Chevrolet Cruze Speaker FAQ
What speakers should I replace first in my Chevrolet Cruze to get the biggest sound improvement?
Start with the front door panel speakers. The Chevrolet Cruze runs 6.5 inch midbass and full-range drivers in the front doors, and these tend to handle the most critical midrange frequencies in your listening position. Factory units in this location are typically rated around 15 to 20 watts RMS, which tends to limit dynamic range noticeably. Replacing these with aftermarket 6.5 inch speakers rated at 50 to 75 watts RMS at 4 ohms should give you a fairly immediate and audible improvement. The rear door panels also use 6.5 inch midbass and full-range speakers, so those are a reasonable second priority. The rear deck lid uses 6x9 inch full-range speakers, which can add low-mid body to the sound but arguably matter less than the front stage.
What type of speaker works best in the Chevrolet Cruze front door panel location?
A component or coaxial 6.5 inch speaker rated at 4 ohms impedance tends to work well here. Component speakers separate the tweeter and woofer, which can improve stereo imaging since you can mount the tweeter at a better angle toward the listener. Coaxial speakers are simpler to install and still offer a solid upgrade over the factory Chevrolet Cruze drivers. Look for a frequency response that extends reasonably low, somewhere around 60 to 80 Hz on the low end, since these speakers carry a lot of the midbass load. Sensitivity ratings around 88 to 92 dB at 1 watt and 1 meter tend to work well with factory head units that put out modest power.
What is the purpose of the 2.5 inch dashboard speakers in the Chevrolet Cruze and should I bother replacing them?
The dashboard 2.5 inch midrange speakers in the Chevrolet Cruze handle upper midrange frequencies, roughly 500 Hz to 5000 Hz or so. They contribute to voice clarity and presence in the soundstage. Replacing them is somewhat optional depending on your goals. If you are running a full active system with crossovers, these could matter more. For a basic upgrade, they are probably lower priority compared to the 6.5 inch door speakers. Finding quality aftermarket 2.5 inch midrange drivers with a usable range up to around 5000 Hz and an impedance of 4 ohms is worth doing eventually though.