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CHEVROLET CRUZE

Chevrolet Cruze Adds Hatchback and Diesel Options for 2017

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Chevy’s small car is big on efficiency.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan.
2017 Chevrolet Cruze Premier.

Car sales are getting clobbered in a market where SUVs and pickup truck growth continues to expand. Even as we finish yet another strong sales year, manufacturers are shifting production capacity away from cars in favor of the vehicle types consumers want.

Yet, brands such as Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Honda, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Nissan, Kia, and Mazda are not retreating from segments that have long provided a logical entry point to each brand. Indeed, both subcompact and compact cars afford a sensible gateway for manufacturers, enticing consumers to buy new and, hopefully, win their continued allegiance for decades to come.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze is a compact model, originally available as a sedan since its 2011 US release, but is now supplemented by a hatchback and will soon offer a diesel variant. Both changes could reverse a recent slide in sales, one that saw double-digit losses throughout the 2016 calendar year. Some of that drop can be attributed to a shift in customer tastes, while a case can also be made for customers opting for the midsize and vastly improved Malibu sedan.

Chevrolet offers the 2017 Cruze sedan in L ($17,850), LS ($19,400), LT ($21,025), and Premier ($24,350) grades. The hatchback is offered in just two grades: LT ($22,115) and Premier ($24,350). All L, LS, and LT models come with a six-speed manual transmission; add approximately $1,000 for the automatic (not offered with the L). Prices include a $875 destination charge.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan.

The Cruze LS offers a pair of packages — interior protection ($200) and ground effects ($1,495). Both LT grades offer a convenience package, an $850 upgrade. Add $230 for a chrome appearance package. Further, LT and Premier customers can choose an RS package ($695 in the LT and $995 in the Premier).

The Premier grade also offers an $865 enhanced convenience package (e.g., heated rear outboard seats, wireless charging for devices, a 110-volt outlet); a $1,995 sun and sound with navigation package (e.g., power sliding sunroof, 9-speaker Bose audio system, Chevrolet MyLink with navigation, and advanced instrumentation); and a $795 driver confidence package (e.g., automatic headlamps with high beam detection, rear park assist, forward collision alert, and other safety features).

Sedan and Hatchback Choices

So, which body style should you choose? To be fair, my review vehicle was the Premier sedan, so I can tell you only about that body style. That said, both models sit on a 106.3-inch wheelbase and that means there is ample room inside.

From bumper to bumper, the sedan measures 183.7 inches; the hatchback comes in at 175.3 inches. The sedan’s trunk measures upwards of 14.8 cubic feet, while the hatchback offers 24.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat or 47.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Exterior Highlights

The 2017 Cruze sedan offers a sleek appearance with a lower grille larger than that of the upper grille. Body sculpting is evident around the available fog lamps, across the hood, and along the profile. That profile features a rising belt line and standard steel wheels. Alloy wheels are available. To the rear, you’ll find wraparound combination lamps, additional sculpting, and diffuser-like trim.

Beyond the available alloy wheels, optional equipment includes a sport body kit, LED daytime running lamps, fog lamps, and a rear spoiler. All-season tires are standard across the model line. Wheel sizes range from 15 to 18 inches; machined wheels with high-gloss black pockets are now available — 18-inch size only. Other equipment available includes power-folding and heated side mirrors.

Interior Highlights

With 42 inches of legroom, the Cruze offers midsize cabin space up front. To the rear, you’ll find 36 inches of legroom, which is about average for the segment. This front-wheel drive model seats five, although it is best used by four.

Swoopy lines dominate the dashboard with the instrument panel composed of two large and two small analog displays along with a digital driver’s information center. Standard cloth seats give way to leather seats in the Premier. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, power windows and door locks, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and air conditioning.

Also available is push-button start, automatic climate control, cruise control, a rear center fold-down armrest with a pair of cup holders, dual reading lights, a remote vehicle starter system, a power driver’s seat, and heated seats. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated steering wheel, and illuminated visors are also available.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Tech and Audio Features

The Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system is standard across the Cruze line. The audio system is comprised of a seven-inch color touchscreen with Bluetooth music streaming and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

All models come with a USB port and OnStar with 4GT LTE Wi-Fi. Navigation and various audio packages comprised of four, six, and nine speakers are available.

Safety Highlights

On the safety front, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has conducted only partial tests thus far on the 2017 Cruze. The sedan achieved top scores of “good” in two categories: moderate overlap front and side. The IIHS also acknowledged the sedan’s available, but basic, front crash prevention system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet to rate the 2017 Cruze, but the federal agency awarded the similar 2016 model with its top five-star crash test rating. All models are equipped with 10 airbags, a rearview camera, and the usual stability and traction control technologies.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

On the Road

As of this writing, there is only one engine choice with the 2017 Cruze: a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine. Making 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, this engine will be joined by a turbo diesel this spring.

The gas engine offers excellent fuel economy, delivering as high as 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway in some models. These numbers are at the upper end of the fuel economy range and are achieved with the six-speed automatic transmission. Stay with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and your model will make upwards of 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.

As for the diesel, it’ll displace at 1.6 liters compared with the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel offered earlier. This means that the new engine should better the previous four banger’s 44 mpg on the highway. No word about performance numbers, but we’re expecting some significant torque.

Even with the diesel, Chevrolet has ignored not just the performance side of the house, but consumers wanting something more than the base engine. While the base engine gets the job done, it is slow off the mark and just lacks the oomph customers may be expecting. A normally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine or something slightly larger would be ideal, but Chevrolet isn’t offering it.

I give the Cruze high marks in several areas, including its quiet cabin, relatively smooth ride, and decent handling. There isn’t anything exciting about this car’s drive, but at least its stellar fuel economy and nicely laid out interior are strong attributes. Move away from the base “L” model and you’ll find a well-equipped little sedan or hatchback for your consideration.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Parting Thoughts

The Chevrolet Cruze checks off some of the boxes shoppers want, including value, efficiency, and technology. However, its weakest point is performance, with only one gasoline engine offered. In effect, Chevrolet has decided not to challenge the likes of the Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf GTI, or the Subaru WRX by offering an SS variant with a more powerful engine paired with a short-throw manual gearbox and tied in with a sport suspension.

That said, two new features will only help make a case for the Cruze. Adding a hatchback enables Chevrolet to challenge the Focus as well as give customers an alternative to the Mazda3, Volkswagen Golf, and the Kia Forte5, among others. And by offering a diesel option this spring, Chevrolet fills a void left by Volkswagen when the German automaker had to pull its engine from the market following an emissions scandal of its own making.

All in all, the Chevrolet Cruze is light years ahead of every small Chevy offered previously. That fact alone makes the Cruze a model to put on your small car shopping list.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

See Also — Is the Ford Focus RS the Best Small Car in the World?

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze by the Numbers

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The second-generation Chevrolet Cruze is here. Hatchback and diesel variants soon follow.

The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car, released in 2011 in North America, two years after its debut elsewhere. This model replaced the Chevrolet Cobalt, itself a replacement model for the Chevy Cavalier. Although its arrival to the market was delayed, the all-new 2016 Cruze may be GM’s best compact car ever. To that end, we’ll take a look at the important “numbers” defining this model.

2016 Chevrolet Cruze.
2016 Chevrolet Cruze.

2 — Sell a compact car in most markets and you’ll offer an assortment of body styles, including coupe, sedan, hatchback, and wagon. Although there is no coupe available, the Cruze offers the other three body styles, except in North America where only the sedan has been sold. All that will begin to change later this year when a hatchback variant arrives to the market, giving Cruze shoppers two models to consider. However, when it does arrive the hatchback will be marketed as the 2017 Cruze. Regardless, Chevrolet will soon match the number of body style choices the Ford Focus offers. The Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic and the Mazda3 are among some other competitors with at least two body styles in this segment.

4.2 — Lots of cars have teeny weeny screens in the instrument panel, a digital display with driver information. Squinting is not uncommon when you’re trying to read the various notices. The 2016 Cruze remedies that problem as it has a 4.2-inch diagonal high-resolution screen in the gauge cluster. And if large screens are your thing, the standard 7-inch diagonal color touchscreen in the center console can be upgraded to an 8-inch display.

10 — Since its inception, the Chevrolet Cruze has offered 10 standard airbags, the most in its class. Other manufacturers have followed suit, but few match the 10 or offer both driver and front passenger knee airbags as found in the Cruze. Other safety features available include: lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and forward collision alert with following distance indicator.

42 — With gas prices sitting below $2 per gallon in most locations, fuel economy seems like a distant concern. Raise your hands if you think gas prices will stay permanently low! No hands — I didn’t think so. Chevrolet is going in the right direction with its compact people hauler. The lone engine is a 1.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder making 153 horsepower and 177 foot-pounds of torque, paired with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox or an available 6-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with the automatic, this model gets 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, or 1 mpg better than the manual transmission. That makes the Cruze one of the most efficient gas-powered or non-hybrid models sold in America.

53 — GM says that 53 percent of US Cruze customers are new to Chevrolet. That’s a conquest rate manufacturers want and with larger car models such as the Malibu and Impala in place, new Chevrolet owners may hang around. Yes, SUVs such as the Equinox, Traverse, and Suburban are compelling reasons for staying with the bow-tie brand as are sports cars such as the Camaro and Corvette.

250 — The second-generation Chevrolet Cruze is nearly an inch longer between the wheels and 2.5 inches longer overall. The added length translates into slightly more legroom for rear seating passengers. Though larger, the 2016 Cruze comes in 250 pounds lighter thanks to careful light-weighting accomplished through reducing the weight of components in the frame architecture and the engine. Think aluminum and hot-stamped/high-strength steels here.

3,500,000 — 3.5 million is a big number and that figure represents the number of people worldwide who have purchased the Cruze since its 2008 debut. US sales peaked at 273,060 units in 2014 then pulled back to 226,602 in 2015. Likely, the trend will reverse itself this year, a common occurrence with any new or significantly updated model.

Chevrolet Cruze: Beyond the Numbers

A hatchback is not the only thing we’ll see for the second-generation Chevy Cruze. A diesel engine returns, but not before 2017. The most recent turbo diesel displaced at 2.0 liters and was rated at 27 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.

The upcoming diesel displaces at 1.6 liters and has been lauded by the European motoring press for its whisper quietness and superior vibration qualities according to Wards Auto. Expect fuel economy to benefit accordingly. And with Volkswagen still embroiled in a diesel nightmare of its own making, the Chevy Cruze may enjoy a distinct advantage for at least a season.

See Also — The 2017 Ford Escape by the Numbers

It’s a Buyers Market for Small Car Shoppers

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Some of the best deals are for small cars.

You might have your eye on that small SUV, but if you’re trading up from a compact car the incentives for small cars are very strong as we reach the heart of the spring selling season.

Consumers continue to shift their interest from cars to trucks and SUVs, and that means demand for the former has fallen, while interest in the latter is soaring. And if you know anything about the impact of supply and demand on prices, incentives follow the low-demand vehicles.

2016 Jeep Renegade.
2016 Jeep Renegade priced from $17,995.

Dodge Dart Discounted, Models Realigned

For example, sales of the 2016 Dodge Dart are down by about one-third year-over-year through the first three months of this year. Further, the entire segment is down by just over 5 percent and would be much worse off if Honda hadn’t updated the Civic. Notably, Civic sales are up 30.8 percent and have moved ahead of the previous category leader, the Toyota Corolla (down 7.1 percent).

To help move Dart sales, Dodge is doing a couple of things:

1. Incentives are strong, depending on region. Some models are marked down by up to $3,250. Low-rate financing is also available. Visit the Dodge website, enter your zip code, and check out the discounts in your area.

2. Three trim levels instead of five. Just past the halfway mark of the model year and the 2016 Dart now has two fewer trim levels. The three remaining trims were renamed and given engines to correspond to each level. Likewise, Dodge shuffled content, cut prices, and spread its package options across all three lines. All in all, the result should be a model better positioned to compete in a very tough segment.

2016 Honda HR-V.
2016 Honda HR-V priced from $19,125

Financing and Cash Back Incentives

Toyota incentives also vary by region. In my area (southeast USA), the current deal is 0 percent financing for up to 60 months or 0.9 percent financing for 72 months. But those incentives are better elsewhere, including in Los Angeles, where Toyota is offering $1,500 cash back or low-rate financing. Furthermore, attractive lease offers are in play as well.

Demand for small SUVs is up 6.3 percent year-to-date, a modest number. But the biggest gainers are found in the entry-level, subcompact SUV segment as those sales are up a whopping 78.7 percent. Of course, there are four new products in the mix and are driving sales. These are: the Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, and the Mazda CX-3. The segment has expanded to accommodate the new models as customers shift their interest from small cars to SUVs.

Despite the strong sales, there are incentives on some of the smaller SUVs. At present, Jeep is offering 0 percent financing plus $1,000 cash back on 2016 Renegade models. The brand is also jockeying for market share, hence the discount.

Honda isn’t offering any special deals at the moment for the HR-V, but it is providing a lease deal on its hot-selling Civic. As for financing deals, Honda simply says “Please see your local Honda dealer for available offers.”

Incidentally, both segments offer comparable passenger and storage room, hence the comparison.

Dodge Dart.
2016 Dodge Dart priced from $16,995.

Sample Dodge Dart Savings

Using the Dodge build and price configurator, I spec’d out a mid-grade Aero model ($21,095). I then added the $1,250 6-speed automatic transmission and immediately that cost was fully offset by an “applied offer.” The net price came in at $22,090.

For a better deal, go to the next-level Dart GT and the discounts climb to $2,750 and the final price actually comes in lower at $20,340. You also get a larger and more powerful engine, while saving nearly $1,700 off the Aero price. With smart negotiating you can get the price down even lower, probably below $19,000.

Chevy v. Chevy Price Comparison

Of course, comparing models takes some theatrics, especially if the brand under consideration doesn’t offer both a subcompact SUV and a compact car such as Chevrolet and Honda do.

Chevrolet may offer the best example of the price differences between compact car (Cruze) and subcompact SUV (Trax). The 2016 Cruze is priced from $16,120 and the Trax starts out at $20,300.

With the Cruze, discounts of $1,000 and 1.9 percent financing apply to the LS Manual ($18,995) on up. Choose the Trax and you’ll get a $500 purchase bonus and you may qualify for 2.9 percent financing. Typically, you’ll pay about $4,000 more for a similarly-equipped Trax versus the Cruze. Add another $1,500 for all-wheel drive, available only with the Trax.

To sum up, similar-sized cars and SUVs offer significant price differences, especially after all incentives have been taken. If you really want an SUV, then by all means shop for one. But if you’re on the fence and money is a factor, bargaining down the price of a compact car can make a significant difference for your budget.

Sales figures courtesy of GoodCarBadCar.net.

Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Set for 2017 Debut

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The second-generation Chevy Cruze sedan is out. Beginning this fall, a hatchback variant will finally be offered in the US market.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback
http://autotrends.org/images/chevrolet-cruze-hatchback-1701.jpg

It almost seems like eons have passed since the Chevrolet Cobalt and the earlier Cavalier represented the bow tie brand’s compact offering. Since 2011 it has been all Cruze, a far superior model to any previous small Chevrolet car.

The second-generation Cruze sedan is now in place and should help Chevrolet compete in a market dominated by the Toyota Corolla and Honda’s Civic. Other strong players include the Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra, Kia Forte, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3, and the Hyundai Elantra.

Detroit Auto Show Preview

In a segment with few hatchbacks, the Cruze has fit right in. However, Chevrolet sees market potential and will add a hatchback body style in time for the 2017 model year. That model was unwrapped days ahead of the start of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Here’s what we know about the Cruze hatchback:

1. From Europe, with love. The Cruze hatchback is not a new body style. Since the Cruze’s introduction the hatchback design has been sold in other markets, particularly in Europe, where it is nearly as popular as the sedan.

2. The sedan and hatchback are the same length between the wheels. Some manufacturers offer hatchbacks and sedans based on differing wheelbase lengths. Typically, the hatchback is shorter, but GM would have none of that. Instead, both body styles sit on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, providing generous rear seat legroom and 47.3 cubic feet of storage capacity when the rear seat is folded.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

3. The design differences are subtle. From the front, the sedan and hatchback are alike. From the sides, the hatchback has a more rakish roof line. Each body style has a unique rear fascia.

4. Turbo is standard. One thing Chevrolet won’t do is have the two body styles share complete trim levels. Instead, the hatchback will be available in just two trims when it goes on sale in the fall — LT and Premier. Thus, all models will be powered by a 1.4-liter, turbocharged gasoline engine, the same one used in corresponding sedan versions.

5. Get your tech on. New cars continue to offer the latest technologies and the Cruze hatchback is no exception. The available 4G LTE Wi-Fi will allow for connectivity of up to seven devices. Furthermore, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support will be possible through the hatchback’s Chevrolet MyLink display.

6. And then there is safety. Like the sedan, the Cruze hatchback gets 10 standard airbags, including knee air bags up front. GM’s OnStar technology will also provide automatic notification in the event of an accident. You can also order up lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert, and rear park assist. A Teen Driver feature is designed to promote safe driving by novice drivers.

2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

Some Like it Hot

How important is the Chevrolet Cruze to GM? Since it rolled out in 2008, more than 3.5 million of them have been sold. Further, 35 percent of Cruze owners are new to Chevrolet, a product GM says has helped grow Chevrolet’s market share.

As for bringing the Cruze hatchback to the market, timing may be everything. Said Alan Batey, president, General Motors North America and Global Chevrolet.“With 9 percent market growth in small hatchbacks last year, it’s the perfect time to bring the Cruze Hatch to America.” It also corrects a decision made in GM’s pre-bankruptcy days to keep the hatchback out of the market, one that the company realizes was wrong.

If you’re in Detroit during the NAIAS, the Cruze hatchback and other Chevrolet products will be on display throughout out the show’s week-plus long run.

Photos copyright GM Corp.

Smaller, More Potent Turbo Engine Powers Volkswagen Jetta

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Volkswagen continues to find ways to squeeze more power out of its engines, gasoline and diesel alike. For 2016, the Volkswagen Jetta will be powered by this automaker’s all-new gasoline engine, a turbocharged, direct-injected powerplant displacing at just 1.4 liters.

The new 1.4 liter engine will replace two gasoline engines: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four and a 1.8-liter turbocharged four. Both gas engines have long been available in the Jetta, but will give way to the new engine as part of Volkswagen’s engine downsizing effort. Diesel and hybrid variants of the Jetta will continue.

More Efficient Jetta Engine

The EA211 four-cylinder engine features lightweight aluminum construction and brings in an integrated exhaust manifold as well as a toothed-belt drive for its double overhead camshaft valvetrain making use of variable intake and exhaust timing. It retains the 82 mm (3.23 inch) cylinder spacing of the outgoing engine and measures 2.93 bore x 3.15 stroke. That change provides an improved platform for increasing torque through direct induction, such as turbocharging or supercharging.

With a 10.0:1 compression ratio, the new engine makes an estimated 150 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 184 foot-pounds of torque at 1,400 rpm. Those numbers compare favorably to the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine powering the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. Indeed, the Cruze’s motor is SAE-rated at 153 horsepower and 177 foot-pounds of torque.

Volkswagen will pair the EA211 engine with a standard five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission is expected to help the Volkswagen Jetta achieve 39 mpg on the highway. That figure compares to the current 37 mpg for the 1.8-liter turbo and 34 mpg for the 2.0-liter four. The Chevrolet Cruze achieves 38 mpg, although a Cruze Eco model is EPA-rated at 42 mpg.

Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen Jetta

Advanced Safety Technologies for the Masses

Just as Volkswagen releases a new engine, the world’s largest car manufacturer (by sales through the first half of 2015), is making other changes in an effort to stoke its weak US sales.

Undeniably, its most consequential move for 2016 as far as technologies go may have to do with its self-described democratization of its high-end driver assistance features. Specifically, Volkswagen will make available adaptive cruise control, front assist (forward collision warning and autonomous braking), blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert, lane departure warning, parking steering assistant, park distance control and automatic post-collision braking to more models.

Thus, the Volkswagen Beetle, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen and Jetta will offer these features, depending on the trim level. What’s significant about this move is that such safety features were once the dominion of luxury makes before filtering to premium mainstream models.

By making such features widely available elsewhere, Volkswagen throws down the gauntlet in front of its competitors. Likely, we’ll see a response from the likes of Toyota, Ford and Honda, but at least for now Volkswagen can claim the safety initiative amongst the common, small cars that dot its product line.

Growing US Sales

While Volkswagen moved ahead of Toyota to become the world’s largest automaker three years ahead of schedule, it still needs to find a way to solve its persistently weak US operating presence.

Sales were up 2.4 percent in July, but are still down by 1.9 percent year to date in a market that is up by 5 percent. Not only does Volkswagen trail the big guys — Toyota, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Nissan — but it is begin beaten by Hyundai and Kia as well as Subaru, one the market’s smallest players.

Volkswagen’s Jetta, Passat and Golf families are its three top selling model lines, but sales of its Tiguan and Touareg crossovers are of little consequence in a market heavily tilted toward all things SUV. However, that may begin to change when Volkswagen begins building its seven-passenger CrossBlue utility vehicle by the end of 2016.

See Also — Yet More Jobs Follow Volkswagen to Tennessee

Hatchback Chevrolet Cruze Set For US Introduction

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June 25, 2015: Corrected to include accurate details about the body styles the Cruze’s competitors offer in the US market.

An earlier Cruze hatchback will set the stage for a new model.

The Chevrolet Cruze may be the best compact car General Motors has ever built even though its sales have yet to reach the top numbers the Chevrolet Cavalier attained during the 1980s. Back then, GM was selling more than 400,000 Cavaliers per year. In 2014, Chevrolet sold 273,060 Cruzes in the US, the brand’s best selling model line behind its Silverado pickup truck series.

An Expanded Model Line

The Chevy Cavalier also had a big advantage over the Cruze as it offered as many as five body styles, including a two-door coupe, a three-door hatchback, a four-door sedan, a wagon and a convertible. The US-spec model is sold only as a four-door sedan, but beginning in 2016 a second body style — a four-door hatchback — will be added.

Adding a hatchback to the Cruze family would put this car within line of other models offering more than one body style, including the Honda Civic (coupe and sedan), Kia Forte (coupe, sedan and hatchback), and the Ford Focus (sedan and hatchback). It might also place the Cruze within striking distance of the Civic (325,981 units sold in 2014) and perhaps the Toyota Corolla (339,498 units sold in 2014), the segment’s leaders. Notably, Toyota sells enough Corollas as a sedan-only model to hold off No. 2 Honda.

GM’s original sedan-only strategy for the US-spec Cruze was hatched while the company was struggling to stay afloat, then regroup following its 2009 bankruptcy filing. Other manufacturers, including Kia, Volkswagen, Mazda and Hyundai have successfully sold hatchbacks in the US.

Hatchbacks were largely left for dead in the 1990s as US consumers avoided them, however manufacturers began testing the waters with new, stylish models and found consumers receptive. It also helped that Europe and other markets never lost interest in these styles.

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

2016 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2016 version was unveiled this week and it will be larger and lighter than its predecessor. It is part of a rapid-fire product introduction that brings new Spark, Volt, Malibu and Camaro models to the market for the 2016 model year.

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze will debut early in 2016 and will be followed by a diesel version in 2017. A new, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine is standard and will produce 153 horsepower. It comes paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. GM says that the Cruze will make 40 mpg on the highway. Up to 250 pounds have been shaved from the first generation edition, enabling the Cruze to go from 0-to-60 mph in under 8 seconds.

Highlights of the New Cruze

Among the highlights of the 2016 edition are the following:

  • A class leading 106.3-inch wheelbase. This will translate into more leg and knee room in the back seat.
  • Projector beam headlights are standard across the model line. And for upper trim level models, LED daytime running lights are standard.
  • OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot is included. Other standard features include 10 airbags, a rear view camera and four-wheel disc brakes.
  • Wireless phone charging will be available. A heated steering wheel and heated leather rear seats are additional options.
  • On the safety front, a number of features typically found on more expensive models become available. These are: forward collision alert, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert and lane keep assist.

As for the design changes, these include moving the center rear stop lamp to the top of the roof line. Chevrolet also describes the rocker panels as seamless for a more refined look. The new Cruze will also feature polished aluminum, piano black and bright-finished accents.

Choose the RS package and this model brings in a unique grille along with front and rear fascia embellishments, a front splitter, fog lamps, 18-inch wheels, and a rear spoiler.

More Details Forthcoming

Auto Trends will offer more details about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze in the coming months, following media and personal test drives. With sedans and hatchbacks both in the mix, this model’s appeal should only grow as consumers take advantage of its many enhancements.

See Also — Style Maker: 2016 Honda Civic Coupe

Chevrolet Cruze photos copyright General Motors Company.

The Five Top Selling Compact Cars of 2013

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2014 Honda Civic.
A broad model line keeps the Honda Civic on top.

Compact cars are nearly as popular as midsize models, small front-wheel drive models that typically retail for under $20,000. Also known as C-segment models, these vehicles are produced by every full line manufacturer and are typically sold as sedans with hatchbacks usually part of the mix as well.

2013 Compact Cars

Toyota and Honda have routinely battled for segment supremacy and in recent years fresh challenges from Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai have brought balance to the segment. Beyond the leaders there are a number of other cars to consider including the Nissan Sentra, Dodge Dart, Volkwagen Golf, Mazda3, and the Kia Forte.

1. Honda Civic. Toyota and Honda are position 1-2 in the midsize segment, but those places are reversed where compact cars are concerned. In 2013, Honda sold 336,180 Civics including 7,719 hybrids. Civic sales rose by more than 18,000 units or 5.7 percent for the year. Following a new design in 2012, Honda launched a significant refresh for 2013 to address several design deficiencies, a move that largely silenced its critics and paid off with increased sales.

Toyota Corolla Compact Car.

Fresh styling marks the 2014 Toyota Corolla.


2. Toyota Corolla. If Hondas hold on the compact segment is threatened, it will come from Toyota. For 2014, a new and larger Corolla was introduced, a model that Toyota expects will challenge the Civic for segment leadership. In 2013, Toyota sold 302,180 Corollas, up 3.9 percent for the year. Unlike the Civic sold in sedan, coupe, hybrid and CNG configurations, Toyota is maintaining its sedan-only focus for its compact model. No word whether Toyota will break out of the box and field additional body styles as in days past.

3. Chevrolet Cruze. The big news for Chevrolet in 2013 is that the Cruze outsold its chief nemesis, the Ford Focus. Chevrolet may not have long to celebrate, however, as Focus ST sales are likely to grow. And with no performance sub-model to respond with directly, Chevrolet will have to rely on it newly available diesel option to stoke Cruze sales. For 2013, Chevrolet sold 248,224 Cruzes, up 4.4 percent for the year, edging the Elantra by just 312 cars sold.

Hyundai Elantra GT compact car.

The Hyundai Elantra dressed in GT garb.

4. Hyundai Elantra. The Sonata still garners the lions share of attention for Hyundai, but Elantra outsold the midsize sedan for 2013. Indeed, Elantra sales enjoyed the largest lift among the top sellers, increasing by 23 percent for the year. With 247,912 units sold, the Elantra is within easy striking distance of the Cruze, itself likely to be overtaken by the Ford Focus. Capacity issues may be the only thing to hold back Hyundais surging star in the coming years.

5. Ford Focus. The Ford brand was the top selling automotive brand in the US in 2013, beating Chevrolet and Toyota. Its Focus compact car has been a big contributor in recent years to help elevate the brand, but for 2013 sales fell by 4.6 percent on 234,570 units sold. You can blame part of that loss on the rise of the subcompact Fiesta and its 25.2 year-over-year sales increase. The next generation Focus is expected to roll out in Europe later this year followed by North America in 2015. Incidentally, both the Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla sell more than 1 million units annually around the world.

Looking Ahead

Stiffer competition among compact car manufacturers will provide consumers with new and better choices in the coming years. An all-new Mazda3 hits the market this year and sales of the Nissan Sentra, Dodge Dart, and Kia Forte continue to grow. Volkswagen will continue with its multi-prong Jetta strategy, marketing its sedan and wagon lines separately while emphasizing its diesel option.

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The Five Top Selling Midsize Sedans of 2013

The Five Top Selling Large Sedans of 2013

The Five Top Selling Small Crossover of 2013

The Five Top Selling Large Crossovers of 2013

Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Raises MPG Threshold

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This fall, Chevrolet will introduce the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, the latest variant of this popular compact sedan. The five-passenger front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Cruze has been a hit for the bow-tie brand, but GM has been wanting to extend its appeal to reach car shoppers that are putting a premium on fuel economy.

Diesel Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo DieselThe newest Chevrolet Cruze is rated at 27 mpg city, 46 mpg highway for a combined 33 mpg. Its highway number is 4 mpg above what GM had projected and it is also the highest of any diesel car sold in America. The diesel market is expanding and the mpg threshold has been raised by Chevrolet.

The Cruze diesel will hold the top honor when this model goes on sale, but its competitors may insist that an asterisk be placed after any ads touting its best fuel economy rating. And perhaps for two good reasons.

1. The new Chevrolet Cruze will get 27 mpg in the city. Several Volkswagen models including the Passat, Jetta and Golf get at least 30 mpg around town. As does the Audi A3 TDI.

2. Its combined 33 mpg is not tops. The EPA takes the two fuel economy numbers and factors in a combined mpg rating. That rating is based on 55 percent of the driving around town and 45 percent on the highway. The Chevrolet Cruze diesel comes in at 33 mpg behind the class-leading Volkswagen Passat at 35 mpg. Other models that are ahead of the Cruze include each of the ones mentioned earlier.

Combined Fuel Economy

No matter how its competitors choose to react, the fuel economy numbers for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel are impressive. It isn’t the only model in the Cruze portfolio with outstanding fuel economy as the Cruze Eco is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway when outfitted with a six-speed manual transmission. That model ties the diesel Cruze in combined fuel economy too at 33 mpg.

The Chevrolet Cruise Clean Turbo Diesel, however, offers a performance edge over its competitors. Priced from $25,695, the Cruze Diesel is powered by an Opel-supplied 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel that makes 148 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 258 foot-pounds of torque at 2,000 rpm. The larger Volkswagen Passat diesel gets 140 horsepower and makes 236 foot-pounds of torque. The differences are small, but with its lighter weight the diesel Cruze will be no slouch either. GM says that the diesel Cruze will go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds — this model is a surprisingly quiet one too.

Extended Range Diesel

The diesel Chevrolet Cruze is outfitted with a 15.6-gallon fuel tank. That means when your driving takes you on a long trip, one where cruise control is engaged at highway speeds, your cruising range is more than 700 miles. That’s about enough fuel to take you from Boston to Raleigh, NC, on one tank of diesel fuel.

When the diesel Chevrolet Cruze does debut later this year, it will carry another important distinction with it: best highway fuel economy of any non-hybrid model. Indeed, the standard Toyota Prius liftback has the diesel Cruze beat, but by only 2 mpg as it delivers 48 mpg on the highway.

See Also — Chevrolet Cruze Adds Hatchback and Diesel Options for 2017

Photo courtesy of General Motors Company.

Diesels, They Are A-Coming

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Corrected: March 12, 2013

Mercedes-Benz R350

Diesels are available in European luxury cars, particularly Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW models driven by natty-suited professionals. Diesels are also found in heavy duty pick up trucks, and are prized by work crews and outdoors enthusiasts both. In the middle ground are the vast majority of car buyers, individuals whose diesel aspirations are limited to Volkswagen, although change is a-coming.

GM Diesels

Ford Transit
Upcoming Diesel: Ford Transit
This year, diesel models will be offered by several manufacturers including some that have not served up diesel models before. General Motors caught the diesel bug in the 1970s when 4.3-liter V-6 and 5.7-liter V-8 diesels rolled out as an option in its medium and larger cars. Those early designs were terrible as GM used the same heads as they did in its gas engines, with engine failure rampant due to the usual higher compression ratios.

In the early 1980s, GM offered an Isuzu supplied engine with its subcompact Chevrolet Chevette, a much more reliable product from its Japanese engine partner. The two companies would later team up to build Duramax diesel engines, but by that time Americas love affair with diesels had grown cold and GM only offered them in pickup trucks.

This summer the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel will roll out, a model that will be powered by a four cylinder engine displacing at 2.0 liters. GMs Opel subsidiary produces these engines and has a long history of producing a quality product.

Diesel Appeal

There is a certain appeal with diesel engines not found elsewhere. These motors run more efficiently as diesel fuel burns at a much higher temperature than the typical gasoline engine for improved fuel combustion. Better energy density enables diesels to enjoy as much as a 30 percent boost in fuel efficiency. Moreover, diesels provide better torque, do not require tune ups and last longer than gasoline engines.

The downside of diesels, sooty emissions, has largely been resolved as todays engines run much cleaner thanks to improvements made in exhaust treatment. Indeed, where it was once nearly impossible and costly to comply with California’s far more stringent emissions requirements, the new breed of diesels are 50-state compliant, quieter and are still very efficient.

2011 Ford Super Duty.
Heavy duty pickup trucks are gas or turbo equipped.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep offered a common rail diesel briefly with its now-retired Liberty SUV, but dropped it because sales were slow and fuel efficiency was surprisingly disappointing. The Grand Cherokee, too, offered a diesel for 2007 and 2008, but unlike the VM Motori-supplied engine in the Liberty, its engine came from Daimler.

With FIAT now firmly in control of Jeep, we will begin to see new engines for this Chrysler Group brand.

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel, making 240 horsepower and delivering 30 mpg on the highway. That engine comes by way of VM Motori of Cento, Italy, a company jointly owned by Fiat and General Motors. Both companies tap VM for its engineering services as well as for its diesel engines. Expect the refreshed Jeep Wrangler, due out for model year 2015, to offer this engine.

Mazda Diesel

2014 Mazda6Japanese manufacturers have proven to be just a capable as the Europeans in building quality diesels. Besides Isuzu, Honda builds diesels and had been expected to sell an Accord Diesel before scrapping its plans in 2010. Toyota, Subaru and Nissan make diesels too, although you cant buy one in the United States.

Mazda will crack the U.S. diesel market for the 2014 model year when its all-new Mazda6 adds one to the line up. The engine is new, has the lowest compression ratio of any diesel in the world, and is outfitted with ceramic glow plugs to get it going on cold days. It features a variable exhaust valve lift to help circulate engine warming gases faster reports the BBC.

Diesel Revolution

Of course, no diesel compilation is complete without mentioning the huge contribution that the German manufacturers have made, particularly by showing leadership in the light-duty and nontruck diesel arena.

Volkswagen Golf DieselStricter EPA emission requirements forced the German automakers to retool and by 2009 the first batch of new wave diesel engines rolled out. Volkswagen offers diesels in multiple models including various Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat editions. The midsize Passat, for instance, gets 43 mpg, rivaling gasoline-electric hybrids. The Volkswagen Group will also supply a diesel for the Porsche Cajun SUV later this year, joining the Audi line in offering a high-luxe model.

Looking Ahead

Diesel engines are a-coming and are already here. Likely, if diesel variants of the Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda Mazda6 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee show much promise, we will see many more diesels from other manufacturers roll out in coming years. Diesels and hybrids offer near equivalent fuel economy as well as vehicle pricing, two important powertrain options car manufacturers may use to meet ever higher EPA fuel mandates.

See Also — Diesel Does It: Range Rover HSE

Photos courtesy of the respective manufacturer.

List of Best Compact Cars for 2012

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2013 Toyota Corolla S
The 2013 Toyota Corolla S (Photo: Toyota Motor Sales USA).

The compact car segment has strengthened in recent years as new models enter the fray, contending with established leaders including the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. These days, every major manufacturer has a stake in the segment with the Dodge Dart the most recent entry to hit the market.

For 2012, the auto trends we have been observing continue to point to increased sales for compact cars that are usually sold in sedan and hatchback body styles. These vehicles usually are priced from about $16,000 and are powered by small, efficient in-line four-cylinder engines. Manual and automatic five- or six-speed transmissions are typically used; each model is front-wheel-drive and offers seating for up to five occupants.

Beyond the top sellers, we will take a look at a number of also-rans for the calendar year.

1. Honda Civic. For 2012, the Honda Civic pushed past the Toyota Corolla to achieve the best selling compact car in America title. Introduced in 1973, the Civic has been updated, enlarged and redesigned numerous times. Its most recent design update was panned by critics, but that hasn’t stopped shoppers from flocking to a car prized for its reliability and value. Sales rose by 43.7 percent in 2012 to 317,909 units, demonstrating that Honda has put the horrors of a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in its rearview mirror.

2. Toyota Corolla. Corolla not only loses its leadership in the US market, it apparently has seen its global edge erode too. While the Honda Civic is on top of the heap stateside, the Ford Focus is now the best selling car in the world, supplanting the Corolla. Corolla and Toyota Matrix sales are combined for reporting purposes with those sales up by 21.1 percent over 2011. Toyota sold 290,947 of its compact models in 2012.

3. Ford Focus. Unlike Honda and Toyota whose 2011 sales were suppressed by a natural disaster, sales of the Ford Focus rose naturally in 2012. Ford claimed a 40 percent increase in sales for its compact sedan and hatchback, selling 245,922 Ford Focus models in 2012. The Ford Focus is also now the best selling model in the world, with about 1 million units sold in 2012.

4. Chevrolet Cruze. Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze rose by 2.1 percent to 237,758 units, but that wasnt enough to keep this vehicle from being surpassed by the Ford Focus. The fifth-place leader, the Hyundai Elantra is closing in, but with a diesel model in the offing this year, the Chevrolet Cruze should continue to enjoy strong sales again in 2013.

5. Hyundai Elantra. Much credit must be given to Hyundai for bringing multiple winning models to the market in recent years. Despite its fuel economy dust-up, sales of the Hyundai Elantra rose by 8.4 percent in 2012, topping 200K units for the first time. Some 202,034 sales were registered in 2012, helping Hyundai beat out larger competition including Nissan, Volkswagen and Dodge.

Also Rans

The Volkswagen Jetta is a trusted vehicle and again nearly 150,000 units were sold in 2012, representing this German manufacturers top model by far. Other players worth a look include the Dodge Dart, Nissan Sentra, Kia Forte, and the Mazda Mazda3, compact hatchbacks and/or sedans offering great value, reliability and varying trim levels to suit most drivers tastes.

See Also — List of Best Midsize Sedans for 2012