There’s no question that the Honda Civic has been a popular and admired compact model. Chevrolet, however, designed the Cruze to deliver features and benefits that the Civic simply does not. A factual comparison between the two, with some help from respected media, tells the story.

While numbers never tell the whole story, they provide a place to start this comparison between two obvious competitors. In the Civic camp, the LX model starts at an MSRP of $17,855. The comparable Cruze model is the 1LT trim level with an MSRP of $18,475. The $620 difference disappears – big time – when you consider major advantages for the Cruze.

Both cars offer comparable fuel economy: The Civic LX with a five-speed manual transmission yields 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway while the Cruze 1LT with its advanced, six-speed manual transmission comes in at 26 mpg city/38 mpg highway. The Cruze has a 15.6-gallon fuel tank versus a 13.2-gallon tank in the Civic. That translates into nearly 120 miles longer highway driving range in the Cruze.

If you prefer an automatic transmission, the Chevy Cruze offers a six-speed with the same fuel economy ratings as those of the manual transmission. The Civic offers an optional five-speed automatic.

In the Civic LX, a 1.8-liter engine produces 140 hp while in the Cruze 1LT, a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine offers 138 hp. That looks close, but the Cruze turbo engine trumps the Civic on torque, the force that actually moves the car. The Cruze turbo engine produces 148 lb/ft of torque at a very low engine speed, just 1,850 rpm. The Civic LX engine makes 128 lb/ft, and you have to rev the engine to 4,300 rpm to get it. The difference this makes on the road is enormous, and it means that the Cruze is noticeably more responsive in every day driving.

Scanning media reviews of the Civic, you will find criticism for road noise; various reviews of the Cruze, however, praise its quietness and substantial driving feel. That’s the payoff for Chevrolet applying 30 different acoustical treatments throughout the Cruze to make it feel and ride more like a midsize model. Car and Driver magazine said,

“That interior is a serene place to pass the miles. The Cruze was the Buick LaCrosse of the group, its solid structure and soft suspension keeping it supremely isolated on freeway slogs.”

Comparing the Cruze to the luxurious Buick LaCrosse is high praise indeed.

The Cruze is a bit longer and wider than the Civic, and the differences pay dividends in handling, as well as passenger room and trunk room. The Cruze, for example, offers nearly half an inch more headroom front and rear, 2.5 inches more hip room in front and an inch more hip room in the rear. Sit in both cars, and you’ll feel what a difference the extra room makes in the Cruze.

Highway driving range, interior room and quietness superior to the Civic make the Chevrolet Cruze an ideal long-distance driver. Also good for long-distance drives, a 15.4 cubic-foot trunk in the Cruze easily tops the Civic with its 12.5 cubic feet and even beats the 14.7 cubic-foot trunk of the midsize Honda Accord.

Many would agree that these fundamental differences make the Cruze 1LT a better value than the Civic LX. But there’s even more to the Cruze value story when comparing to Civic, especially with standard features. The Cruze powertrain warranty, for example, stretches to 100,000 miles, compared to just 60,000 miles for the Civic. The Cruze comes equipped with 10 airbags, versus six for the Civic, and the Cruze 1LT rolls on standard 16-inch alloy wheels, versus 16-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers for the Civic LX. Both cars feature steering wheel audio and cruise control switches, but the Cruze also adds standard Bluetooth® phone connectivity with a steering wheel switch. The standard Cruze 1LT audio system offers six speakers to the four in the Civic LX, and the Cruze 1LT also includes standard SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three months of complimentary service.

Finally, like all 2012 Chevrolet models, the Cruze comes standard with OnStar and the Directions & Connections® Plan for the first six months including Turn-by-Turn Navigation. No Honda Civic offers anything like OnStar, for any price.

Come in and drive the biggest value in compact sedans – the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze.

View Our Chevy Cruze Inventory

People have long turned to Chevrolet for family vehicles that offer exceptional value without breaking the family budget. The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse crossover delivers full-size room with seating for up to eight and up to 24 mpg in highway driving, the best of any eight-passenger crossover. In other words, Chevrolet comes through for families again.

The Traverse offers seven- or eight-passenger seating and available all-wheel drive, along with much more cargo room than key competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. Its direct-injection 3.6-liter V6 engine provides ample power and impressive fuel economy.

Like all 2011 Chevrolet models, the Chevy Traverse comes with the peace of mind of standard OnStar® with a complimentary one-year subscription to the Directions and Connections Plan. There’s also a class-leading five-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and standard StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control. Yet, perhaps the ultimate feature for peace of mind is the ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS.)

With 33.2 inches of third-row legroom, Traverse passengers will find more comfort than in the Highlander, which offers 29.9 inches. The “way back” seat in a Traverse offers room for adults, not just kids. The Traverse also beats the Honda Pilot in that dimension. The Traverse takes its three-row capability seriously, offering standard front and rear air conditioning and head curtain side-impact airbags for all three rows in outboard seating positions.

Passengers of all ages will enjoy the standard SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio and the available Rear Seat Entertainment system, which includes dual DVD players and dual seven-inch LCD displays built into the back of the front seat headrests. The Smart Slide® second row seat makes it easy to get into and out of the third row.

If you plan to use a family vehicle to go on a family vacation, or to help your grown-up children move out of the house or go off to college, you know the true value of cargo room. The Traverse delivers much more storage space than its competitors with 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats and 68.8 cubic feet behind the second-row seats with the third row folded down. Fold down the second and third rows, and the Traverse cargo area opens up to a cavernous 116.4 cubic feet. A Honda Pilot offers 87 cubic feet maximum with second- and third-row seats down, and just 18 cubic feet behind the third row. The Ford Explorer offers just 80.7 cubic feet in total.

If you need to take a lot of toys on vacation such as a pair of watercraft, for example, the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse can tow a trailer up to 5,200 pounds when equipped with the available Tow Package. In comparison, the Honda Pilot can tow up to 4,500 pounds.

Impressive power for towing and every day driving in the Chevrolet Traverse comes from the standard 3.6-liter V6 with direct fuel injection. This world-class engine produces 281 hp and 266 lb/ft of torque in the LS and LT models, and 288 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque in the dual-exhaust-equipped LTZ models. A six-speed automatic transmission provides an ideal blend of performance, smoothness and efficiency. The finely tuned four-wheel independent suspension ensures both a smooth ride and the agility of a smaller vehicle, making the Traverse a pleasure to drive every day. For all-weather confidence, the available intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) system is specifically designed to enhance traction on slippery roads and improve traction and handling on all others.

All of this capability starts at an MSRP of just $29,370 for the well-equipped 2011 Traverse LS. You can also choose the LT or the LTZ trims, which both include standard blind-spot mirrors and Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist. Available amenities include perforated leather upholstery, extended range remote start, a Bose 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, heated front seats, a power liftgate, a rearview camera and tri-zone automatic climate control, plus a Dual SkyScape® sunroof.

Looking for exceptional room and peace of mind in a family vehicle? Come in and see how the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse combines both of those with great value and a great driving experience.

View Our Chevy Traverse Inventory

McGrath Auto and Chevrolet have teamed up to help sponsor the Marion Boys Baseball League!

In addition to 10 ball buckets, 10 bat bags, 6 dug out managers and 150 t-shirts, McGrath Auto has provided an amazing opportunity for you to win your choice of either a new Chevy Equinox or Chevy Cruze as well as a big screen TV and many other amazing prizes! The Marion Boys Baseball League will have 2,000 raffle tickets on sale for $10 a piece with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit the league. That means you could help raise $20,000 for their program!

McGrath Auto employees are not eligible to participate in the raffle, but to kick things off, we have made a $500 dollar contribution to the program which was matched by General Motors to make the total donation $1,000!

If you’re interested in purchasing tickets, you can contact the Marion Boys Baseball League by contacting them by e-mail at marionbaseball@marionbaseball.com!

Name: Richard Darder
Store: Pat McGrath Chevyland
Department: New Car Sales
Position: Sales Consultant

What were you doing before working at McGrath Auto?
Before working for Chevyland, I’ve worked in the casino industry as a table games dealer, supervisor & manager. After working in Las Vegas, I worked at Native American Casinos and finally, casinos in Iowa. My family and I love Cedar Rapids, so I’m excited to be able to start my new career in auto sales.

What has been the biggest surprise about McGrath Auto?
How much fun it is to work here and how professional the McGrath Auto staff is.

What do you do on your free time?
I enjoy going out to dinner with my family, going golfing and spending time with friends.

Do you have a family/kids/spouse/etc?
I am married with two girls.

How do you plan to make a difference here?
I have a lot of experience in customer service, of which I feel will transfer well so that I can meet our customer’s expectations.

Name: Josh Bear
Store: Pat McGrath Dodge Country
Department: New Car Sales
Position: Sales Consultant

What were you doing before working at McGrath Auto?
Before working for Dodge Country, I was a zone manager at Lowe’s in Davenport, Iowa. I started in sales with Lowe’s in Cedar Rapids selling outdoor power equipment such as tractors and push mowers.

What has been the biggest surprise about McGrath Auto?
The work environment at McGrath Auto is very outgoing and motivating.

What do you do on your free time?
I enjoy spending time with family. I also like movies, music and Iowa Hawkeye Football!

Do you have a family/kids/spouse/etc?
I am married with a 19 month old son and I have another son due April 27th!

What McGrath co-worker has made the biggest impression on you so far?
The most influential person I’ve worked with is Gavin McGrath!

How do you plan to make a difference here?
I will bring more positive energy and competition to the Pat McGrath Dodge Country staff!

Do you have a work related goal already? If so, what is it?
I’d like to start out selling at least 10 cars a month and by the end of the year, I’d like to be averaging 12-15 cars a month.

Name: Ben Nash
Store: Marion Used Car Superstore
Department: Special Finance
Position: Finance Consultant

What were you doing before working at McGrath Auto?
Before joining the McGrath Auto team, I played football at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. I then moved to Cedar Rapids and began working at Best Buy for a year until I found my new home at Marion Used Car Superstore.

What has been the biggest surprise about McGrath Auto?
Everyone here is extremely friendly, nice and professional.

What do you do on your free time?
I enjoy playing and watching sports, playing poker, video games, anything competitive really!

How do you plan to make a difference here?
I’m striving to sell a bunch of cars and help the company grow!

Do you have a work related goal already? If so, what is it?
I’d like to make BBB honors in the next year.

Name: Martin Mohwinkle
Store: Marion Used Car Superstore
Department: Sales
Position: Product Consultant

What were you doing before working at Marion Used Car?
I was selling sunglasses for the Sunglass Hut in Lindale Mall by day and delivering pizzas for Dominos by night.

What has been the biggest surprise about McGrath Auto/Marion Used Car?
How awesome the energy and work environment is here, it’s work but no one ever said work couldn’t be fun!

What do you do on your free time?
Just hang out with friends, take the girlfriend out when she’s free, nothing too special.

Do you have a family/kids/spouse/etc?
Nope, just the girlie friend right now thankfully

What McGrath co-worker has made the biggest impression on you so far?
Brandon Lynch, mainly for always helping me out with rides. But everyone here is awesome, we’re always learning and helping each other out.

How will you make a difference here?
Gonna work hard, sell cars and give AWESOME customer service.

Do you have a work related goal? If so what is it?
Sell cars, BBB, save money and go to college. Pretty well sums it up.

What are your hobbies?
Planning on learning how to play the guitar soon, and possibly some drums.

What is the last book that you read or movie you have seen?
Last book I read was Sphere by Michael Crichton, and the last movie I saw would be the new Nightmare on Elm St.

What is your favorite restaurant or hangout spot in the Cedar Rapids area?
Somehow, when me and the guys are out late we always end up wandering around Wal-Mart…haha.

What is your most memorable experience at McGrath Auto?
Selling my first car, easily.

What was the first vehicle that you ever owned?
First car I ever had was a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire, while the first car I bought and paid off is my 1991 Nissan 300zx.

What was your job before starting here at McGrath auto?
I worked at the Sunglass Hut and Domino’s Pizza.

Do you  have any pets?
Yes, I have a nine year old golden retriever named Duchess

What is your favorite season/holiday Why?
My favorite season is late summer/fall, mainly because of the color change and it’s still warm outside. Plus, everyone loves Halloween, who can say no to free candy?

What vehicle do you personally drive?
I “drive” a nice, brand new mountain bike from Target, haha.

Any upcoming vacations? Your last vacation?
My last vacation was to South Dakota. I went and saw the Badlands as well as Mt. Rushmore. It was a pretty good time, I’d recommend going there.

Ben Stedman - Used Sales Consultant - Pat McGrath Chevyland

Name: Ben Stedman
Store: Pat McGrath Chevyland
Department: Sales
Position: Product Consultant

What were you doing before working at McGrath Auto?
Selling fire alarms for MidAmerican Lifesavers.

What has been the biggest surprise about McGrath Auto?
The opportunity to make such great friends as well as big bucks!

What do you do on your free time?
I enjoy fishing, golfing, working out, playing video games and partying!

What McGrath co-worker has made the biggest impression on you so far?
Darrin Utley has made a big impact on me.

How will you make a difference here?
Be a leader and have a positive attitude.

Do you have a work related goal? If so what is it?
Yes, to be the top salesman in the company out of all departments.

What is the last book that you read or movie you have seen?
The last movie I saw was The Hangover.
What is your favorite restaurant or hangout spot in the Cedar Rapids area?
I love the Egg Roll House!

What is your most memorable experience at McGrath Auto?
Running through the Chevyland new car building with a live chicken from the house across the street!

What is your favorite season/holiday Why?
Christmas, enjoy getting presents and all the Christmas decorations that get put up.

What vehicle do you personally drive?
I drive a 2007 Chevy Impala LT.

Any upcoming vacations?  Your last vacation?
No, but I did go to Okoboji for a week this past summer.

Andy Schueler - Sales Consultant - Marion Used Car Superstore

Name: Andy Schueler
Store: Marion Used Car Superstore
Department: Sales
Position: Product Consultant

What were you doing before working at Marion Used Car?
I have been working at the Pat McGrath Chevyland location in Internet Sales for a little over 2 years and in the car business over 3 years.

What has been the biggest surprise about McGrath Auto?
The staff at the Marion Used Car Superstore has a great energy and works together to create a good customer experience.

What do you do on your free time?
A small list of many things includes playing poker, Frisbee golf, going to the gym and watching various sporting events.

Do you have a family/kids/spouse/etc?
No kids or spouse, my parents and siblings live in town here.

What McGrath co-worker has made the biggest impression on you so far?
Cory Hosch, he is just a cool guy.

How will you make a difference here?
I can bring some experience to the store in different sales areas including internet, helping customers with financing, and car knowledge.

Do you have a work related goal? If so what is it?
Make a difference and build the Marion Used Car store’s reputation of being a good place to buy a car.

What is the last book that you read or movie you have seen?
Last movie I saw was “The Town” I highly recommend it. I would give it 5 stars!

What is your most memorable experience at McGrath Auto?
Having a dance off with Shaun Ritchie at Tailgators sports bar. I heard I was good but don’t remember it all.

What was the first vehicle that you ever owned?
1994 Ford Thunderbird, it last about 5 whole months before needing a new engine.

What was your job before starting here at McGrath Auto?
Before working with McGrath Auto, I sold cars at the old Saturn lot in Hiawatha.

Do you  have any pets?
I have a cat named Pepper, free to a good home.

What is your favorite season/holiday Why?
Thanksgiving because I love the food! Turkey and mash potatoes is the way to my heart.

What vehicle do you personally drive?
I have a 2009 Chevy Impala, black in color with tan leather interior. It’s been a great car!

Any upcoming vacations? Your last vacation?
I’m hoping to go to Iowa City sometime soon, if that counts. My last vacation was traveling to a Chicago Cubs game with the Chevyland used car department around a month or two ago.