The Lemon Index
Winner
Chevrolet Cruze
About 65% fewer owner complaints per car sold than the Ford Focus, and fewer in 7 of 8 model years both were sold.
Head to head
Lemon Index
100 = average, lower is better
100 = average, lower is better
79
227
Years with fewer complaints
2011–2018
2011–2018
7 of 8
1 of 8
Recalls
2011–2018
2011–2018
42
68
MPG
latest year
latest year
31–37
22–107
Crash test
best, latest year
best, latest year
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best year to buy
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. Green check = the better of the two on that line.
Year by year
Shorter bar = fewer complaints per car sold. Tap a year for its full report.
Every Chevrolet Cruze year · Every Ford Focus year · How the index works