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Is a Chevy Cruze a full-size sedan?

The Chevy Cruze is not a full-size sedan. It is a compact car that Chevrolet offered as a small sedan and a hatchback, with production winding down in the United States after the 2019 model year.


To understand why the Cruze isn’t considered full-size, it helps to look at how car size is defined in practice. Full-size sedans are larger, heavier, and offer more interior and trunk space compared with compact cars like the Cruze. The Cruze was designed for efficiency and practicality within a smaller footprint, sitting beneath Chevrolet’s mid-size Malibu and the full-size Impala in many markets.


Classification and size footprint


These criteria show where the Cruze sits in the size spectrum:



  • Segment: Compact car (C-segment) according to EPA and industry classifications.

  • Length and wheelbase: Typically shorter than full-size sedans, with a wheelbase around 106 inches and overall length generally under 183 inches depending on generation.

  • Seating and cargo: Usually five-passenger seating with a modest trunk volume (sedan around the mid-teens in cubic feet for trunk space).

  • Platform: Built on GM’s Gamma II platform, a common choice for compact Chevrolets and other GM small cars.

  • Market status: No longer produced for the U.S. market, with the last model year in 2019; continued or varied availability existed in some other regions during earlier years.


In short, these characteristics align the Cruze with the compact segment rather than a full-size sedan.


Production status and body styles


Understanding the Cruze’s production history and available body styles clarifies its market role:



  • Body styles: Offered as a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatchback in many markets.

  • Production timeline: Introduced in 2008 and widely sold through the 2010s; the U.S. market saw its final model year in 2019.

  • Global reach: The Cruze was marketed in multiple regions, with variations by year and region.

  • Current lineup context: Chevrolet’s current sedan offerings in the U.S. include the Malibu (midsize), while the brand has shifted more toward SUVs and crossovers; there is no direct new full-size Chevrolet sedan in the lineup today.


These notes emphasize that the Cruze was a compact model with practical styling and varied body options, not a full-size sedan.


Summary


The Chevy Cruze is not a full-size sedan. It is a compact car that was offered as both a sedan and a hatchback, built on GM’s Gamma II platform and designed for efficiency within a smaller footprint. In the United States, production ended after the 2019 model year, reflecting a broader industry move away from compact sedans toward SUVs and crossovers. For those seeking a larger, full-size Chevrolet, historical options included models like the Impala, while the modern Chevrolet lineup now emphasizes midsize and smaller crossovers rather than traditional full-size sedans.

What size is Chevy Cruze?


The Chevrolet Cruze dimensions vary by body style and year, but for recent models (like the 2018-2019 sedan), the exterior is approximately 183.7183.7183.7 inches long, 70.570.570.5 inches wide, and 57.457.457.4 inches high. A hatchback version is slightly shorter at 175.3175.3175.3 inches long, but has the same width and height as the sedan.
 
Sedan dimensions (2018-2019)

  • Length: 183.7183.7183.7 inches
  • Width: 70.570.570.5 inches (without mirrors)
  • Height: 57.457.457.4 inches
  • Wheelbase: 106.3106.3106.3 inches 

Hatchback dimensions (2018-2019)
  • Length: 175.3175.3175.3 inches
  • Width: 70.570.570.5 inches
  • Height: 57.757.757.7 inches
  • Wheelbase: 106.3106.3106.3 inches 

Interior dimensions (2019 Hatchback)
  • Front Headroom: 38.938.938.9 inches
  • Front Leg Room: 42.042.042.0 inches
  • Front Shoulder Room: 54.954.954.9 inches
  • Rear Headroom: 37.837.837.8 inches
  • Rear Leg Room: 36.136.136.1 inches
  • Rear Shoulder Room: 53.253.253.2 inches 



Is a Chevy Cruze a sedan or coupe?


sedan
Developed as a global model, the Cruze went on sale in other countries before it arrived in the U.S. Unlike the Cobalt, which came as a coupe or a sedan, the Cruze launched solely as a sedan.



Does Chevy have a full size sedan?


No, Chevrolet does not currently make a full-size sedan in its current lineup. The last model to fit this category was the Impala, with the 2020 model year being the last sold new in the United States. While Chevy has a history of full-size sedans like the Impala, Bel Air, and Caprice, its modern sedan offerings now include smaller vehicles like the Malibu (a mid-size sedan) and the electric Bolt EV. 

  • Last Full-Size Sedan: The Chevrolet Impala was the last full-size sedan to be produced, with the final model year being 2020. 
  • Current Sedan Lineup: Today's Chevy sedan lineup primarily includes the mid-size Malibu and the compact Bolt EV. 
  • Historical Models: Chevrolet has historically produced full-size sedans, including classic models like the Bel Air, Caprice, and Impala. 
  • Future Plans: There have been some online discussions and unofficial concepts about a future full-size sedan, such as a new Bel Air model, but there are no official production plans. 



Is a Chevy Cruze considered a full-size car?


The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car produced by General Motors from 2008 through 2023.


Kevin's Auto

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.