Used 2016 Chevrolet Cruze for Sale nearBakersfield, CA

How much does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze cost?

Prices have softened 4.53% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,695 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze earns 4.1/5 from owners and 7.5/10 from our experts. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel, Cost effectiveness, and Safety.

Owners repeatedly praise its impressive gas mileage, comfort, Bluetooth calling, and spacious trunk. That lines up with the Cruze’s role as an efficient, practical compact sedan that can handle real-world driving without feeling stripped down.

With 25.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have a decent chance of finding a strong-value example if you shop carefully.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

Owners rate it 4.1/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a car that many people find efficient and comfortable, while also calling out concerns such as vibrations while driving and overheating. The expert drive notes that the Cruze’s turbocharged setup never feels like it’s working hard, and the automatic transmission is described as quick and painless in normal driving.

Chevrolet also includes a maintenance perk in the tech package discussion, with five years of OnStar emergency services accessible via a smartphone app. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that reported reliability concerns make a thorough pre-purchase inspection especially important.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?

At 51% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a hands-on inspection of bodywork, panel alignment, and signs of prior repair. It also makes sense to focus on how the car drives, since owner feedback mentions vibrations and overheating concerns. If possible, verify that the car’s equipment works as expected, especially on higher-trim examples with more electronics.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Premier trim adds the nicest rims and chrome trim, while the base L is available only one way and skips some of the extras found on higher trims.
• Powertrain: The turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder makes 153 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, and the 6-speed automatic keeps the engine from feeling strained in normal driving.
• Safety package: Two optional safety packages add forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and auto high beams; blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors are available on LT and Premier trims, while auto-braking and adaptive cruise control are not available.
• Infotainment: The Cruze uses an 8-inch screen with MyLink, and it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus onboard Wi-Fi through OnStar’s 4G LTE modem.
• Fuel efficiency: The test car was rated at 30 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway, and some Cruze models offer up to 42 mpg on the highway.

Which 2016 Chevrolet Cruze trim should I buy?

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is offered in 4 trim levels: L, LS, LT, Premier.

Here's the short version:

• L: This is the entry point, so it makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and can live without the nicer equipment found higher up.
• LS: This is the first step up for shoppers who want a more balanced mix of price and everyday equipment.
• LT: This is the best-value trim for many buyers because it sits in the core of the lineup and can be had with the automatic setup needed for the available navigation and infotainment system.
• Premier: This is the most upscale choice, with the nicest rims and chrome trim, plus access to the optional safety packages that add forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and auto high beams.

The safety-package features are available only on the Premier, while blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors are available on both LT and Premier trims.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 25.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,695 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.53% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 51.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $7,992, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze's resale value?

The current average of $8,096 sits slightly below last year's $8,480.

That softer pricing suggests the Cruze is in a buyer-friendly phase now, which can help you get in at a lower cost. For a future seller, it also means you should expect resale value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and equipment level rather than on market momentum alone. Well-kept examples with desirable features should hold up better than rougher cars with a history of issues.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.1/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze safe?

The Cruze is one of the few cars sold with rear side thorax airbags mounted in the seatbacks, and it has 10 airbags in total, including knee airbags for the driver and front passenger.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The Cruze includes a backup camera as standard, and two optional safety packages add forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and auto high beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors are available on LT and Premier trims, while auto-braking and adaptive cruise control are not available. The safety write-up also notes that the IIHS had only run the car through two of five tests at the time of review, so the crash-test picture was incomplete.

Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 25.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 51% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.53% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.1/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The second-generation redesign makes it a fresh take on the Cruze nameplate.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $9,157, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $8,096 average.
• It adds a sloping rear hatch for more utility.

The bottom line: If you want the lower purchase price and a broad selection, the 2016 is the smarter starting point. If you’re willing to spend more for added utility, the 2017 is the better fit; otherwise, the 2016 gives you the stronger value play.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.