2017 Chevy Cruze diesel: Stick shift makes frugality fun
Chevy’s Cruze may be small in stature but it’s an outsized player in North America and on the global stage, where it can be found in more than 75 countries.
Chevrolet offers versions of the entry-level sedan to match a range of budgets and needs. The lineup begins with the L model starting at $17,850, the LS with an MSRP of $19,400, the LT at $21,025 and the Premier starting at $24,350. Those prices are for cars equipped with 6-speed manual gearboxes. The 6-speed automatic versions run higher.
The product planning team has kept the pot stirring. Last year, the U.S. version of the Cruze got a new standard engine: a 1.4-liter turbocharged four with direct injection that’s good for 153 horsepower. Coupled with standard start/stop and an updated, lighter architecture, the front-wheel-drive, automatic-equipped sedan pulls down EPA fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg highway. If you prefer the available 6-speed manual, the ratings differ by a hair: 29 mpg city and 41 highway.
The 2017 model year brought us a hatchback version and, a few months ago, the turbocharged diesel 1.6-liter four-cylinder that motivated our test loaner. But if you want a diesel hatchback you’ll need to wait for the 2018s to arrive: the combination isn’t available with 2017s. For now, the 2017 gas hatchback lineup consists of the LT manual ($22,115), LT automatic ($22,795) and the top of the line Premier automatic at $24,820.
If storage capacity is a priority, the hatchback is a no-brainer. With the rear seats up, the five-door Cruze provides 24.7 cu. ft. compared to 14.8 cut. ft. for L and LS sedans. (LT and Premier sedans have less space: 13.9 cu. ft.) The hatchback magic, of course, happens when rear seats come down. Presto! You now have 47.2 cu. ft. to work with.
Turning to the other end of the vehicle, the newfor-2017 diesel churns out 137 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque, 63 lb.-ft. greater than the gas 1.4. With the sixspeed manual, the diesel Cruze is rated at 30 mpg in the city and 52 mph highway.
If you prefer an automatic, a nine-speed is available for the diesel that comes in at 31 mpg city and 47 highway. With its 13.7-gallon fuel tank, a diesel manual Cruze should provide a real world, worry-free, highway cruising range of about 600 miles.
To get all the safety bells and whistles, an 8-inch touchscreen to replace the 7-inch display and sunroof, you’ll be looking at the Cruze diesel automatic’s optional confidence, sun and sound package, which runs $2,260. With all the required other extras, the fully equipped Cruze stickers at $28,780 before $875 destination. That may seem high for the segment, but incentives can lessen the pain by more than $3,000.
If you’re looking to equip a gas Cruze sedan with the latest-and-greatest in driver assistance technology, you’ll need to step up to at least the LT automatic, which offers the $495 driver confidence package featuring rear park assist, blind zone/lane change alert and rear cross-traffic alert.
There’s still one gotcha: the assistance tech package mandates a $1,150 “convenience” bundle that includes items like 8-way power driver’s seat, keyless open and start, heated front seats and with automatics, remote starting system. Total upcharge: $1,645.
Only available on the Premier is an “enhanced” confidence package that adds automatic high-beams, forward collision alert, follow-distance tracking, lane-keep assist and departure warning. The total additional outlay is $1,655.
At least the rear-view camera is standard on all models.
All Cruze models have a 7-inch color display, AM/FM infotainment system that supports hands-free Bluetooth phone calling and streaming audio. The 2017 Cruze plays nicely with smartphones that are compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Those who occasionally need to telecommute or crave social media will likely appreciate that the Cruze’s builtin OnStars 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot which can support up to seven devices. Streaming music, video or podcasts can be worry-free by adding an unlimited data plan AT&T offers for $20 a month. (The speed may be throttled back if you go through more than 22 gigabytes of data.)
Standard with every 2017 Cruze is Teen Driver, a built-in “nanny”/teaching technology that lets responsible owners set speed alerts, limit volume and track a teen-ager’s driving via an in-car “report card.”
Chevy said its research shows that barely half (55 percent) of high school students fasten their seatbelts when riding with someone else. About nine out of 10 teen drivers crank the volume up to distracting or excessive levels, and — surprise! —young, inexperienced drivers are more prone to drive too fast.
Using a PIN to access the Teen Driver menu on the Cruze’s touchscreen, Teen Driver can be programmed to mute the car’s audio until a front-seat passenger buckles up, or automatically activate available safety features like blind-zone warning, forward collision alert and forward automatic braking. The teen driver is issued a registered key, which contains the custom settings. That key’s driver will see and hear a warning when they go over a preset speed between 40 and 75 mph. The owner can also set an audio volume ceiling as well as check to see how far the vehicle was driven.
Teen Driver and the report card only operate when the vehicle is started with the registered key. The tales Teen Driver will tell include top speed reached, how ar the Cruze was driven, antilock brake and/or stability control events, and, if the Cruze has the driver assistance technology, forward collision and forward collision braking alerts.
Wheels range from 15-inch steel to 16- or 17-inch aluminum, depending on trim. All tires are three-season in either 195/65R15 (L, LS,) 205/55R16 (LT) or 225/45R17 (Premier).
Our basic Cruze diesel sedan was a delightful surprise, offering an admirable blend of functionality, civility and driving satisfaction at a middle-of-the-road price point. The manual gearbox was smooth, and the cabin was quiet with barely any diesel clatter intrusion.
Standard features on the Cruze diesel sedan include heated front seats, 8-way power driver’s seat, keyless start, LED daytime running lamps, a 50/40 split-folding rear seat and a three-month complementary trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
If you’re looking to equip a gas Cruze sedan with the latest-and-greatest in driver assistance technology, you’ll need to step up to at least the LT automatic, which offers the $495 driver confidence package...