When consumers consider buying a new car, there are more resources than ever that provide detailed comparisons. From magazines, to websites, to family and friends, it’s easy to stack up several models within a segment.

For the launch of the all-new Chevrolet Cruze, General Motors is taking product comparisons to a whole new level. According to reports, GM is requesting that its 3,000 dealers have a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Civic on hand so that consumers can compare the competition right from a Chevy showroom.

The Chevy Cruze is expected to be one of GM’s most important new products. Its price, styling, and range of available features, make it a formidable competitor against the Japanese segment leaders. And while the Cruze lacks the buzz of the upcoming Volt, it’s expected to be a high-volume seller for Chevrolet.

While the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla remain at the top of the C-Segment heap, both models are beginning to show their age, and a fresh new comer like the 2011 Cruze could pose a real threat to their dominance – especially when consumers are allowed to compared the new model to the competition from any Chevy showroom.

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Talk about a fast learner: The Chevrolet Cruze isn’t even on sale yet here in the U.S. and it’s already racking up third-party awards. The latest? The team at Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com recently came out with its list of “Top 10 Back to School Cars” for 2010, and the all-new Cruze was one of the website’s star pupils.

Making the honor roll here was no simple achievement, as KBB.com was looking for rides that would satisfy everyone, parents and prospective love interests included. That meant choosing vehicles that were “affordable, reliable, versatile, fuel-efficient, tech-savvy, fun and inexpensive”—just like the much-anticipated Cruze.

According to KBB.com, this new Chevrolet “further redefines the compact sedan as more than just a starter car. The Cruze is big-sedan quiet, boasts one of the category’s nicest interiors and comes with turn-by-turn navigation via OnStar. Add in a sporty but comfortable ride, room for five and folding rear seats for those times when you need to move the larger things in your life, and the Chevy Cruze could easily see you through school and into your first job in style.”

And you won’t need a degree in economics to see that Chevrolet has put together impressive value proposition. With an MSRP that starts at just $16,995, the Cruze includes not only the benefits mentioned by KBB.com, but also standard air conditioning, power windows/door locks, keyless remote entry and the most standard safety features in its class. Among them are 10 airbags, GM’s StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control, anti-lock brakes, a collapsible pedal system and power rear-door safety locks.

Drivers can also make a fall fashion statement by opting for the available Cruze RS appearance package, which adds unique and aggressive front and rear fascias, rocker moldings, front fog lamps and a rear spoiler. Also notable: The Cruze is expected to enter its freshman year on the market with class-leading marks on its EPA report card, including a stellar 40 mpg highway.

Customers can expect the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze to start schooling the competition beginning this fall.

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What’s the longest-running nameplate in the car business? You’ve guessed right, everyone’s favorite behemoth, the Chevrolet Suburban.

First launched back in 1935, the Chevy Suburban grew to epitomize what a full-size SUV should be. Each of the ten Suburban generations feature qualities like spaciousness, ruggedness, and durability.

The current generation boasts those qualities, and many others. The 2011 Chevy Suburban offers best-in-class towing, a five-star crash rating, strong powertrains, a comfortable ride and spacious seating for up to nine plus their cargo. In addition to creating the full-size SUV segment, the Suburban still manages to dominate it.

After 75 years, Chevrolet estimates it has built between 2.25–2.4 million Suburbans in total.

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Through the first seven months of 2010, sales of the Chevrolet Traverse are up a strong 31.4 percent, while Chevrolet Equinox has attracted a staggering 113.6 percent more customers this year than last during the same time. Those numbers reflect significant success in the marketplace for Chevrolet crossovers, but as impressive as they are, they tell just part of the story.

According to GM, 45 percent of all Traverse buyers and 44 percent of Equinox customers have traded in non-GM products when making their purchases.

“Equinox and Traverse are attracting owners of competitive vehicles, including Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas to Chevrolet showrooms,” said Alan Batey, vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. “For these buyers, Equinox and Traverse offer the flexibility and fuel efficiency they have been looking for in a crossover, as well as the design, performance and value that define Chevrolet.”

Of course, it helps that both vehicles are also winning over the critics. The Traverse was one of Kelley Blue Book’s Top 10 Best New Family Vehicles when it debuted, earned “Top Safety Pick” status from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and was named a Consumer’s Digest “Best Buy” both this year and last. And the EPA likes the Traverse, too: In its front-wheel-drive configuration, relying on GM’s advanced V6 with direct injection and variable valve timing, the Traverse offers a higher estimated mpg rating—24 mpg—than any other eight-passenger crossover on the market.

The Equinox has earned the same kind of big-time kudos in a midsize package. It, too, has been named a Consumer’s Digest “Best Buy” and an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” and it, too, offers an eye-opening EPA line. With its responsive 2.4-liter Ecotec direct-injection I4 engine and standard six-speed automatic, the Equinox is good for ratings of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. That’s better fuel economy than a Honda Accord sedan, with a smaller carbon footprint to boot. GM has had to increase production rates of the Equinox three times in the past 18 months to keep up with demand.

It’s no wonder the competition is having so much trouble keeping up with Chevrolet.

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There’s been a revolution in ride and handling in recent years, and the result is that mainstream buyers no longer have to sacrifice one for the other. That means you can now get both a comfortable ride and impressive road manners all in the same vehicle, and all for a surprisingly affordable price. Just ask the team from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, which recently chose its annual 10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000. The top manufacturer? General Motors, which comfortably outperformed all other automakers by placing four different vehicles on the list.

Leading the way was the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, commended by the website for characteristics like its spacious interior, soothing ice-blue ambient light and the division’s hallmark QuietTuning system, which significantly lowers in-cabin noise. And that’s all the better to enjoy the Buick’s premium 384-watt Harman/Kardon sound system, another feature that significantly ups the comfort quotient on the LaCrosse.  

The full-size Lucerne joined its Buick sibling in the KBB.com rankings thanks to its emphasis on traditional American-style comfort, with a notably smooth ride, soft seats designed to coddle the driver and passengers alike, and an interior that the website called “impressively quiet.” The short story here: “The Buick Lucerne is certainly one of the most comfortable” cars on the road today.

Proving that award-winning comfort isn’t limited to GM’s premium vehicles, two entries from the Chevrolet division were also included in the KBB.com Most Comfortable Cars rankings. The Chevrolet Impala was recognized for its combination of full-size proportions, practical price and impressive comfort levels, a combination the website called “the magic formula” for attracting buyers. KBB.com also specifically complimented the vehicle on its ability to be at ease on the open road.

For a comprehensively thorough approach to comfort among midsize sedans, KBB.com turned to the Chevrolet Malibu. The refined Malibu stood out for its “quite ride, confident handling and a well-crafted look inside and out.” High levels of available content—including heated front seats, a two-tone leather interior and Bluetooth compatibility—helped clinch a place on the website’s list.

Which helps explain why this high-quality quartet is helping GM clinch a place on more buyers’ shopping lists.

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The Chevrolet Volt, the industry’s first extended-range electric vehicle, is now available for ordering at dealerships in select launch markets around the country. The net starting price for customers: Just $33,500.

That reflects an MSRP of $41,000, which will effectively be reduced by $7,500 in federal tax credits, with potential local and state incentives helping to further lower that cost. For customers who prefer to lease, dealers are offering attractive rates as low as $350 per month for 24 months, with $2,500 due at lease signing. (Again, this represents the net cost to consumers after the federal tax credits are applied.)

That kind of value is further heightened with both impressive levels of content and extensive warranty coverage. This includes five years of standard OnStar Directions and Connections service and all of the following confidence builders:

• a fully transferable, 8-year/100,000-mile warranty for the Volt’s battery pack
• 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage
• a 5-year/100,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy vehicle package
• a 5-year/100,000-mile limited warranty on the Volt’s gas engine
• 6-year/100,000-mile corrosion-protection coverage

And of course, drivers also get the benefit of a car that can go up to 40 miles on emissions-free electrical power alone, then a further 300 miles by leveraging a small gasoline-powered engine that acts as an on-board generator. With the ability to fully charge its batteries overnight using a standard 120-volt power supply, or in just a few hours when using a 240-volt charging station, the Volt is poised to revolutionize the industry as the “no sacrifices” entry in the electric vehicle segment.

“The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class…because it’s in a class by itself,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. Marketing for General Motors. “No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard.”

Chevrolet will begin selling the Volt in limited numbers later this year in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., with plans to expand production in 2011. To find a local Chevrolet Volt dealer in these initial launch markets, be sure to log onto www.getmyvolt.com today.

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More and more details are emerging regarding the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, thanks in part to a new Initial Ordering Workbook that offers ordering information for the new plug-in vehicle.

According to this workbook, the Volt will be available six colors. Among those colors will be Viridian Joule Tricot (aka Green), which will be available for an extra, unspecified cost. Available equipment packages on the Volt include:

• Rear Camera and Park Assist (PCW)
• Premium Trim (PCQ), which includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated front seats, among other things
• 17-inch 5-spoke forged polished aluminum wheels (RTN)

For your viewing pleasure, feel free to see additional details within the Volt’s Initial Ordering Workbook below.

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For many years, lurking beneath the Corvette’s long hood there has been a ferocious V8 powerplant. However, with many automakers focusing more and more on ways of curbing weight and boosting MPG, the next Chevy Corvette may include a twin-turbocharged V6 engine instead.

The folks at Autoweek have reported that Chevrolet is considering downsizing the ‘Vette’s engine when the next generation arrives. The automaker is also reportedly trying to get the new model ready in time for its 60th anniversary, which would be the 2013 model year.

Rumors concerning a smaller engine for the Corvette certainly aren’t new, but with these rumors continuing to surface, it seems like a distinct possibility more and more.

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AutoPacific 2010 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVAs) are now out, and three high-quality Chevrolet vehicles are now in.

“The IVAs are based on owners’ ratings of their new 2010 model year cars and trucks across 15 key vehicle attributes ranging from power and acceleration to interior storage,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “The cars or trucks that owners would change the least are the most ideal.”

The Chevrolet Camaro was chosen as the top finisher in the Sporty Car segment, marking another key win over its muscle-car rivals—and plenty of other competitors as well. Packing a high-powered, high-efficiency V6, the Camaro provides 312 hp and an impressive 29 mpg in EPA highway ratings at a surprisingly practical starting price of just $22,680. And that’s just for starters: For those whose ideals require a potent 426-hp, 6.2-liter V8 along with Brembo stoppers, a limited-slip differential and model-specific front and rear fascias, Chevrolet also offers the Camaro SS at an MSRP that begins at $30,945. That’s some $1,900 less than the least-expensive Mustang V8.

At the top of the heap among Large SUVs was the iconic Chevrolet Suburban, long a favorite among drivers who need both extra room and extra functionality. The Suburban can be configured to seat up to nine people, hold up to 137.4 cubic feet of cargo—more than counterparts from Ford, Toyota or Nissan—and tow up to 8,100 lbs. It can be outfitted to handle tough terrain, too, thanks to optional off-road suspension and skid-plate packages. Yet it’s also available with amenities like heated/cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system and an integrated navigation system, making the Suburban an excellent, one could say “ideal,” choice for drivers who want to mix comfort with capabilities.

The Chevrolet Equinox was recognized by the IVAs in the Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV category, reflecting the same kind of customer satisfaction that’s helped it increase sales by more than 200 percent through the first six months of 2010. A key factor: The Equinox can put up an EPA line of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined, the exact same ratings earned by the Toyota Camry (with a manual transmission). Other Equinox benefits include Multi-Flex rear seating that allows for either outstanding cargo room or the most rear legroom in its class, an available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, a programmable power rear liftgate and both Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and five-star front- and side-impact crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

You can check out these three IVA winners and the division’s entire lineup of high-value products at local Chevrolet dealerships across the country.

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One of the distinguishing features of the Chevrolet Corvette in recent years has been its hand-built, precision-engineered V8 engine. But while the hands involved usually belong to one of the dedicated craftspeople at GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., that’s about to change for some customers. For enthusiasts who want to take building their Corvette personally, Chevrolet is now offering buyers of a new 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 the chance to assemble their cars’ engines themselves.

“In a way, this is a dream program for a Corvette customer. I would have jumped at the chance to build the 427 in my ’67 ’Vette, and that didn’t have half of what goes into one of these modern precision engines,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. “Today’s LS7 and LS9 Corvette engines are pinnacle achievements in engineering, and to personally involve our customers in their final creation shows the depth of Chevrolet’s commitment to make lasting connections with the customer.  

Ticking off the check box for the Corvette Engine Build Experience puts customers right at the heart of the action, allowing them to literally build their own engines with their own hands (with supervision and support from one of the Build Center’s skilled technicians, of course). The result will be a powerplant that’s as unique as it is powerful.

The LS7, standard in the Corvette Z06, is a 7.0-liter monster that boasts an all-aluminum block with titanium intake valves and connecting rods for light weight, as well as a hi-po dry-sump oil system that ensures all components are well lubricated even during high-g driving conditions. Leveraging an 11:1 compression ration, the LS7 is capable of delivering 505 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque for a top speed of 198 mph—all while still avoiding the gas-guzzler tax with an EPA highway fuel-efficiency rating of 24 mpg.

Powering the fastest production car GM has ever sold, the Corvette ZR1’s 6.2-liter LS9 V8 ups the ante by packing an intercooled, four-lobe Eaton supercharger. The numbers on this beast: 638 hp and 604 lb.-ft. of torque. And with an aluminum frame that gives the ZR1 a better power-to-weight ratio than rivals like the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Gallardo and Porsce 911 GT2, this limited-availability Corvette doesn’t run out of steam until it hits 205 mph.

In much the same way no other sports car manufacturer can match the Corvette driving experience, “no other sports car manufacturer can match the level of personal customer involvement that Corvette offers,” according to Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s vice president for U.S. Marketing. “And the Corvette Engine Build Experience takes this personal involvement to an unprecedented level.”

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