Acceleration

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
5	4	3.7

Fine for around-town cruising, but weak on hills or in highway passing. Manual-transmission models feel liveliest--0-60 mph in 8.9 sec with test 5-speed Touring--but automatic transmission is pretty responsive, despite some lurching during downshifts.

Fuel Economy

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
5	5	6.7

Automatic-transmission Cruisers averaged 18.5-23.0 mpg in our tests, manuals 18.3-22.1. Uses regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
6	6	4.1

Touring and Limited share suspension that's firmer than the base model's. It's comfortably controlled, except on washboard surfaces, where it tends to jiggle. Base model not made available for testing.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
6	6	4.9

Solid and stable. Sixteen-inch tires provide good grip in turns. Fast corners induce noticeable body lean, but no top-heavy tippiness. Steering is responsive and appropriately assisted, though manual-transmission versions suffer mild torque steer--unwanted wandering--in fast acceleration from lower speeds. Available antilock 4-wheel discs furnish strong stopping power, good pedal feel.

Quietness

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
4	4	3.6

No noisier than the average compact car. Coarse pavement induces some road roar with the Touring/Limited-model tires, wind rush starts to intrude at 65 mph, and the engine, which never really sounds smooth, is coarse above 4000 rpm.

Controls

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5.6

Retro-styled instrument panel has contemporary ease of use, though dashboard-mounted power-window switches are odd. Materials seem more upscale than Cruiser's price suggests. Clear outward sightlines, though rear headrests are minor obstructions.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
7	7	4.4

High body build provides abundant head room even with sunroof. Seats are comfortably chair-height, and a power height adjustment for driver seat is available. Pull-down center armrest can interfere with manual-shift arm motion. And drivers with really long legs may wish seat would slide further back. Step-in is no higher than a typical car's.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
6	6	3.2

Same chair-height stance as front; 6-footers are comfortable and uncrowded in outboard positions. Enough room for a rear center-seater with a little crowding.

Cargo Room

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
7	7	3.3

Generous and versatile, especially with available fold-flat front passenger seat. Modest space behind rear seat. But the 65/35 split bench folds and removes as in minivans and SUVs to create a tall, wide cargo bay.

Value within Class

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
9	9	4.7

The Cruiser is roomy, comfortable, adaptable, and fun, with mediocre acceleration its only real flaw. This little wagon is affordable too, and softening demand finally means some discounts and shorter delivery times for popularly equipped versions.

Total Score

Touring, man.	Limited, auto.	Class Average
61	60	44.2

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		31
Average Score		44
High Score		61