Today Chevrolet has announced the final piece of information regarding the upcoming diesel version of the Cruze compact sedan – that the car will be EPA rated at 46 mpg. According to Chevrolet, the rating will mean that the Cruze Turbo Diesel will be the most fuel efficient non-hybrid car on the market.
The Cruze Turbo Diesel utilizes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 148 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque.
Power is funneled through a six-speed automatic transmission.
By contrast the new Cruze’s diesel competition, the VW Jetta TDI, is rated at 42 mpg highway and 30 mpg city.
With a starting price of $25,695, including an $810 destination charge, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is a better value than a similarly equipped VW Jetta TDI automatic. Compared with Jetta, the Cruze Diesel offers standard equipment including the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, larger 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-appointed seating, a longer five-year 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a two-year maintenance plan.
Cruze Diesel also beats its rivals in performance with a segment-leading estimated 148 horsepower (110 kW) and estimated 258 lb-ft of torque (350 Nm), and can go 0-60 in about 8.6 seconds. Its advanced 2.0L turbo-diesel engine has an overboost feature capable of increasing torque to an estimated 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) for short bursts of stronger acceleration when needed, such as entering freeway traffic.
Cruze Diesel is powered by the cleanest diesel passenger car engine produced by General Motors. The vehicle generates 90 percent less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions when compared to previous-generation diesels. Chevrolet has sold more than 2 million Cruze models globally since it was launched in mid-2010. More than 33,000 of those were diesel powered.
