today's cars: GM Prices 2011 Chevy Cruze from $16,995, Compares it with the Honda Civic

General Motors has confirmed U.S. pricing for the all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that will begin arriving in dealerships this September, starting at $16,995, including destination.

The compact sedan, which has already stacked more than 200,000 sales in overseas markets since it went on sale in 2009, will be offered in the States in four different versions.

The basic LS starts at $16,995 and comes with a 1.8-liter rated at an estimated 138HP and 125 lb.-ft. of torque (168 Nm) at 3,800 rpm. The four-pot is matched to a standard 6-speed manual transmission.

The LT is priced from $18,895 and features the 1.4-liter Turbo that produces an estimated 138HP and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. It is offered with a standard six-speed automatic transmission.

Next up is the Eco model that starts from $18,895 and gets the same 1.4-liter Turbo engine as the LT but with a six-speed manual transmission. It comes with several features that help improve fuel economy such as ultra low-rolling resistance tires and enhanced aerodynamic performance package. GM says it achieves 40mpg on the highway.

Finally, the LTZ is priced from $22,695 and it is powered by the same 1.4L Ecotec turbo coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.

GM says that the new Cruze is priced to compete in the compact-car-segment offering "more interior room, more miles per gallon in the Eco model, and more standard safety features than any of its competitors."

"We believe the Cruze can redefine the expectations for compact-car owners and shoppers who are new to the segment," said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President of Chevrolet Marketing.

"For the price of a compact car, Cruze offers the styling, safety features, roominess, amenities, and refinement of a much more expensive car. While some of our competitors may have a lower starting price, Cruze wins on value once these competitors are optioned up." said Campbell.

And to prove this, GM has compared the basic Cruze LS to the equivalent Honda Civic DX model - see below.

Base models	2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS	2010 Honda Civic DX
MSRP, plus destination	$16,995	$16,405
Engine	1.8 Ecotec	1.8 SOHC I-4
Horsepower (hp)	138	140
Torque (lb-ft)	123	128
Standard transmission	6-speed manual	5-speed manual
Passenger volume (cu ft)	94.6	90.9
Trunk volume (cu ft)	15.4	12.0
Standard air bags	10	6
Traction Control	Standard	Not included
Stability Control	Standard	Not included
Power rear safety locks	Standard	Not included
Air Conditioning	Standard	Not included
Trip Computer	Standard	Not included
Power door locks	Standard	Not included
Power side mirrors	Standard	Not included
Remote keyless entry	Standard	Not included
XM Satellite Radio	Standard	Not included

The 2011 Cruze will be offered for retail sale in four models:
Cruze LS starting at $16,995, including:

Standard 1.8L Ecotec engine and six-speed manual transmission
The most standard safety features in the segment, with 10 air bags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control, anti-lock brakes, collapsible pedal system, power rear-door child safety locks
Standard OnStar, with a six-month subscription including Turn-by-Turn navigation
Standard convenience features including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, driver information center, and XM Radio with three month trial subscription
Cruze LT starting at $18,895, including:

Standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed automatic transmission
16-inch wheels
Cruze Eco starting at $18,895, including:

Standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed manual transmission
Segment-leading expected 40 miles per gallon highway
Standard 17-inch alloy wheels with ultra low-rolling resistance tires, and enhanced aerodynamic performance package
Cruze LTZ starting at $22,695, including:

Standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed automatic transmission
Standard six-way power driver seat, leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Standard cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB port with audio interface, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, and remote vehicle start
Standard automatic climate control, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, and ultrasonic rear-parking assist
18-inch alloy wheels
Major available options features on Cruze include:
In-dash navigation system with 40-gigabyte hard drive, enabling pause-and-play radio, downloading of audio CDs, or transferring MP3 files from a USB memory device
Pioneer Audio system, with nine speakers and 250-watt amplifier
Heated leather seats
Ultrasonic rear park assist
RS Appearance package, including rocker moldings, unique front and rear fascias, front fog lamps, and rear spoiler