Is the Holden/Chevrolet Cruze really that bad!? - used car review | ReDriven

Check out the Holden Cruze Cheat Sheet here: redriven.com/cheat_sheet/hold...
Looking for a used Holden Cruze? - carsforsale.com.au/holden/cruze
It's safe to say the Holden Cruze has developed a less than favourable reputation. Despite not being that bad to drive, practical and affordable to buy, is that reputation actually warranted?
Let us know what you think in the comments. Don't forget to subscribe to stay up to date with all our latest content!
00:00​​​​​​​ - Intro
00:59 - What is it?
03:33 - Does it look good?
05:11 - How's the interior?
06:36​ - How's the tech?
07:28 - Is it practical?
08:45 - What goes wrong?
12:27 - Is it safe?
12:55​​​​​​​ - What's it like to drive?
15:09 - How much does it cost?
15:45​​​​​​ - Running costs?
16:24​​​​​​​ - Should you buy it?
#holden
#chevrolet
#cruze
---
At ReDriven, we’ll be taking you through the pros and cons of a huge range of used cars to see how well they’re going now that they’re a few years old, have thousands of kilometres on the clock, and are coming toward the end of their warranty, or maybe don’t have one at all.
Plus, thanks to our resident mechanic, Jim, you’ll find out what commonly goes wrong with them and what might need to be fixed.
Most importantly, we want to make ReDriven a voice for the most in-the-know used car experts there are...you guys.. See, you’re the ones that actually buy, live with, love and sometimes unfortunately hate the cars we’ll be reviewing.
So we want to hear your thoughts. Hit us up in the comments, or on Instagram and Facebook.
We’d love nothing more than for you to give us as much feedback as possible, so we can make this channel the best it can be.
Find us on:
INSTAGRAM: / redriven_official
FACEBOOK: / redrivenofficial

[@evorobin]

Every storm my mate parks his under a huge tree hoping it gets crushed 🤣

[@ReDriven]

Haha! If it ever happens, we hope the tree is ok!

[@alanngli]

I live in a city with many hail damaged cars, and now thinking about it, I can’t remember ever seeing one hail damaged Cruze. The owners must have gotten rid of them the moment they can get an insurance payout.

[@marcusvorkauf3976]

Even a tree won't touch a cruze lol

[@ldee5478]

I'm american and I had to read like this 5 times before I read it right. I had to read it with an Aussie accent to understand. lol

[@amazeblaze_861]

@@ldee5478 😂😂😂😂😂

[@akane-1]

Love Jim’s comments 😂 “Servicing costs are reasonable, but most people don’t bother because they hate them” 😂😂😂😂 gold 😂👌

[@shawsie5780]

His opening line was gold

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I've been watching Redriven For weeks now and that's the first time I've heard him say "They're just crap!"

[@edstraker8451]

We got one as a hire car in NZ a few years ago. An alpaca would have been a better option.

[@TwistedDonners]

Would the alpaca have been more fuel efficient? 🤣

[@DEVILTAZ35]

The last Turbo model they made in Australia wasn't bad at all. It had a nice sporty set up and handled pretty well.

[@ANAND02120]

@@DEVILTAZ35 So Holden Cruze SRI 2015 are good?

[@zanelancaster2007]

@@ANAND02120 With the 1.6 they are.

[@daniellarge9784]

With an alpaca at least you get to keep the fleece.

[@CeratedBull]

I own a 2011 Holden Cruze SRI-V and I’ve had no problems with electronics only a problem with the rocket cover and other little things but I keep it looked after and I treat it well and treats me well for a first car.

[@user-kc6iq3jd2i]

Rocket cover?

[@TheRollingStone11]

Build quality differences between factories isn’t really something I’d considered much when researching cars. I’ve had a 2011 Chevy Cruze Ohio-assembled since I was a teenager starting in 2013. I’ve replaced 2 things that weren’t regular maintenance items for about $350 in my 8 years of ownership. Its been completely fine. The steering wheel does definitely wear though.

[@marquentsu5927]

Yeah, also for shanghai GM assembled Chevy Cruze quite good quality.

[@craigmarsden5436]

Well, you've convinced me! I'm off to buy the cheapest Holden Cruze that's nearest to me. Wish me luck 😃

[@joewhite8079]

Please tell me you got it their a top teir car lol.

[@MrLudwig101]

Bought mine second hand 4 years ago, good little get around car but I’d never use credit for one

[@garryablett100]

No no no no ....... 😂

[@bighairycat]

Best video I've seen Jim do, I've had days like that too. Legend.

[@solid7468]

Before seeing the video, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR. This was my sister first new car and the transmission blew up after 3 and half years with 60,000KM on the clock with other minor issues. There was not one year of ownership without going to the dealer at least twice for issues such as injectors and cracking noises in the cabin. This is the worst car after the Astra to own.

[@daviousmaximus6446]

At least with Astras, 1 in 10 was a good car.

[@quixomega]

This and the Astra are basically two variants of the same basic car.

[@cwhast]

When the 'what goes wrong' segment is the longest segment in this review, it says it all really. Great review.

[@torenodonnell8874]

I really like your review style mate. Many times humour is great for explaining faults in things. Good job! I have no intention ever buying one of these cars!

[@markhebden1052]

The honesty in this review is absolute gold. Thanks ReDriven.

[@ReDriven]

Cheers Mark. - AK

[@Christoph1712]

3:33 The Cruze isn't beautiful but it's not ugly and it has become very rare in Europe. And I own one of them. 5:11 The Steering wheel and the shift knob (manual) is pretty worn, that's true. Everything else is still a in very good condition, built in 2012. 7:29 I own the 4 door sedan and even with the smaller tailgate I've never had a problem with getting my stuff in. 8:34 this tiny space = change for parking meter, shopping cart coins...... 10:50 Well, my (Chevy) cruze was built in South Korea in 2012 and it's the most reliable car I've ever had. Only let me down ONCE when the factory starter battery died after ~8 years. So, this sounds like a (Holden) australian problem.......

[@jrambo7495]

Oh thank you. I have somebody doing me a favor and selling me one at a supposed great price. I agreed to it and it's just been delivered but now I'm saying nothing but bad things about this car! I'm scared and I think I just made a huge mistake! I'm in the US and mine is a 2015 diesel.

[@Hexxelia]

I was just lined up to buy one of these, thank you for this video! Recommending your channel to others

[@ReDriven]

Thanks so much, Mel!

[@ershad22]

Funny, Satirical, Over exaggerated and most importantly really helpful review. That’s it I’m subscribing and every car that I’m not going to buy I’ll get my review from here. Bang on mate!

[@Malc664]

Same 👍🏼

[@Spartacus-kx7jq]

I've had a holden cruze 2009 model bought it at 119000kms 6 speed auto 1.8 never had a problems with it sold it at 214000kms guess I was lucky

[@piggybank292003]

I've had a chevy cruze for 8 years, I've replaced the battery, intake manifold , value cover , water inlet, overflow hose, and thermostat housing. All easy fixes and since I did them myself cost was around $500. If you had a shop do them you were probably looking at close to $3000 or $4000.

[@blake9358]

Sounds like a lemon to me

[@NADDOXone]

3k for 8 years of ownership seems standard to me. Sounds pretty decently normal. Thanks mate

[@bioheart09]

try 35k for a beemer over 6 years, from brand new. 😒 somtimes we only complain based on what we beleive is alot.

[@Perezabl3]

Loved the review. Not only did it seem honest but it was also funny as. After this and a few reviews from other people confirming everything you mentioned, I decided to stir clear of these and put my money into a Corolla. Gotta bet on reliability over looks while building up those savings. Keep up the good work and give us merch!

[@vytas5584]

Looks? 😂

[@fredzephire4071]

LOOKS, are you serious? To me the cruise looks cheap and really, really nasty compared to.......... Frankly anything else!

[@john36175]

I have one of those faultless examples. 2011 auto Sriv aussie built hatch with leather, towball, tints. Happy to let you review it.

[@kevinbarry71]

Speaking as an American; this car was a perfect example of a General Motors shit box. Purchased by people who didn't make good decisions, had terrible credit, and didn't have a local Nissan dealership

[@vandur2322]

Great video. I think there's a lot of value in covering these much cheaper, problem cars.

[@brainsmatterpodcast]

Jim’s description 😂😂😂 not surprising though, have a mate who bought one new, biggest regret he had! And your back seat measurements again! Love your reviews, AK. Always makes me laugh!

[@ReDriven]

Haha thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@peteralexander3034]

Certainly backs up all the bad things I've heard about these cars over the years AK. Well done to you, Jim and all the crew at ReDriven. Seen several more of your videos and they're great to watch too, particularly the bloopers😄😄 Just an idea for a potential future review, although the Cruze is crap, how about testing out it's predecessor, The Holden Viva/Chevrolet Lacetti? (Top Gear's Reasonably Priced Car for many years if you prefer)😊 Or even the not so long lived Daewoo Lacetti that was sold in Aus between September 2003 & December 2004 perhaps? In hindsight I reckon both are at least worth having a second look at. The Daewoo maybe slightly more so than the Holden/Chevy in fact🙂

[@jackymor]

Hi there. Thanks for your review. Very interesting. I have had a Holden Cruze 2011 4.1 since new in 2011. Gotta say, after a few early $$ horrors replacing both clutch and brakes a year after the warranty expired (which I put down to lack of quality control in the factory), we've had a trouble free run. Moreover, I actually love driving it. The 4.1 turbo coupled with 6 speed manual makes it as responsive as I need and VERY fuel efficient and its manoeuverability is great. But I take your point that whether you get a good one or a lemon depends mainly on luck. I have also driven an equip auto and it's like chalk and cheese. That one was horrible. You have convinced me of one thing though - the sooner I can trade it in on a Toyota, the better. Listening to your mechanic, I'm thinking better not wait for those big things to start going wrong!

[@seamusobrien2675]

Great review. I was thinking of buying a very very low K one owner Cruse for Uber Car Share (my mini fleet) but by 18.32 you have persuaded me. The rest I watched for a laugh.

[@theBARL0]

On those door mirror mounts, as someone who works in car parts and accessories, probably 3/4 Cruzes we see at work show this problem to some extent. Unlike most cars where this is a bit of black plastic, for some unknown reason Holden decided to make this out of WHITE plastic then basically plasti-dip it black. UV does seem to have some effect but the #1 culprit seems to be taking them through high pressure non-contact automatic car washes so if by some miracle you have one that still has black mirror mounts, don't do that

[@uberpaht]

My old man had a 1.8L Auto to use as a cheap daily. Sold it within a month. I currently have the SRiV, 1.6T, Manual. Has been adequate while I wait for the current supply madness to get sorted out.

[@benkrom2737]

Back in 2011 my daughter bought a chevy cruze eco with 6 speed manual that drove pretty decent. I borrowed for a day trip and drove it normal, my normal doing 80mph and got 45 mpg. We did after 100k run into the typical PCV problem and ended up doing a new intake and PVC valve cover. Learned always warm car up a little before repairing cause when you move all those plastic parts they snap if cold. Car has 150k on it that has original engine, transmission and clutch and runs fine. Every person I've talked to that complained about these cars had an automatic. Car has 150k and still gets 45-47 on highway except in winter when using studded snows on it on all 4 corners. All in all car still rides nice and except for PVC/INTAKE problem which was rectified car has been pretty good. P.S. button for trunk release corroded twice and gave up on that repair. Just use fob to open trunk. 11 years of ownership and cost wise cars been good.

[@supmikey123]

Thanks for this, we were looking for a cheap run around car, we were about to buy one for 4k, with 160k's and a manual. Buuuuut its probably better to avoid. Subbed and liked

[@siddheshtawate7057]

I own a 2016 Holden Cruze SRI-Z 1.6T in Australia and I think for the price and amongst its competitors it's a decent purchase

[@TheJayden3977]

I have a 2013 SRI V, 1.6 T. I’ve done 220,000 km with minimal issues. I think the most I’ve spent on it was the coils which cost me $500 but Holden’s are a pain to get parts for now. I personally love it. It’s gutsy for its price and far better than the 1.8 L Petrol.

[@paulsz6194]

The exhaust manifolds crack & fail on the turbo models…

[@traceycrawford9938]

Great honest review, thank you!

[@monkistyle]

Another great video. Shout out to Jim for keeping it real!

[@spooderman3425]

My Mum owns the unicorn example of this thing you said "surely exists", never had an issue in the almost 10 years she's owned it. It doesn't even have any rattles or anything last time I was in it, it's like the Murphy's Law special edition or something. She got it for a bargain price and I don't think I know anyone else who likes this car as much as she does.

[@cameronmaher2209]

I owned a 2016 Cruze. After 4 years 250kms, transmission died, pcv valve died, head unit and centre console glitched out. Using a obd tool put it onto limp mode. The list goes on

[@angusbs3740]

Hahaha love to see the cruze appear in another video. I've got a 2009 cruze Turbo diesel Auto 170xxxKms. I had heard stories of reliability issues before I bought the car but took the risk and bought mine for $3k. I've owned the car for about 3 years and the only issue I have had is the aircon stopped working. I live in TAS and it doesn't really get hot here so I barely used it anyway. The turbo diesel engine is torquey and actually kind of fun to drive. I have been waiting for something major to go wrong (given the terrible reputation)but the car just keeps on putting along. Actually pleasantly surprised with my car. It has served its purpose well while I save up for something nicer!!

[@AutoReport1]

Aircon is an easy fix and just needed to be used seasonally.

[@Michael-jo9jb]

Buy a lottery ticket! Start saving money it's only a matter of time before something blows up

[@c0smicwaverider]

Jim! 🤣 Should run for PM. The brutal honesty. ❤️ it! Ah hope you guys Re-Drive an Epica.

[@nothim1850]

2016, engine, intake manifold, turbo, all before the extended service contract ended. This, this review is so spot on 🤣

[@robertceroli3512]

This is a throw back from the Holden Camira king of the dog and lemon 🍋

[@BobSmith-rp2oz]

I remember seeing the Camira getting a few awards when it was released... almost as many as the first Mitsubishi Magnas (they didn't last long) . That's when I took note of new car awards and stay away from those cars.

[@paulsz6194]

Well, just like the Camira, it does have the FAMlLY engine, Albeit the Cruze has the FAMILY2 engine…

[@philnelson940]

Great review AK. My partner has a MY12 1.8l Equipe auto she purchased new & much to my surprise... it's been reliable as clockwork. She's very much in the 'I don't care as long as it gets me from A to B' demographic & isn't very 'mechanically sympathetic' but it's still going strong after 140,000 hard-ish km's. It's a daily-driver Monday to Friday then turns into a shopping trolley and a bus for the grandkids on the weekend, but other than the door mirror mounts turning white (just like the review vehicle) and chewing through brake pads she's happy as a pig in poo. Personally, I'd rather walk rather than drive it but she loves it. Every manufacturer had crappy examples of a model (the 'built on a monday morning or friday afternoon' syndrome) but Holden fine-tuned their optimum build period to about 20 minutes somewhere mid-week... and I reckon Julie's Cruze was built then. Maybe regular 10,000km servicing has helped... who knows.

[@ReDriven]

For all the hate it gets (and any other unreliable car), there’s always good examples out there. Stoked your partner loves it!

[@normanafif1268]

I have a 2014 SRi-Z Manual. Been trouble free. Touch wood. I'm thrilled with it, it's just about to hit 100k.

[@User-cb4jm]

@@ReDriven That’s a fair call. It would be ridiculous if every single example out there broke down, here’s hoping that at least a few work, that doesn’t invalidate the fact these have a shit tonne more problems than a Corolla or Mazda3

[@TheJayden3977]

@@normanafif1268 I’ve noticed people tend to have less problems with Cruzes after 2013. I have a 2013 SRi V and it’s been a great car. Very reliable. It drives so smooth even after 200,000 km.

[@normanafif1268]

@@TheJayden3977 That's so good to hear! This review got me a little nervous about mine. I genuinely love the car. I'd like to see it go another 100,000 K. It's always been serviced, I've looked after it.

[@joeyjoey7972]

i have a 2012 cruze 1.4 L turbo manual, bought it new and 12 years later, just had 1 issue, with 1 key fob that fell apart, because i used to open and close it alot, never had any mechnaical issues, i always get it serviced once a year, its fast, fuel efficient, will keep it untill it dies...

[@kellogan1]

Mine must have been from the same batch. I personally love my Cruze. It's never let me down and 12 yrs old, 145,000 km and runs like a dream, takes off when you need it to, hasn't skipped a beat!

[@joeyjoey7972]

@@kellogan1 mine is still going strong

[@John-ku1cd]

I know 2 people who bought the Holden Cruze, both had issie with the oil cooler, what happens is the oil leaks into the cooling system via the oil cooler, you first notice this by oil in the radiator and your engine oil becomes white, yuk, Oh and you think the Cruze is bad do you? Just wait until you hear about the Holden Captiva, My God, a mate of mine who is a mechanic said it should be illegal for those things to be allowed on the road, the list of faults in those things is a mile long.

[@luiss5648]

Exact same thing happened to my sisters car. She fixed it but it cost her 4500. Couple of weeks later the tranny failed.

[@John-ku1cd]

@@luiss5648 Too many people are buying Holden Captivas and Cruizes because they have a Holden badge on them

[@kellogan1]

I have a Holden Cruze, SRI-V 1.4Lt turbo 2012/MY13. I am not surprised by all the comments above, rather, surprised mine doesn't fit the same descriptions. I bought it used in 2015 and did a 2000+ km return trip interstate in 2016. On my return home, the transmission showed a leak and was taken in for a predetermined factory recall on their transmissions. Following this, i have had to replace the coolant reservoir which was brittle and corroded. It was hit by the Jakarta airbag recall in 2020 and i have not had a single issue with it since. It is a very reliable and smooth ride. It runs nicely on e10/unleaded, which was recommended by the dealer, my mechanic and the sticker inside the fuel cap door. Its just gone 140,000km and still drives like when i first bought it. It's had all 9mthly log book services for the first 5 years i owned it, now ive changed to 6mthly for peace of mind as the car is now over 10 years old (My dad's rule). I've not owned a car for as long as this one with as little issues as it's had in its 11 years of life. However, I would not buy another one, simply because of all the issues everyone else seem to have with them.

[@paulsz6194]

You won in the Holden Cruze lottery 🎉. Don’t expect to win again with another one…

[@teamw3227]

Good day! Great review. Please review the Chevrolet Spark as well! Thanks

[@williamegler8771]

In the United States these are one of the most common vehicles on the road. Individual cars are either Toyota like reliable or Yugo like problematic. Owners usually drive them like they are stolen and they never see the inside of a garage for maintenance just when something breaks.

[@robbiesheppard3280]

I have a Holden Cruze and It is always serviced and runs well.

[@toastedclubtrain]

I was in the market for a car 2 months ago was seriously considering one of these and glad i didnt get it i went a lancer xls and it has been fantastic

[@rinibrugel3573]

Had my first problem in my 2012 CDX diesel in 2023. The turbo intercooler pipe needed replacing.

[@thomasarmstrong6704]

I bought a 2014 1.6 turbo manual with 80k kms 4 years ago for $8k, has cost me less than $100 just for a coil pack so far, and after COVID tax is now worth more than $8k apparently. Winning...

[@paulsz6194]

So long as the maitenance / repair costs don’t rise as well….

[@toddwhite4722]

Never had issues with mine and had it for ages now

[@dougtube9075]

Had one: 2013MY Cruze turbo diesel CDX demo, was very excited, first year ownership was good, then problems: black smoke from exhaust-oil burn, fixed under warranty, then engine overheating if driven over 20 minutes, fixed under warranty, then passenger side window switch no longer work and low speed steering making noise- fixed under warranty, then? I traded the car in for good in 2015, I’m glad that I did

[@vladimirsimonovic5234]

Had a Chevy Cruze GT (hatchback) as a rental. It looked okay but it was brand new. In Canada, apparently after 100,000 km, not miles, they start to come apart.

[@tonybennett638]

Best relevant car review on KZbin in Australia 👍

[@ReDriven]

Ah thanks so much Tony. - AK

[@NickOfficialYT]

Have a 2010 CDX. everything was right in your video, electrical, gearbox, blew head gasket, new sounds Hell even the ants! Mine sat for a year on 195,000km. Currently it's 210,000km after reviving it in January 2021. I love this car, but even Holden and Insurance want nothing to do with it. Accident in November. Insurance or police never followed up, same in June/July when it got keyed. I'm disappointed it never got stolen. Car never leaks though. Even Holden crashed the car during a fix. This cars a joke and I strongly advise against anyone buying one and I'm happy to help people out in the comments with questions about this car. Gotten to the point where I'm gonna finance my bosses spare Mercedes just to get rid of the thing.

[@csjrogerson2377]

Not even a tea-leaf is stupid enough to steal a Holden/Cruze. If they did, it would be back on your forecourt in a week with a "My condolences" card.

[@NickOfficialYT]

@@csjrogerson2377 the amount of times I've left the key in the car or on the door is insane. Nobody's ever taken it.

[@franzchong5889]

@@csjrogerson2377 Heap of Low Down Engineering Nonsense.I noticed all the Daewoo sourced Holdens are piles of crap.Even my late fathers associate from a Toyota dealership would have told me don't even think about buying the piles of garbage they sell to suckers.I know what he would been thinking I'll do you a good deal on a Corolla so you don't have to buy those lumps of Korean sourced Junk.

[@anthonywalsh2164]

A worthy successor to the Holden Camira in reliability and build quality.

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

The Camira is like a corolla compared to this monstrosity.

[@Andronicus2007]

I knew someone who had aCamira that seemed to be electrically possessed, just like they say about the Cruze in this review! 😅

[@jimmy-leeroberts9163]

Thanks for the honesty

[@kukiroodonnell998]

I own a 2012 2LT RS (which for those outside NA, its one step below fully loaded with a "sporty-ish" exterior appearance package, it adds no actual sportiness to it but the previous owners put sport shocks on mine anyway) with the 1.4l turbo and 6 speed auto. It is my first car and ive had it nearly 5 years now! The only issues ive had so far are with the steering wheel peeling as well, but slap on a cover and you forget about it. The other issue is with the "intelligent transmission" that changes how it responds to throttle with how aggressive you drive, as it tends to make it a lot more jerky than it should be and probably why a lot of the transmissions nuked itself. But at least for me its been a very reliable car for thrashing it on twisty backroads or dirt/mud roads, and for long distance road trips as it has more sound deadening than my moms 2015 Camry. Not sure if that carries over to other world markets either! But at least for NA it was one of the quietest cheap compact cars you could get when it came out. As for the storage bin in front of the shifter, it just tends to be where I just stuff loose change. At least for my model there is no storage cubby to the side of the steering wheel. The other interesting difference for me is US models have 4 more airbags than this AU model has, which I assume are the dual front knee airbags and the rear torso airbags.

[@Mabeylater293]

How many miles?

[@kukiroodonnell998]

@@Mabeylater293 just went over 130,000 miles! (209,000km)

[@TwistedDonners]

Wouldn't it have been easier for yourselves and Hullsy to list what doesn't go wrong with the cruze? This was one of the funniest reviews that you guys have done and gave me a much need chuckle so thanks for that. Also with the ants are you sure they were a special edition perk or an after market upgrade for the cruze?🤣 Good work again guys and keep up the good work.

[@ReDriven]

Thanks as always you legend! - AK

[@darrenfrith3958]

Once I did the PCV valve mod on my 2012 RS it’s been brilliant. 228k miles and 30-35 mpg. Did a serpentine belt change (#2) yesterday and replaced rusted exhaust bolts today…hoping for another 200k🎉. Oh and I bought it new.

[@overnightpartsfromjapan01]

1415kg and a nat-atmo 1.8L 4-cylinder. Must have been a blast to drive with a couple of passengers.

[@michaelbmw1931]

Are they good?

[@craigleverenz]

I bought a Cruze last year for $8K. So far I've spent about a further $8K on the damn thing. Even as we speak I have a check engine light on the dash. I dread going to the mechanic every time. Don't buy one of these unless you like haemorrhaging money. Seriously, it would cost you less to buy a new car than what you will spend if you buy a Cruze.

[@zhouchris9686]

your oxygen sensors probably dead, and parts will cost over $700 to buy and plus labour

[@brandontadday6288]

My exact experience as well! Since I got a 2013 model second hand in 2019, I’ve yet to have a single service that didn’t involve some kind of major repair cost alongside the basic service costs.

[@gregturner_awod]

Some years ago I was given a Cruze as work car. It was brand new which provided no owner comfort at all. It drove really basically and I found it very uncomfortable for any distance driving. It developed mechanical issues with weird and completely erratic gear changes. I gave it back after three months and swapped to a Toyota. Years later I drove my Uncle’s diesel Cruze. It was noisy, showed erratic red lights on the dashboard and stank of diesel. Ugly nasty cars not worth buying new or used.

[@franzchong5889]

I never owned one not even as a loaner for the day was I ever given one but I can name one Holden that was worse than this which also existed as a Daewoo and a Chevrolet and that was the Spark.I had a 2017 one of those bought second hand in 2018 which lasted three years but was written off by a truck last May/June.I made it out alive but insurance didn't want to repair it and the cost all up to make it all original given I was partway into a loan for the thing made it cheaper to get an insurance payout and buy something older one class bigger.I have a 2008 Mazda 3 now which is a better car but I turned up to look at that in a 2016 Astra R from an accident replacement vehicle rental place and was impressed(my only regrets was there were more owners than I would have liked and the service book was all over the place)otherwise things like any BK/BL/BM Mazda 3 or Honda Accords or Civics or any Toyota or hyundai or the odd Kia is the better buy used.

[@richardb6844]

got my 2010 cd turbo cruze with 45,000k on the clock and never had any issues with it but i do have it serviced regularly! did blow the head gasket once but i was pushing it at 210kph.....

[@akj2387]

Got a 2010 diesel with 80k on the clock, no issues.

[@DOHC16vMPFI]

An Adelaide car centre is currently selling a white 2015 Holden Cruze Equipe Auto Sedan with 90,123 km for $13,990! They also have a 2016 model (same specs as the 2015) for $14,990 with 45,109km, just in red!

[@basilfourie3197]

My previous car. 2010 Cruze 1.8 LT Auto. Got it with 35k on the clock and from day 1 had issues. Took car back multiple times. They replaced the ignition 3 times, only to finally realize it had nothing to do with the actual issue which was faulty injectors. After those were replaced car was fine for +- 2 month, then the next issue; noticed strange greasy substance in the coolant bottle. Took it in and they found the automatic gearbox coolant had leaked into the main coolant system. Repaired. Fine for +- 5 months, then as I was driving on the freeway the card suddenly started loosing power and was stuck in 4th gear in a sort of limp mode. Stopped, after cooling down completely I was able to drive home. Found the Auto gearbox oil was low and had to top that up myself. With Chev announcing they would be pulling out of South Africa later that year I got rid of the car as soon as I could. Bought a new Nissan Qashqai and still driving it till today.

[@timr3168]

Whoever designed that adjustable cupholder in the centre console should get some sort of award, very clever

[@brandontadday6288]

Honestly, probably the best thing about the car

[@roses807]

Thankyou thankyou thankyou for making me realise a Mazda 2 is going to be such a better bet then the look of a Holden Cruze. Love the honesty!

[@paraSsTo0o0]

Thanks for the video!!!

[@ReDriven]

You’re welcome!

[@bigal1090]

My dad bought a 2010 Cruze CDX in 2016 despite me telling him not to. Surprisingly he hasn’t had any problems in the 6 years he owned it but still it’s not worth getting one if the odds of finding a reliable one is like finding a needle in a haystack

[@paulsz6194]

He won the Holden Cruze Lottery, that’s all…

[@davidcrute3423]

My mum bought one in 2015 and just upgraded to a Toyota Corolla without ever having a single issue! It was a brilliant car! Maybe she just got lucky?

[@akj2387]

Had a 2.0 diesel since 2015. Still going strong without any issues whatsoever, nothing. Nothing wrong with it.

[@tcpnetworks]

"Was it that bad?" No! It was WORSE!!! We had 5 of them at work. Every...Single... One... broke. They broke hard. One of them the turbo failed so hard, it wrote the engine off completely. All of them kept getting warranty rejections by our fleet dealer.. Our fleety had enough and dumped all 100 of them back on Leaseplan. They were ghastly.... No - that's not fair. They were horrific.

[@stevengarrad3364]

I bought a new cruze 1.4t manual in 2011 - it had 2 manual transmission replacements under warranty, plus had the wing mirror rash. I traded it in before warranty ended hoping that it would be sold with a decent used car warranty to the next unsuspecting owner. Would avoid at all costs.

[@parisreid5792]

Wellll, am I the odd one out?? My late 2016/2016 Sri V hatchback with the 1600 cc turbo engine has been great. This model is generally accepted as being the best out there, the engine is peppy and gives good performance for the price range. The level of finish and the interior is fine for me, and even though it doesn’t have Apple play, the level of specification is 17:52 as good as most you will find of this age. I have done 145,000 km and these have been the only failures. I drive hard and fast and compare to the cars I’ve had in the past, and I have had many. This one has done me very well. I am currently saving up to trade to a John Cooper works mini. On the negative side, the car had a failed ignition pack and also a crack around the water expansion tank.

[@shravp769]

I own a 2014 Holden Cruze wagon in 2019 and the problems are endless since then.

[@user-fg9hl8kb8v]

Happy with mine.No problems.

[@Ninja97587]

I had a Cruze as a rental in Sydney and the second day of driving it ...it caught on fire from a loose oil filter that was leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold...🤣🤣

[@rsoul7282]

Hopefully nobody extinguished the fire then…

[@Ninja97587]

@@rsoul7282 I didn't care as they replaced it with a Forrester STI

[@clintonoh3108]

Owning a Cruze is like buying shit beer.

[@peterhess6039]

More like just buying shit haha

[@TheJayden3977]

I have one and I’ve never had a problem with it. Must just be me ahaha. Still drives so smooth and it’s done nearly 200,000. It’s pretty quick for a car you can use on your P Plates too.

[@jessicalatex2539]

Bought an Adelaide constructed SRI hatch..may 2012 from new. . In about 3 months the manual gearbox would go from 1st to 2nd to third till it would pop out of that gate. The gearbox was removed by the dealership. They looked at said internals and could not find why it was doing this third gear pop out.. They replaced the gearbox with a new one .. That mirror surround was part a of recall that holden and dealerships tended to not bother telling anyone.. I still own mine..

[@markmcgrath9098]

What, the whole car or just the mirror?😂

[@bpgt1951]

My elderly neighbour recently upgraded her 96 falcon to a 2012 cruze. Should have kept the falcon. Poor darl only drives it twice a week but has a mobile mechanic here doing something too it every few weeks. Wouldn't wish a cruze on my worst enemy.

[@deganellis]

Jim's a f'n legend! 🤣 Lol @ AK spending half the video just explaining what goes wrong... So, what you're saying is... There was room for improvement! Naaaasty!

[@garrysingh8387]

Having problems with it. Dashboard saying “code 27” (Right front blinker bulb is fine) But this issue caused whole system shut off such as headlights and air condition.

[@tafnamtaf8909]

Bought a new 2012 1.4 turbo automatic against my better judgment because my wife thought that they looked cute! Anyway the auto trans failed at 50000 kms and was replaced under warranty as was the water pump; this was in 2016. Since then I replaced the thermostat housing and the water outlet twice because it is made out of plastic; easy enough to do myself; and also the front disc rotors; otherwise it drives well and it is economical on fuel

[@MrDeestar101]

I have a 2016 Cruze equipe, it’s been pretty decent for me since I bought it new in January 2017. The coolant pump failed after about 5 and half years but that’s it

[@HG80369]

Wife's cousin had one for 7 years. Drove it hard over both city & country roads (some unsealed). Never gave her any issues. Only reason she got rid of it was hail damage. She must have been one of the few.

[@TheGrifCannon00]

My co-worker had one of these. 160k kms, the rocker cover was leaking, the power window in on of the doors just stopped working, she closed one of the back doors and the interior trim fell off completely, the lights had faded, and the paint was peeling off the doors. If a Japanese car dared do any of this at those ks, they'd be laughed out of the room.

[@paulmarynissen]

I’ve had a diesel one of these, eventually antipsychotic medications were prescribed and I sold it.

[@ankushdas1995]

I have 2013 Cruze. Let's be clear I got issues and got it fixed cost me $5000 but after that it's been 2 yrs and it's running good. I would do filter and oil change yourself before 10000 km. Run it on unleaded primium petrol and keep the AC on all the time. This will solve your overheating issue. Apparently if AC is on then the radiator fan keeps going and cools down. Don't drive above the road speed limit and idle it for 2 to 5 min before you shut down to cool the engine and coolant completely. You can get used parts like transmission and all for cheap which make this car really reasonable. I get 6.8l/100km in freeway and 8l/100km in all city driving. If you take care of this car it's good and cheap to run.

[@dylanchaffey1639]

I currently own this exact type of Holden Cruze , same colour as well but it’s the 2013 model it’s my first car and it’s an absolute nightmare to maintain, the ECU (electronic control unit) plays up from time to time and it won’t change gears , it’s just left in some sought of limp mode and a bunch of lights will come up on the dash.

[@DB6__]

Sell before transmission issue

[@brandontadday6288]

Yep, this has been my exact experience since I got a second hand 2013 model back in 2019. Except you can also add endless issues with cooling system leaks, shoddy transmission and ignition faults. I am going to throw a party when I see the thing gone from my life.

[@goldilocks9687]

hey man, could please do the mitsubishi magna, the sports if possible? really interesting cars.

[@christopherondigi4312]

Like the guy than the car. He knows his stuff and presents it well and funny

[@DangerAngelous]

My family has a pair of 1.8 petrol manual JG Cruze CDX sedans, one 2009 and one 2010 bought by mum and dad for when me and my brother would get on Ls ~5 years later. At this stage both have around 250,000kms and not particularly babied over that time(I drive mine like a P plater and did a few years of pizza deliveries around twisty, steep hills) For mine the 2009 car, it's been hit and miss though some was my own fault because I insist on learning how to fix cars myself. Major things were the oil cooler 3 years ago, an oil circulation problem which was me not using enough sealant, the 4-in-1 coil pack went at one point, at the moment a possible timing issue , and suspiciously on both cars the manual gearboxes both got stuck in 2nd at thereabouts 230,000kms and both were replaced, and one wheel liner has cracked. Aside from those the regular wear and tear bits like any other car Inside and out visually I've taken good care of it, I'm very happy with the Iced blue paint with regular wax and having polished it a few years ago, chrome is great and the plastics still look good, no broken door handles. To save money and learn I'd done the majority of engine and gearbox oil changes, changed the clutch and brakes, water pump, the coolant reservoir with one that has a metal insert so it doesn't crack, and some sensors myself. I've done a few small mods/upgrades like replacing the torx sump plug for a hex one. It's decent to work on and not cramped for most things The 1.8 is underpowered as hell, it won't do over 100kph very well with wind but it'll give what there is. With Falken tyres and 39psi it hangs on more than people expect, I like the steering feel and it's comfy on regular roads. I've been down some rough dirt roads and camped in it with my legs in the boot, was not amazing but nothing apart from my own bed ever is. Foglights are great at night, parking sensors work fine, the aircon, heating and seated heat work great, it only has an aux cord and that's all the technology I care about in a car, nothing wrong with the radio(no infotainment) generally. My car has also done a decent amount of towing a small trailer as well I'm genuinely happy with mine as it is and what I've taught myself to do with it, but I'm definitely not expecting anyone to take it of my hands and I've not really kept track of the exact servicing that I've done because of that. I wouldn't get another one after this because I know that no one else has taken as much care as I've done and screw it I just want a fun Honda next. If I had to I would be alright with another 1.8 n/a petrol manual Cruze, I am aware turbos have head gasket problems and I don't have any sympathy for the automatic people, and not sure if I would go for a JH over a Korean JG for every other part of the car

[@jackcorrales]

Any chance of a follow up review but in the SRi models with the 1.6L turbo? The suspension and ride was said to be completely different to the 1.8 variants. Thanks for all the reviews btw. Very intertwining and informative.

[@TheJayden3977]

I’ve driven both variants, and the difference is astounding (I own a 1.6 T and my ex had a 1.8 that I drove a fair bit). For starters, the 1.8 is the most gutless engine ever. I remember driving my ex’s 2012 CD and the car struggled on freeways, and with 3 passengers took forever to take off. The 1.6 T is actually very different. It’s quite punchy and takes off really well. It’s not a bat out of hell quick or anything close to a hot hatch, but it’s got enough punch for a fun drive. The 0-100 time does vary a lot though. In mine I got 7.8, however some other people got late 8’s to early 9’s. It’s common thing for Holdens actually. The 1.8 you’re incredibly lucky if you can get under 10.5. You can see a huge difference in the transmission. The 1.6 has a dedicated sport mode for automatic and it shifts really well. Even when you flick it to manual shifting in the auto the shifts are much smoother. When driving the 1.8, the shifts were jerky and clunky. The suspension is stiffer in the 1.6, and the car itself is much better for Australian roads. The SRi steers very well. I have taken it through the black spur many times and I’m amazed at how well it took every turn. Even this ZB Commodore couldn’t shake me. The 1.8 the ride was much bumpier and there was heaps more under steer. As a whole they feel like completely different cars. The 1.6 itself is not bad to drive. Handles well and is quite punchy. The 1.8 is the most gutless boring drive ever. Honestly if the 1.6 T Cruzes were the only variants in the lineup I genuinely think reviews would be much better. I also don’t see as much problems online with the 1.6 T anywhere near as much as the 1.8 or 1.4 T. My one has done 236,000 km now and had minimal issues, still drives smooth. I’ve known a few people who have had 1.6 T as well and they have all had positive experiences. My ex however had heaps of issues with the CD especially with the transmission.

[@dar1020]

@@TheJayden3977 That's what is a called a review...thanks for your comment....i did some research recently and that's what i concluded too... these videos reviews are totally useless and misleading...review every single engine variant( z18xer a16let etc) trim gearbox paint interior exterior etc or do nothing.... these reviews sounds more like "my cousin told me" NO BACK UP EVIDENCE WATSOEVER with actual numbers or faults

[@TheJayden3977]

@@dar1020 I think it really does depend on the Cruze. The people I know who have or owned at 1.8 Petrol Cruze have actually had coolant and transmission issues, however no one I know has ever had major issues with the 1.6 T. Mine was driving immaculate at 240,000 km before it was written off by an idiot that rear ended me in peak traffic. My friend also had a 2014 SRi Z hatch that went to 215,000 fine until again that was written off in an accident. I now have a 2012 Volkswagen CC VR6 (I FKN LOVE THIS THING), but I will never have a bad word to say about my SRi V. It served me incredibly well and was very reliable. It was also quite fun to drive. It wasn’t anything in the league of say a Focus ST or Golf GTI in acceleration, but was enjoyable as hell nonetheless.

[@dar1020]

​@@TheJayden3977Oh ok, interesting...i agree👍

[@chriswilkie2151]

I own a 2011 diesel. Only issue Ive had was a split intercooler hose. Maybe the diesel version was better built

[@Shuzwah]

I had a chilli red diesel sedan Cruze in manual. It looked really flash and I finished it off with some mag wheels. There was noticeable turbo lag in first gear but second gear had some really good torque/pull and was fun to drive. I got some hack device for the OBD port that puts all the windows up automatically when you lock the car with the key/fob. Passengers would always say "are you not going to put the windows up?" I''d then press the lock button and all the windows would roll up. I also updated the stereo with an embedded android tablet. Unfortunately one day it needed a new clutch which from memory cost $4500 for parts and labour. I got it fixed an promptly sold the car. I recently did a rego plate search and its no longer in the system. So I suspect it had other issues not worth fixing for the new owner. Such a shame as I really did like the car.

[@barron204]

I worked for a rental company that had 50 of the 2010 CD sedans. The operations manager said we “ran the country out of transmissions” as the 6 speed autos died at low kms and Holden NZ could not keep up with the problems. Bad cars.

[@EDZEN94]

There is a caryard called paulico autos in blacktown, the owner would specifically buy these cruze's usually with headgasket issues for dirt cheap & just load the engine with chem weld... I also had a cruze that kept having a missfire issue on a cylinder so basically had to change spark plugs/ignition coils frequently.. not to mention the cooling system being god awful I changed the water pump at least 3 times on one cruze alone... If dodgy car yards or dodgy people in general stop doing quick fixes on them and selling them back into the used market it would lower the chances of people buying a lemon.. but since its so cheap & apperance looks more than its worth.. people will take the risk on it..

[@stuartr8356]

Two people I know that had them had issues galore. We hired a Chevy version in Singapore & it had starting issues after the first day. We had to call them to collect it as we would have missed our flight. A car that makes you suffer for no benefit. I drive an Italian car that has been perfectly reliable & a hoot to drive, but people bought the Cruze thinking it might be boring, but should be reliable. The irony....

[@jasminek1197]

Have owned a 2013 model for 6 years with it breaking down from various issues an average of every 12 months. Cheap to buy but you make up for it.

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

I have a soft spot for the earlier Suzuki Ignis-based Cruze. It's almost disappointing that they reused the name for this garbage. I always used to make fun of this model of Cruze because it looks like an 8th Gen Civic from Wish

[@lawler4461]

I had a mate and his parents did a bunch of research and bought him a brand new cruze. Me and my other mate knowing nothing about cars from day one said that car is a piece of sh** and we were right hahaha It literally fits his car to a tee

[@amukhb8608]

Is it really that bad car? I'm considering 2009 Cruze but been wary since alot mentioned how shitty it is

[@randysurline4651]

For the outside drivers side door handle that is used the most don't close the door all the way when you shut it, let it click closed once but not the second time so it looks like it's open a little but won't open when pulled, you guys know. Then when you go to open the door there's no stress on the door handle and it lasts forever. That goes to all Chevy economy cars of the last 20 years.

[@alang4769]

Back in 2019 I upgraded my 1989 Lancer (my first car, which I'd driven for ten years and never had any trouble with) to a 2011 Holden Cruze. As soon as I bought it, seemingly everybody started telling me about how they or somebody they knew had a Cruze that was nothing but trouble. Sure enough, it ended up with a fucked engine after just over 140k kilometres. I ended up buying a 2007 Madza 3 which had done plenty more KMs, but isn't a piece of crap. Never again.

[@rajeshgowda9022]

Please review the Holden Colorado 7? I'm looking to buy one and I'm not sure what could go wrong with a Chevy