Good ol’ Chevy.

My trusty Green Cavalier RS; had it briefly when I was 17. When I say briefly, I mean a matter of months. In that time it got me from point a to b (and back) and for the most part was reliable. But, when shit hit the fan with it, let’s just say I knew it was time for something new.

Now in the spirit of being fair, that was years ago, and things over at GM have evolved quite a bit. And, for the most part, I am impressed with the direction they’re going in.

Last week I was given the opportunity to take the 2012 Chevy Cruz EcoBoost out for a week. Given the nostalgic value the brand (Chevy) has for me, I figured “why not” and embarked on my bonding time with it.

First Impression: Not bad, but nothing note-worthy. Definitely a huge jump from the Cavalier of past - but at the heart of it, it’s your entry-level Chevy and does what you need it to: get you point to point. As well as being small, well-designed, and has that sporty hint you expect when eye-ing your next ride.

One thing I will point out, that kinda caught me off guard, was the control deck layout (see below).

Very well laid out. Totally not what I expected; good on Chevy. The layout is only made better by the A2DP and Bluetooth connectivity. Very similar to the Verano, connection-wise, setup is a breeze and holds true throughout the call. However, this car is geared (and priced) towards my generation of urban-professionals; the ones who don’t need the horse-power, glitz, or extra add-ons - the ones who rely on gas mileage over power.

Something the Cruz offers and then some; I was able to push, no joke, 585KM off a tank of gas, with A/C running.

The Cruz re-instilled my past love for Chevy and I am proud of the turnaround they have given themselves. Listen, for 15 grand and change, you can’t go wrong.

Learn more about the Chevy Cruz via GM’s website here