With a potential life expectancy between 150,000 and 250,000 miles, it’s possible a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze could last 10 or more years—but how well it’s been maintained will have a major impact on its actual lifespan.

It’s not out of the question to expect a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze to last 200,000 miles or longer, but it will need proper care to make it there.
How you use your vehicle and how well you keep up with regular maintenance are two of the most important factors that affect how long a vehicle lasts.
Look out for common problem spots to stay ahead of repairs and get the most life out of your Cruze.

MORE:

How to lower Chevrolet Camry insurance costs

How many miles can a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze last?

You could reasonably expect a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze to last as long as 150,000 to 250,000 miles—with the right level of care and maintenance.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the average person in the United States drives about 14,000 miles each year. At that rate, a Chevrolet Cruze could potentially have a lifespan of 10 to 17 years.

MORE:

How long do Chevrolets last?

How long does a Chevy Cruze engine last?

Under ideal conditions, you could typically expect a Chevy Cruze’s 1.4L I-4 engine to last the life of your vehicle, so potentially 150,000 to 250,000 miles.

That said, proper maintenance and upkeep are essential—skipping routine maintenance tasks like regular oil changes can increase wear and tear on your engine, reducing its lifespan. The same could be said of regularly pushing your engine’s capabilities to the limit.

MORE:

Used car warranties, explained

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Can a Chevrolet Cruze last 500,000 miles?

Maybe it’s not completely out of the question, but it’s extremely rare for a vehicle of any type to last as long as 500,000 miles—Chevy Cruzes included.

MORE: How to make your car last longer

Average life expectancy for a Chevrolet Cruze

For one reason or another, very few vehicles actually end up making it to 200,000 miles, despite their potential.

Here are just some of the factors that can impact how long your 2016 Chevrolet Cruze can actually last:

Regular maintenance: Skipping essential maintenance tasks like oil changes or brake service can increase wear and tear and reduce the lifespan of some of your vehicle’s most crucial components.

Mileage: How often you drive your Cruze will also affect how long it lasts. Letting it sit unused for extended periods can create its own problems, but reducing your mileage below the average of 14,000 miles per year if possible could help you get a little more life out of your vehicle.

Accident history: Even minor accidents can create problems for your Cruze down the road if they ramp up wear and tear on certain parts or leave damage that went unnoticed.

If you’re thinking of buying a used 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, be sure to take a look at its odometer.

Beyond that, it’s also helpful to take a close look at its maintenance and accident history and to have it inspected by a mechanic you trust—especially if its mileage is approaching 200,000 miles. This can help give you a better sense of how long you could expect it to last you.

MORE:

Are Chevrolets expensive to maintain?

How to extend a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze’s life expectancy

So how do you ensure your own ride is able to stick around for the long haul?

You can probably guess the answer by now: keep up with routine maintenance!

To help increase the odds that your 2016 Cruze makes it to the 200,000-mile mark—or even longer—you’ll want to get familiar with the recommended maintenance schedule found in your Cruze owner’s manual. This will give you an ideal timeline of when to take care of important services like oil changes, tire rotations, and more.

Common 2016 Chevrolet Cruze problems to watch out for

While RepairPal gives the Chevrolet Cruze an overall reliability rating of 4/5, Consumer Reports is much more critical of the 2016 model: it has an abysmal 1/5 rating for both reliability and owner satisfaction.

To give your Cruze the best possible, it’s best to know what common problem spots to look out for so you can stay ahead of them. Here are some of the following common issues reported by Cruze owners:

Engine problems: Neglecting maintenance or simple bad luck might mean your Cruze encounters a cracked cylinder head or head gasket. If your engine fails and needs to be completely replaced, costs could quickly rise to $4,000 or more.

Thermostat failure: Your vehicle’s thermostat helps monitor engine temperature to protect it from overheating. If it fails, a replacement could cost $400 to $600. Repairs could become even more expensive if your engine ends up damaged from overheating.

Bad alternator: If your alternator isn’t working, you won’t be able to start your car. Replacement after a failure can cost $500 to $700.

MORE:

How does Chevrolet roadside assistance work?

“
Jerry
blew my mind, honestly. From start to finish, using the app took me 10 minutes and I ended up with $100 of savings a month. Best of all, customer service answered all my questions about rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance.” —Savanna R.

Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds

No spam · No long forms · No fees

Find insurance savings

FAQs

What percentage of cars make it to 300,000 miles?

Just about 0.03%. With mixed reliability ratings, this could be a challenging milestone for a 2016 Chevy Cruze to reach, but with the right amount of care and maintenance, nothing’s technically impossible.

What is the highest mileage on a Chevrolet?

If you’re looking for the highest recorded mileage on a Chevrolet, it would probably be hard to compete with a couple who was able to clock more than 1.2 million miles on a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. They cited—can you guess?—regular maintenance as a major factor that helped it last as long as it did.

Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™

Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.

Try GarageGuard™