Used Chevrolet Cruze for Sale nearSanta Cruz, CA

How much does the Chevrolet Cruze cost in today's market?

Used Chevrolet Cruze prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Chevrolet Cruze's current nationwide average price is $7,964, and its nationwide average price reached a low of $7,956 over the past year. Recently, prices have come down for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Chevrolet Cruze a good car?

Yes — the Chevrolet Cruze earns a strong overall case from owners, especially if you value comfort, fuel efficiency, and a smooth daily-driving feel. The all-generations owner rating is 4.33/5 across every model year in the data.

Owners repeatedly praise the Cruze for its comfortable ride, good gas mileage, and spacious-feeling cabin, and they also call out its stylish design and easy-to-live-with character. Expert impressions reinforce that it can be a polished commuter with solid road manners and useful tech.

Expert reviews rate the 2016 and 2014 models among the highest across all years.

The trade-off is that some recent expert-tested versions are described as slow, with power that can feel modest when you want quicker acceleration, and a few notes point to cabin materials and tech that feel dated by modern standards. 26.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Chevrolet Cruze models reliable?

Owners and experts consistently point to the Cruze’s comfort, efficiency, and everyday usability as its strongest traits. Across the model years, the car is often described as smooth, practical, and easy to live with, with several versions also earning praise for their fuel economy and road manners.

• Owners rate the Chevrolet Cruze between 3.0 and 4.67 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, the long-term ownership picture is best approached with a careful history check and a close look at maintenance records, especially on higher-mileage examples.

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

Across all model years, at 53.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: Teen Driver
• Infotainment: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Fuel efficiency: Estimates put its combined rating at 35 mpg, but my trips all averaged at least 40, with my highway test loop of 100 miles returning better than 50 mpg.

Which Chevrolet Cruze trim should I buy?

The 2018 Chevrolet Cruze offers these trims:

• LT Diesel Hatchback: This is the standout efficiency-focused choice, with the diesel powertrain, 9-speed automatic, power driver’s seat, keyless entry and ignition, and remote start. It suits you if you want the most distinctive Cruze setup and strong mileage.
• LT: The LT trim is the core starting point for the diesel hatchback and the best-value choice if you want the diesel’s character and efficiency without moving up to a more expensive configuration.

What Chevrolet Cruze do most buyers choose?

The Chevrolet Cruze years with the most listings are 2017, 2016, and 2015.

These higher-volume years tend to be popular because they give you more shopping choice and a broader spread of prices and conditions. That usually makes it easier to compare listings and find a Cruze that fits your budget and equipment needs.

What is the Chevrolet Cruze's resale value?

The Cruze’s used prices are moving lower across every year shown, which can work in your favor if you’re shopping for value. The biggest drops are concentrated in the newer years, while the rest of the lineup is also trending down at a steadier pace. That creates a broad buying window if you want to compare trims and equipment without paying peak prices.

The 2015, 2017, and 2016 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Chevrolet Cruze safe?

• 2018: 8/10
• 2017: 7/10
• 2016: 8/10
• 2014: 8/10

Teen Driver was made standard last year, and this allows owners to set limits for speed and distance for a secondary driver with app-delivered reports and notifications whenever those limits are exceeded.

For the safest used buy, the 2014, 2016 and 2018 models all post the highest confirmed score of 8/10.

Should I buy a used Chevrolet Cruze now?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2018 model is at −9.31% versus a year ago, and the 2017 model is at −4.43%.
• Deal availability: The 2018 model has 26% good and great deals, and the 2017 model has 25.6%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2017 model has the most listings at a current average price of $9,324. The Chevrolet Cruze offers a comfortable ride and a practical, easy-to-live-with character.

If you're buying used today, the 2017 model year offers the best mix of value and availability.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.