extreme handling ability.

[ccap41]

4 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I agree with most of this except the Trax-CX3... not because the Trax is better or the CX3 isn't, they're just different enough in size that they might not really be a direct comparison.  The CX3 is really just a Mazda 2 hatchback with AWD and more power. In that respect, it is an excellent vehicle and put together better than the Trax, but the Trax has a lot more usable passenger and cargo room.... so it is a bit squishy to compare these two directly. IMHO, the CX3 compares more directly with the CH-R and Juke.  Trax more with Ecosport, HR-V, EclipseCross.

Tahoe/Suburban - Expedition will be really damn close. I give the edge to the Expedition on interior niceness, but you wouldn't catch me crying in a Suburban either. 

Bolt - Model 3 - Model 3 has some coolness factor to it, but when it comes down to it, the Bolt will be easier (financially) to buy and own.  Tesla is possibly 4 months from bankruptcy, so I wouldn't own a Model 3, only lease.  GM build quality is better than Tesla as well. Plus, the Bolt works really really well and is actually fun to drive.

The rest of your list is spot on.  Though you forgot Camaro.... and I'd go with a Challenger or Mustang because favor comfort over sporting pretense. I completely ignore which one gets the best 0-60 or extreme handling ability.

Hmmm interesting... I didn't realize that about the Trax. I never really looked at any of these super tiny CUVs other than a glace, really. I just thought they were all about the same. 

Agreed with the Tahoe/Suburban/Expedition. I don't think I'd really care and it is easily close enough to require a test drive comparison.

The Bolt/3 I can't argue with you. I just don't like the Bolt's C-Max style body that isn't car nor CUV and is stuck in purgatory. But it being a Chevy over a Tesla really would have a MUCH better dealership/company backing. 

Hahaha How'd I forget the Camaro on the day the 2019 is shown?!?! Yeah the 2019 looks much worse than the 2016-2018 so that'd be an easy Mustang for me. The current gens are much close and are again a tossup like the Tahoe/Expedition. You can't go wrong with either. 

[Drew Dowdell]

The Trax and CX3 are both excellent choices that I wouldn't hesitate recommending to people, they just are very different in purpose, nature, and capabilities.   The CX3 is as close as you'll get to an Audi without stepping foot in an Audi dealership. 

[regfootball]

^^^ Lots of people try to make it sound like the Camaro styling is the problem..... the bigger problem is still that it's a bunker with no space and you can't see out of it.

[oldshurst442]

1 minute ago, regfootball said:

^^^ Lots of people try to make it sound like the Camaro styling is the problem..... the bigger problem is still that it's a bunker with no space and you can't see out of it.

MMMmmmm....

Bunker is definitely a problem...

But with me...the styling has GOT to be the #1 reason I HATE the Camaro.  That and the Bumble Bee thing. 

The Bandit was a cool movie car. KITT was a cool movie car. The General Lee was a cool movie car.  Starsky and Hutch's  red tomato was a cool movie car.  Bullitt Mustang was one hot ride! The many riced up ricer cars from the F&F franchise such that orange Supra, red RX7 with the similar iron man graphics, the pink S2000 were cool movie cars.  The many rides of James Bond, including the stale BMW 7 Series of the mid to late 1990s were cool movie cars....

*SIGH*

Bumble Bee was a VW Bug originally. Strike #1. No...Im not a purist. I dont care for Transformers. But right there, strike #2. Freakin Transformer's man!  James Bond, Starsky and Hutch, Burt phoquing Reynolds as the phoquing Bandit, man!   Steve phoquing McQueen as Frank Bullitt. Need I say more?  Steve motherphoquingQueen!

Lets go back to the VW Bug... A hippie peace loving symbol.   Herbie for phoque's sake. Which in itself was a cool movie car!  And  with the 5th generation, this is the legacy that Chevy wants to replace...At least when they redid Knight Rider, Ford jumped right in at the chance and made one hot Mustang! OK...the Firebird  was  uniquely awsome and taylor made for the 80s...so the KITT Mustang redo felt a tad corny, the Mustang itself  oozes sex. The 5th generation Camaro oozes...retardation. For our PC world, the Camaro oozes chemical imbalances. 

The so called shyte box ride that Megan Fox found yucky is tons cooler. Including the time worn dents and rust. 

Next time Ill be discussing 5th and 6th generation Camaros, I wont hold back to how I truly feel about it! 

 

 

[ocnblu]

The CX-3 looks good but it is too tiny inside, nowhere near enough utility.  And the Trax is stale, but at least you sit up nice in it and what space it has, it uses wisely.

[Frisky Dingo]

Such a shame to see GM saddle the Malibu with a CVT. It is other wise a very competent car that I find quite compelling within it's segment. GM is going backwards with some of their products.

[ocnblu]

Just get one with the 2.0t and forget about the 1.5

I think a Caribbean Blue or Oakwood Metallic Cruze Premiere RS Diesel Hatch would be the bee's knees.  The new wheels and stronger front end look really good... not sure about the protruding taillights though.

Edited April 13, 2018 by ocnblu

[Frisky Dingo]

On 4/12/2018 at 5:34 PM, ocnblu said:

Just get one with the 2.0t and forget about the 1.5

I think a Caribbean Blue or Oakwood Metallic Cruze Premiere RS Diesel Hatch would be the bee's knees.  The new wheels and stronger front end look really good... not sure about the protruding taillights though.

 

The problem with the Cruze.......is the Malibu. The only thing the Cruze really does well is soft, comfy, and spacious. The Malibu is a nicer car, that is considerably better to drive, with a ton more power, and not really a great deal more money. 

 

In its segment, I wouldn't even give the Cruze a passing glance. 

[ocnblu]

Yeahbut... no Malibu Maxx at the moment.  I guess they're giving Buick a fighting chance with hatch intenders re:  Regal Sportback.

[Robert Hall]

The Regal Sportback seems neat...sat in one at the auto show here last month, I like the design...though if I were shopping Regals, i'd go for the Tour-X.  Too bad you can't get a regular wagon w/o the Tour-X add-on trim.   I do like the LaCrosse also. 

[trinacriabob]

On the Malibu and Cruze, I see a lot of basket weaving up front in the grilles.  The latest Hyundai Sonata is playing with these egg crate grille motifs on various trim levels.  CVT ... it will be interesting to see how it plays out.  It's supposed to be a simple concept.  However, with Nissan, they don't repair them when they fail, and they have.  They just do an R & R.  I began to like CVT for the gas mileage but I then returned to liking the feel of driving a vehicle with a step gear transmission.  The new Cruze with the 1.4L T and 6 speed automatic is a wonderful little car to scoot around in.

As for the Malibu, I just wish they'd tweak the rear roofline a minor amount and deal with that kink in the moulding out by the C-pillar.

As for the Cruze, can they just put a damn leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob handle in their LT version? One shouldn't have to go to a Premier to get that and also have to accept the leather seats that go with that.  I like cloth seats with a leather wrapped wheel.

As for the Spark, I like that they have been featuring a defined bumper strip up front for at least a few years.  Something defined and substantial needs to somehow sit at the very front of the grille and not just ornate, shiny plastic bits.

With the Sonic bowing out, that might take away the only GM car to offer manual windows in its base model, unless the Spark does as well.   (I believe they are available on the Nissan Versa, the base Ford Focus, and the base Ford Fiesta.)  A friend of mine has the base 2016 Silverado with 2 WD and it has manual windows.  I was stunned to see that.

Not many cars to choose from these days ... sigh ...

[regfootball]

11 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

 

As for the Cruze, can they just put a damn leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob handle in their LT version? One shouldn't have to go to a Premier to get that and also have to accept the leather seats that go with that.  I like cloth seats with a leather wrapped wheel.

 

exactly. i have noticed though, those 'all star' type packages cropping up on Cruze LT's.... include the leather wrap wheel, heated seats, moonroof.

Honestly I think they should take that all star package + roof, the RS body work and then simply put the 1.5t and 8 or 9 speed auto in it.  It would sacrifice a few mpg in that config but it would really make it a little more sprite.  Or, develop a 1.8t that's nearly as compact and light as the 1.4 and set it around 250hp.  And just don't charge an arm and a leg for it.

Its still a ways off, but i keep wondering if the Malibu will even enter into an option for me to replace the 16.  I'll definitely drive the new CVT version for comparison.  But CVT's just don't really have the best histories yet.  They can feel smoother on the road, but this is already a good road car with the 6 speed.  

[trinacriabob]

10 hours ago, regfootball said:

exactly. i have noticed though, those 'all star' type packages cropping up on Cruze LT's.... include the leather wrap wheel, heated seats, moonroof.

Its still a ways off, but i keep wondering if the Malibu will even enter into an option for me to replace the 16.  I'll definitely drive the new CVT version for comparison.  But CVT's just don't really have the best histories yet.  They can feel smoother on the road, but this is already a good road car with the 6 speed.  

I also wish a person could just get a power seat on a Cruze without a bunch of other crap they don't want.  In the Focus, you can.

Right, automatics with many gears feel very seamless these days.  I was stunned with the smooth operation of a 6 speed automatic in a Hyundai Accent.  I'm sure CVTs will get better but, when you step into one, they rev up and then sort of adjust to the driving speed you're looking for.  With the newer automatics, it takes really hammering into pedal to feel the shift point.  Otherwise, you don't feel them.  I'm fine with 6 speeds.  I don't need or want 8, 9, or 10 of them.

[Drew Dowdell]

On 4/20/2018 at 9:38 AM, trinacriabob said:

I also wish a person could just get a power seat on a Cruze without a bunch of other crap they don't want.  In the Focus, you can.

Right, automatics with many gears feel very seamless these days.  I was stunned with the smooth operation of a 6 speed automatic in a Hyundai Accent.  I'm sure CVTs will get better but, when you step into one, they rev up and then sort of adjust to the driving speed you're looking for.  With the newer automatics, it takes really hammering into pedal to feel the shift point.  Otherwise, you don't feel them.  I'm fine with 6 speeds.  I don't need or want 8, 9, or 10 of them.

The CVT is all about cost and fuel economy. As you point out, modern automatics are very seamless these days, so they're not doing it for that reason.

I have some suspicion that some vendor came out with a technological advancement to CVT design and is shopping it around to the manufacturers. Hyundai is moving the Elantra to a CVT also and making great claims as to its feel. Toyota did similar. Nissan is claiming advances with their CVT.  It's odd they all come up with it a same time.

[G. David Felt]

26 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

The CVT is all about cost and fuel economy. As you point out, modern automatics are very seamless these days, so they're not doing it for that reason.

I have some suspicion that some vendor came out with a technological advancement to CVT design and is shopping it around to the manufacturers. Hyundai is moving the Elantra to a CVT also and making great claims as to its feel. Toyota did similar. Nissan is claiming advances with their CVT.  It's odd they all come up with it a same time.

I agree it is really weird about the CVT. My own bad experiences with them will always make me pass on a CVT. Traditional gear tranny or EV is for me.

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm willing to give this new generation of CVT a chance

[trinacriabob]

5 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

The CVT is all about cost and fuel economy. As you point out, modern automatics are very seamless these days, so they're not doing it for that reason.

I have some suspicion that some vendor came out with a technological advancement to CVT design and is shopping it around to the manufacturers. Hyundai is moving the Elantra to a CVT also and making great claims as to its feel. Toyota did similar. Nissan is claiming advances with their CVT.  It's odd they all come up with it a same time.

Yes, there are way fewer parts - two conical spheres that work adjacently to each other and provide all these different rmp permutations.  However, if this is the case, then why haven't they been able to dial in CVT technology to the extent they should have?   I once asked a Nissan service writer if he'd ever seen one reach 150,000 miles and still function well.  He said he'd seen a few reach that milestone.   He said that, with those that needed work, they were just R & R jobs.

There is no drop and drain (to change the filter) scenario here like there is for a conventional step gear transmission.   It has to be a flush.  And, from hearing owners sound off here and there, they say that, even with their maintaining their CVTs, they still experienced premature failure compared to what they expected.

I was initially interested in CVT and now I'm not.

Edited April 23, 2018 by trinacriabob

[Drew Dowdell]

It definitely depends on who built it.  Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is just a really fancy sounding way of saying "CVT with two power inputs instead of one" and Pruises and Camry Hybrids go over 150k miles regularly. As do the Ford hybrids with the same basic setup. 

The early Nissan CVTs did have reliability issues.