Whether running errands around town or, yes, cruising on the highway, the 2014 Cruze’s driving manners stand out for their comfort and refinement. While most compact cars have no problem shuffling short distances, offering similar levels of ease on long commutes can be another matter. Here the Cruze lives up to its name with impressive smoothness. The 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder found on most models puts out the same 138 horsepower and more torque as the larger, naturally aspirated (non-turbo) engine found on base LS trims, yet achieves better fuel economy. Unfortunately some turbo lag was evident from a dead stop, and the 6-speed automatic transmission in our test model was a bit sluggish to downshift. The Cruze’s steering is a bit numb in the corners but nicely weighted.