Chevrolet Asks Dealers to Buy Cruze Rivals Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic

[Omaha Steve]

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/100902-Chevrolet-Asks-Dealers-to-Buy-Cruze-Rivals/

By Richard Posluszny

Posted: Sep 02, 2010 11:00 a.m.

Considering the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze as your next new car? Be prepared to test drive the competition -- General Motors is asking 3,000 dealers to buy its rivals and allow shoppers to sit behind the wheel, back-to-back.



Chevrolet Product Marketing Director, Margaret Brooks, says the company is “encouraging its dealers to buy the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic so prospective Cruze buyers can immediately measure the difference between its segment rivals,” reports egmCarTech.

Although Businessweek seems skeptical about the Cruze, writing “will consumers, who are accustomed to shopping Chevy for a low-price compact, pay up for the $17,000 Cruze? The outgoing Cobalt sold for $1,300 less,” Chevrolet remains positive. Chevy says the all-new Cruze has more content and provides solid value.

The Detroit News spoke to Aaron Bragman, an IHS Global Insight automotive analyst, who points out that the Cruze’s nearest competitors, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, haven’t had major updates in several years. This could give the 2011 Cruze a leg up on its hottest rivals.

If you're in the market for a new or used car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.

[Dappleganger]

1. Chevy says it may get up to 40 mpg.

That's significant.

[Taverner]

2. Now there's a good sales gimmick!

[tech9413]

4. I think it's a good idea but still just a gimmick

My last American made car was a 77 Chevette. I liked it. It handled really well for a cheap car but the transmission went tits up 1k out of warranty. Since it was an auto trans I didn't hold it against them. The last good auto trans I had was the Torqueflite in my 67 Elcamino.

Since then I've only owned Hondas. I've looked at all the other sub-compact offerings but never saw the quality of build, performance or features that I wanted. I'd like to see Ford offer the equal of their European models here.

I don't need or want a ton and a half to haul my sorry butt from here to there. I want small and efficient but American builders always wanted to sell what had the highest profit. That was big overblown feature rich expensive to repair crap.

[Codeine]

5. The inevitable drivel.

"I hate American cars because of a bad Chevette more than 30 years ago."

I love DU liberals who shit on unions. :puke:

[Taverner]

6. I've had good American cars

My Saturns were both very good. 91 and 98 SLs.

Held up well - horrible resale value though.

I have a Prius now - bought it as I was putting 100 miles a day on it. Besides - it was designed to flourish in Bay Area/LA type traffic.

[lutefisk]

10. "...bad Chevette"? . . . it sounds like he had a good one.

And as a DU liberal, I'll admit that the three Chevy Vegas I owned did taint the Chevrolet nameplate for me, just a bit. Then again, the last Toyota (2010 Corolla) I had tainted the Toyota nameplate for me, too.

Off topic, but I just read the review of the V6 Mustang in Consumer Reports, and it seems like an excellent car- fast, excellent mpg, good handling...

[global1]

3. Now If All The Car Manufacturers Would Have There Dealers Buy Two Of There Competitors Cars.......

they'd all sell a lot of cars and maybe - just maybe - it would stimulate the economy and put people back to work. (sarcasm)

[lutefisk]

7. A Cruze tops out at around $26,795 with options.

That's a lot to pay for a Chevrolet compact car. I am guessing the depreciation will be in line with previous Chevrolet compact cars...

[anthroguy101]

8. Imagine the shock on their face if I got the Toyota...

but seriously, I think it's a much better car than the Cobalt. I think GM has improved greatly and is worth considering. I also like Ford as well. Nice to see that American cars are worth buying nowadays. Now if only I had the money :(.

[rucky]

9. And it's made in Ohio...

http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/07/11/a-lot-is-riding-on-the-new-chevy-cruze/