2022 Chevrolet Cruze — should you buy one?

Why people love the 2022 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2022 Cruze's 1.4L turbo paired with the nine-speed automatic delivers 153 horsepower without demanding premium fuel, which matters when you're filling up twice a week on a waitress schedule. Owners report the turbo kicks in smoothly around 2,000 RPM, making highway merges feel confident rather than strained. The Chevy MyLink infotainment system finally ditched the lag problems from earlier generations, so your phone connects without the three-second delay that made previous Cruzes feel dated. Backseat legroom beats most compact competitors—real humans can sit back there without their knees touching the front seat.

Common complaints and known issues

The 2022 model year reported transmission shudder complaints to NHTSA starting around 40k miles, where the nine-speed exhibits a slight hesitation during low-speed acceleration in parking lots and city traffic. Water intrusion into the door seals has appeared by 60k–90k miles on cars driven in wet climates, causing interior electrical gremlins and musty odors that dealers struggle to fully resolve. Some owners reported clearcoat peeling on the hood and roof panels by 80k miles, especially on darker colors exposed to sun without covered parking. The turbocharger can develop carbon buildup by 100k+ miles if the engine oil isn't changed every 5,000 miles.

Typical asking price

Under 80k miles: $16,500–$19,200. 80k–120k miles: $14,200–$17,100. Over 120k miles: $11,800–$14,900. Pricing shifts based on trim (LS versus LT versus RS), accident history flagged on Carfax, and regional demand—used compact sedans sell faster in cold climates where winter commuting is real.

Ranges are typical 2026 asking prices, not appraisals. The actual fair offer depends on this specific car's title history, accident record, and open recalls — which is what EstimateProof tells you.