Chevrolet Cruze vs. BMW 3 Series
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Chevrolet Cruze and BMW 3 Series contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Chevrolet Cruze and the BMW 3 Series.
In comparing the Chevrolet Cruze's and the BMW 3 Series's specifications and ratings, the Chevrolet Cruze has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and resale value. The BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Chevrolet Cruze's and the BMW 3 Series's specifications and ratings, the Chevrolet Cruze is a better car than the BMW 3 Series.
Pricing: A used 2019 Chevrolet Cruze ranges from $10,928 to $19,343 while a used 2019 BMW 3 Series is priced between $20,230 to $30,936.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Chevrolet Cruze loses 40.6 percent of its value and the BMW 3 Series loses 53 percent of its value. This means the Chevrolet Cruze retains 12.4 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW 3 Series.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Chevrolet Cruze’s base engine makes 153 horsepower, and the BMW 3 Series base engine makes 248 horsepower. The Cruze is rated to deliver an average of 32 miles per gallon, while the 3 Series is rated to deliver an average of 27 miles per gallon. Both have a highway range of 521 miles. The Cruze uses regular unleaded, and the 3 Series uses premium unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The BMW 3 Series has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Chevrolet Cruze and BMW 3 Series are comparable in regards to front leg room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the BMW 3 Series has higher safety ratings than the Chevrolet Cruze, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.70 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$19,620
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
$21,340
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
$14,795 - $40,395
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$45,400
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$42,984
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$25,900 - $74,200
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$15,278
Price Range:
$10,928 - $19,343
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
$19,292
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
$11,224 - $33,439
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
220
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
83,459
# Good or Great Deals:
77
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$25,905
Price Range:
$20,230 - $30,936
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$29,968
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$21,546 - $52,107
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
173
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
64,081
# Good or Great Deals:
43
Chevrolet Cruze Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.0 / 10
Safety:
9.4 / 10
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.4 / 10
Reliability:
8.0 / 10
Retained Value:
7.2 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Chevrolet Cruze
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
6.5
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
6.3
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
4.1 - 9.5
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
2%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
5.3
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
5.8
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.1 - 9.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
1.3%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.1
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
4.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
0.5 - 15.5
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
17.5
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.9 - 22.4
Chevrolet Cruze Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 43Ranking
20 out of / 43Ranking
26 out of / 43Ranking
26 out of / 43Ranking
43 out of / 43BMW 3 Series Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 36Ranking
1 out of / 36Ranking
7 out of / 36Ranking
7 out of / 36Ranking
18 out of / 36Ranking
36 out of / 36Available Body Styles
Hatchback, Sedan
Available Body Styles
Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon
Available Drivetrain Options
Diesel, Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Chevrolet Cruze Trim Levels
Diesel, LS, LT, Premier, L
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 340i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330i, 330i xDrive
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.70 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
153 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque:
177 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.052 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
248 hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque:
258 foot-lbs @ 1450 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.062 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
28 / 38 / 32
Range (city/hwy):
384 / 521 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
23 / 33 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
363 / 521 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Available
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.9 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.2 inches
Cargo Space:
22.7 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
116.7 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
41.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.2 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.1 inches
Cargo Space:
24.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
127.1 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2917 lbs
Width:
70.5 inches
Height:
57.7 inches
Length:
175.3 inches
Wheelbase:
106.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4015 lbs
Width:
80.6 inches
Height:
59.4 inches
Length:
190 inches
Wheelbase:
115 inches
Ground Clearance:
6.5 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
15.0 x 6.0 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
195/65R15
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Exterior Colors
Beige
Oakwood Metallic
Black
Black
Red
Red Hot
Silver
Silver Ice Metallic
White
Summit White
Blue
Not available
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
Exterior Colors
Beige
Kalahari Beige Metallic
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Red
Melbourne Red Metallic
Silver
Glacier Silver Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Blue
Estoril Blue Metallic / Imperial Blue Metallic
Brown
Jatoba Brown Metallic
Gray
Arctic Grey Metallic / Mineral Grey Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Jet Black / Jet Black/Galvanized
Beige
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Highlight / Black w/ Dark Oyster Highlight / Black w/ Red Highlight
Beige
Cognac w/ Dark Brown Highlight / Cognac w/ Dark Brown Highlight and Cognac Dashboard / Venetian Beige w/ Dark Oyster Highlight / Venetian Beige/Black
Gray
Oyster
Red
Coral Red w/ Black Highlight
