2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet develops a top contender in the small cars battle

For the 2012 model year, Chevrolet decided to bring back the Chevy Cruze and we gotta give it to them, they rocked it. With their great design and features, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze just commandeered the top of the list of our small car shopping list.

Trims and Options

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze comes in four main trim levels: LS, Eco, LT and LTZ.

The LS trim equips the Cruze with 16-inch steel wheels, power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a manual six-way adjustable driver seat, a trip computer, OnStar and a six-speaker stereo equipped with a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack to plug in your I-pod, MP3 player, etc. Optional with this trim is a Connectivity package which adds a USB port, Bluetooth and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls to the Cruze.

The Eco trim is very similar to the LS but it is designed to provide your Cruze maximum fuel efficiency. The Eco trim is lighter and gives the Cruze some aerodynamic improvements. The Eco trim also adds a smaller fuel tank, lighter alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires.

The LT trim actually has two sublet trims: 1LT and 2LT subsets.

The 1LT brings with it: a turbocharged engine, a leather wrapper steering wheel, cruise control, color-keyed power outside mirrors and a Connectivity package. The 2LT adds 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a sports suspension, remote vehicle start, four-wheel disc brakes, leather interior, heated front seats and a six-way power driver seat.

The Cruze LTZ takes it one step further by adding 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition, keyless entry, automatic climate control, rear park assist and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. It also brings its own interior trim which adds a touch of luxury to the Cruze.

The good news to Cruze owners is that many of the standard features found in the upper trim levels can be added to lower trims as options. Some options for the upper trims include a sun roof, a hard-drive-based navigation system and a nine-speaker Pioneer premium sound system. Another optional package for the upper trims is the RS appearance package which adds a unique front/rear fascias, fog lights and a rear spoiler to your Cruze.

Interior and Special Features

The 2012 Chevy Cruze is equipped with a "twin cockpit" interior design and has a two-tone color scheme that gives it a classy look. The controls are also very straight forward and easy to use.

The only flaw on the Cruze's interior is that the front seats are a little narrow, which might be an issue for huskier drivers. To combat this, Chevy designed the seats to offer plenty of adjustment options in order to make it more supportive and comfortable. One great feature of the Chevy Cruze is its large trunk which measures 15.4 cubic feet, way above average for small cars.

Under the Hood

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS is standard equipped with a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine that produces 136 hp and 123 pounds-feet of torque. The Eco, LT and LTZ get a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter inline-4 engine, thus generating 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque.

The LS, LT and Eco trims are paired up with a standard six-speed manual transmission, with the option to switch to a six-speed automatic. The LTZ trim comes standard with the automatic transmission.

The Cruze LS has an estimated EPA fuel economy of 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined with the manual transmission and 22/35/27 mpg with the automatic. The trims that come with the turbocharged engine (LT and LTZ) receive 26/38/30 mpg estimates with either transmission.

The fuel-economy-focused Cruze Eco earns an incredible 28 mpg city/42 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined  when equipped with the manual transmission and 26/39/31 with the automatic.

Safety

Every 2012 Chevrolet Cruze model is equipped standard with front and rear side impact airbags, stability control, full length side curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and front knee airbags. The 2LT and LTZ four-wheel disc brakes, while the other trims have a front-disc/rear-drum brake setup.

Driving Impressions

One of the best parts of driving the Chevrolet Cruze is that it combines a sporty drive with a comfortable, smooth ride. The standard suspension rides smoothly and quietly and the sport suspension from 2LT and LTZ trims offers a firm ride without harshness.

Verdict

Take one look at the 2012 Chevy Cruze and you will see that it exudes quality. It has a beautiful outside design and an upscale interior. It is also has a great array of optional packages.

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2012 Chevrolet Traverse

While many drivers use their car as a private sanctuary, free of others changing your AC settings or talking over your favorite song on the radio, many of us are often driving around in a packed car. So for those drivers that find themselves wondering how they are going to fit the last passenger in the carpool, the Chevrolet Traverse is worth a look.

The 2012 Chevy Traverse is a large crossover that features a smooth driving experience and a gigantic cabin that fits as many as eight comfortable adults. It has a carlike architecture that makes it more maneuverable than most large crossover SUV’s, but manages to include more interior space than other competing crossovers as well as good fuel economy and top crash test scores.

Interior Design and Special Features

If you are impressed by the sporty design of the outside of the vehicle, the interior of the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse is one to love. The only thing we would change (write this down Chevy) is to make the audio buttons and climate control bigger. Aside from that, the 2012 Traverse features a very attractive interior design and easy to handle controls and gauges.

The passenger cabin offers very comfortable seating for either seven or eight passengers, depending on whether it is equipped with the second-row captain's chairs or the 60/40-split-folding second-row bench seat respectively. Regardless of which layout you get, they are both very comfortable for passengers. Even the third-row seats are adult-friendly, which you don’t see every day from these types of vehicles.

As far as cargo space goes, the 2012 Chevy Traverse has 24 cubic feet of suitcase space behind the third-row seat. If you need more room than that, you can fold down both the second- and third-row seats and for an incredible 116 cubic feet of cargo room. The only vehicles that get more cargo room than the Traverse are minivans or Suburban’s, making the Traverse top dog in this category.

Trim Levels and Available Options

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse has 3 available trims:  LS, LT and LTZ.

The LS trim is equipped with standard 17-inch steel wheels, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, OnStar, full power accessories and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. One great feature for this trim is the split-folding second- and third-row bench seats that make it possible to fit 8 adult passengers comfortably.

The LT trim level gives Traverse buyers the choice between two available sub-trims: The first one is the 1LT package, which offers 18-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear parking sensors, heated mirrors, an eight-way power driver seat and Bluetooth connectivity. The second is the more upscale 2LT trim, which brings all of the same features as the 1LT plus an auto-dimming driver-side mirror, a power lift gate, tri-zone automatic climate control (front, middle and back), remote ignition, a rearview camera and a 10-speaker Bose sound system equipped with USB/iPod interface and rear audio system controls. This trim can fit 7 people comfortably and features second-row captain’s chairs.

The Traverse LTZ trim is the most luxurious of the Traverse’s trim levels. It comes equipped with 20-inch wheels and power-folding mirrors. The LTZ Trim also makes the car more comfortable by including leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats with driver memory functions.

The good news for potential Traverse buyers is that there are available option packages that can add some of the features on upper trim levels to the lower ones. Some of the notable optional add-ons to the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse include a back seat DVD player, a navigation system and dual sunroofs.

Under the Hood

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse is equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and has a six-speed automatic transmission. As far as the power train goes, the 2012 Traverse us equipped with front-wheel drive but has an optional all-wheel-drive system available.

In the LS and LT trims, the Traverse is able to produce 281 hp and 266 pound-feet of torque. In the LTZ, The Traverse is added a dual-outlet exhaust, which pushes it up to 288 hp and 270 lb-ft.

Front-wheel-drive Traverse has an estimated EPA fuel economy of 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive Traverse models are very close at 16/23/19 mpg. For the minute differences in gas consumption, we recommend just getting the All-wheel drive.

Safety

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse is equipped with Antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control. It is also equipped with front seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags for all three rows.

Another great safety feature for the 2012 Traverse is GM's OnStar telematics service, which includes turn-by-turn navigation and hands-free phone connectivity.

In government crash tests, Chevy designers excelled with the Traverse, earning a top five-star rating for overall performance. The Traverse earned four out of five stars for overall front-impact protection and five stars for overall side-impact protection. The Traverse also earned high marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, where it was given the IIHS’s highest rating of "Good" in all frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength tests.

Driving Impressions

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse offers good handling, a smooth ride and great comfort. It's much easier to drive than traditional large SUV’s and the 3.6-liter V6 provides good acceleration and pretty good fuel economy (especially for a vehicle of the size).

Verdict

If you need a good amount of passenger or cargo space but don’t want to look like a soccer mom in a minivan or deal with the driving hassles that come with huge SUV’s, the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse is the car for you.

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2012 Chevrolet Suburban

Introduction

The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban is what we have always wanted in a large SUV. It offers seating for up to nine people, incredible cargo space and a towing capacity that's robust enough to pull a small building. What’s just as impressive is that the Suburban is able to do all of this, yet it offers a gentle drive that is achieved thanks to its powerful V8 engine combining with its luxurious comfort features.  

Body, Trims and Options

The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban is offered in the form of the1500 model and the heavy-duty 2500 model. Both models are available in the base LS and midlevel LT trims, with the LTZ model available in the 1500 model. The Suburban has a standard eight-person seating capacity, but it offers and available 40/20/40 front bench that increases the seating capacity to nine people.

The LS has 17-inch alloy wheels, power seats, front bucket seats, side assist steps, roof rack side rails, a 50/50-split third-row seat, three zone manual climate control, Bluetooth, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, rear-seat audio controls (that include headphone jacks). It also has all of the features music lovers want, including an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB interface.

The LT trim has all of the above mentioned features but adds fog lights, roof rack crossbars, a locking rear differential, heated mirrors , power-adjustable pedals, parking sensors for the rear of the vehicle, remote vehicle start and an upgraded Bose sound system that comes equipped with a six-CD changer.

The Suburban LTZ model gets 20-inch alloy wheels, a power lift gate, windshield wipers with rain sensors, a rear air suspension, upgraded leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, driver seat memory settings, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a hard-drive-based navigation system, a rearview camera and an awesome 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system with digital music storage.

Some optional packages for the 2012 Suburban include 22-inch wheels, power-retracting running boards, a heavy-duty towing package, a twin-screen rear-seat entertainment system, and an off-road package.

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2012 Suburban offers a well made passenger cabin that is easy on the eyes. Its interior controls and gauges are easy to see and operate

With the available 40/20/40-split front seat option, the Suburban is able to fit up to nine passengers, a number that is only topped by some full-size vans.

The 2012 Suburban has very impressive cargo space, offering 137 cubic feet of storage behind the front seats, which is 40 more cubic feet than the Nissan Armada.

Engine and Performance

The 2012 Suburban comes with two different engine choices.  The first engine type comes on the 1500 model, and its a 5.3-liter V8 engine that pushes 320 horsepower and 335 pounds-feet of torque. The 2500 model carries a 6.0-liter V8 that pushes 352 hp and 382 lbs-ft of torque. Both engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission, but buyers have a choice to have either rear- or four-wheel drive.

The EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban is 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway and 17 mpg in combined driving for the two-wheel-drive 1500 model and 10/15/12 mpg for the four-wheel-drive 2500 model.

Safety Features

The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban's safety features includes Onstar, four-wheel antilock brakes, stability control, side airbags for the front seats and a three-row side curtain airbag system complete with a rollover sensor. The LTZ trim offers blind-spot warning system which is a great addition, and one we recommend.

Verdict

For a vehicle as big as the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban, it performs like a smaller SUV. It’s improved suspension gives it a smooth ride, and it offers a pretty quiet passenger cabin. If you are looking for a large SUV this year, look no further than the 2012 Suburban. We promise you it will not disappoint.

Check out Jerry’s Chevrolet for our incredible selection of Suburbans’s at 1940 E. Joppa Rd Baltimore, MD 21234 or follow us on twitter @jerryschevybalt or like us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jerryschevrolet.