2012 Chevrolet Cruze gets twice as good nav system for half the price

General Motors has announced that the automaker is reducing the price of its optional navigation system in the Chevrolet Cruze by 50 percent. Buyers who wait for the 2012 model will enjoy an upgraded system for the lowly price of $995, or around $800 more than an excellent on-dash aftermarket nav. The new kit comes with a touch-screen interface and better resolution than the old screen, though users will still be able to make use of physical knobs on the dash to make their selections if they so desire.

According to USA Today, much of the savings comes from the fact that engineers scrapped the 10-gig hard-drive based nav for an SD-based memory system. As a side effect, drivers will no longer be able to pause or record live radio. Seems like a sacrifice that's well worth $1,000 to us. Expect to see the new nav available on 2LT, LTZ and Eco models when the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze arrives on dealer lots later this month.