2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel – First Look and Review – The Diesel Driver – The Joy of Diesel Driving

The German-built 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine develops 151 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque.  You’ll feel 250 pound-feet of that torque kick in around 1750 rpm and you can get ten seconds of overboost (280 pound-feet) by stomping on the accelerator pedal (I can’t call is a gas pedal, of course).  This takes the car from a standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 8.6 seconds, clearly not a record but, by comparison, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI requires 8.7 seconds for this task.

With an industry-leading EPA estimate of 46 mpg (5.1 l/100 km), and the fact that diesels typically exceed EPA estimates handily, the Cruze can go a minimum of 700 miles (1,126 kilometers) on one tank of fuel.  Indeed, the Cruze has the best highway numbers of any non-hybrid let alone any diesel sold in the U.S.

The six-speed automatic (not the same one in the gasoline-powered Cruze, as it couldn’t handle the increased torque) plays nicely with the engine and, while it’s not as much fun as a standard transmission or DSG, it does shift at the right points and contributes to very smooth acceleration.  The transmission doesn’t need to shift very often, thanks to the broad powerband courtesy of the variable-nozzle turbocharger.  Indeed, upshifts and downshifts are hardly noticeable.

One thing you’ll notice inside the Cruze Diesel is the sound, specifically the sound of silence.  The sound deadening techniques work and you’ll have to listen very carefully (and probably turn the radio off) to hear the diesel engine unless you are accelerating rather heavily.

The car has a presence that the petrol variant lacks.  It feels substantial on the road, in part thanks to the Z-link rear suspension, better dampers, and bigger brakes. Chevy also dialed in a heavier steering feel into the electric power steering system, which makes it feel somewhat more German as well.

To get to know the car, Chevrolet planned a partial day of driving from Detroit to Hell, Michigan on a rainy May day.

The road to Hell had a healthy mix of highway driving and country lanes, which gave the Cruze the opportunity to show off its fuel efficiency prowess at speed.  The first leg was 43.2 miles (69 kilometers) and fuel economy was 39.5 mpg (5.95 l/100 km).

We departed Hell via a similar route, approximately 43 miles (69 kilometers). Fuel economy was a tad worse at 39.4 mpg (5.96 l/100 km).  I suspect highway-only driving would allow the Cruze to reach or exceed its EPA figure.

Click here to continue to Page 3 – Cruze Diesel Fuel Economy and Interior

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