2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel First Drive

Edmunds.com

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel First Drive

After about 30 years, Chevy is back in the diesel-car business. This time around it's with the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze and it's a whole lot better.

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se_riously

Edmunds took a 600-mile round trip with the Cruze Diesel and reports only the RATED mileage, rather than the ACTUAL mileage? How is that possible when the long term diesel Passat is exceeding its rated mileage?

unionbuster

A Daewoo diesel. Oh yeah, that'll be durable.

darthbimmer

I'm perplexed about why car makers bring diesels to the U.S. as high spec models priced thousands above the base model. Are they trying NOT to sell them? I think the typical person shopping Chevy is going to look at the price difference and say, "For $7000 more I can get a better-- and by that I mean BIGGER-- car."

seppoboy

Compare with Jetta TDI, which has been somewhat decontented (torsion beam rear instead of independent, some interior materials). VW's TDI is generally well proven, with some reported high pressure fuel pump issues, but a strong track record. Cruze is an open question. Jetta can be had with manual transmission, and current models do not require urea exhaust treatment, and carry spare tires. Jetta has roomier rear seating and trunk than Cruze, and its automatic is a dual clutch DSG, probably not a real advantage. I hope Cruze is a market success with its diesel, the more the merrier, but VW retains some possible advantages. We'll see how GM supports Cruze diesel, including at the dealer level.

power6

@darthbimmer I think this is typical product planning on expensive to produce variations of a model. The diesel version costs a lot to make over the standard one and probably can't justify the same profit margin, so they bury that cost in some extra stand

agentorange

When I read "...and the car's spare tire is sacrificed to place the 4.5-gallon tank that holds the stuff. " my heart sank. I'm sorry, but a car with no spare simply does not work in Nevada unless it's to travel from the airport to a casino in Reno or Las Vegas. There is just too much empty space in many of the Western states for this to fly.

bankerdanny

I'll look forward to seeing it in your long term fleet

smudge12

This diesel has been around for a while overseas and is proven to be reliable. I honestly don't know much about the rest of the car, but I'd have no qualms about the engine.

googonabike

I have a question for the author. Which 0-60mph one should consider when preparing for passing on a 2-lane hwy or getting on the freeway, measured or perceived (felt)?

okbeartoy

Now if it had the interior room of the Jetta or Golf it would be a no brainer.. The back seat area on the Cruze is tight, very tight!

nsbio1

The car might be nice, but it does NOT have the best fuel economy at all. Diesel is more expensive than even the premium gasoline, which, counting the difference in prices for different fuels in our neck of the woods (3.45 regular unleaded, 3.95 diesel) makes "46mpg" equivalent to 40 mpg highway gasoline car running regular. Diesel passenger cars make economic sense in Europe, but not in the US. Now, some people simply like to be different and that's OK, but that has nothing to do with being economical.

quadricycle

@nsbio1: What, 40 mpg is gas (diesel) guzzling now? For reference, the Nissan Versa Note that was just reviewed gets 40 mpg on the highway. That seems economical to me. The good news doesn't end there however, since the Nissan has 109hp and 106lbs-ft of t

irnmdn

@unionbuster: A VW DSG? Oh yeah, that'll be tow-able. A Daewoo would be far more durable than any contemporary VW/Audi.

cullenar

Edmunds why did you fail to mention important things about the VW? Like for instance it bests the Cruze's 27mpg city with 30mpg city for the Jetta TDI, the Jetta TDI does not require Urea injection, has a compact spare tire and also includes 3 years/36,000 miles of free maintenance. You could also add that the Jetta would be more fun to drive with it s fully independent suspension and it will likely hold its value much better than the Cruze as well.

agentorange

@cullenar I'll be the latest Jetta requires urea. I know for sure the 2014 Passat does.

flechero

To second a few others comments--comparing EPA ratings only says so much. Maybe the Cruze exceeds its EPA ratings like most VWs, or maybe not...give us the real world figures, Edmunds. On another note, I get tired of people making the argument that diesels don't make any sense because diesel fuel is so expensive or because they cost more than gasoline equivalent models. Prices fluctuate seasonally on fuel, and in Colorado, diesel has been on par with Unleaded (and cheaper than Premium Unleaded) for the last few months. Besides that, people buy diesel (and cars with high fuel economy) for a number of reasons= environmental, performance, character, etc. If you followed these peoples line of reasoning we would all be driving base-model Honda Fits. That sunroof? Not economical. Those alloy wheels? Not economical. You get my drift...

nsbio1

quadricycle and flechero: I agree with you completely that diesel in a car makes perfect sense for multiple reasons, including fun to drive, character, etc. Again, I am not against diesel at all.

However, saving money is not a reason to drive a diesel. Here are facts, not arguments: MSRP of the cheapest gasoline-powered Cruse: $19.180. The most expensive gas powered cruze LTZ: $24.530 MSRP. MSRP of the cheapest diesel Cruse: $25.710. National average prices as of July 2nd: $3.48 per gallon 87 regular, $3.82 diesel. The difference varies in different parts of the country, but even in the most case it will take a long time to even begin to recoup the extra expense spent upfront.

Again for flechero: I am not for saving every penny and it is fine to splurge once or even twice in a while. What I am saying is that diesel in a car in the US is a way to splurge, not to save money. And this is fine.

stovt001_

I'd love to see a full head-to-head comparison test between the Cruze diesel and the Jetta TDI.

pfine

Fretting over the lack of a spare is ridiculous. The replacement system is more than fine, frankly. Dragging a heavy spare that 99.9% of the time will never be used is a mileage drain. That said the real issue with this car is cost pure and simple. It's just too darned costly -- the Eco version is thousands less and gets almost as good mileage, plus gasoline is cheaper than diesel. If the two were identical in cost, then the diesel would be a good choice. A diesel should last a long time, anyway. Hopefully with time, GM will reduce the selling price to more reasonable levels, or offer the TDI as an option on cheaper trim versions.

al2travel

I own 3 German cars, but I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would actually consider buying the Cruze Diesel.
Good use of all of GM's assets, great engine made in Germany. I've driven several Opels with this engine, as rentals on biz trips, and it is a great little powerplant.

rockylee

@ unionbuster - What are you talking about? The Cruze Diesel is a German build, Fiat designed diesel. I hate it when ignorant sheep chime off........

booch221

A $5000 premium? How many years would it take to make that back?

Don't forget, diesel is more expensive than gasoline, which makes the economics even less attractive.

No thanks.

booch221

And how much does it cost to refill that urea tank every 10,000 miles?

fretnot

At below --- maybe do some reading elsewhere too. Car and Driver and a few others have done extended road testing. And the mpg indeed blows away the VW.
I'm running a God and may have to take a haaaarrrrd look at this Cruze.
Good for GM