2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Debut

What's New

It's been 30 years since an American automaker last offered a diesel engine in any of its models destined for its home market. That's about to change thanks to General Motors, and the addition of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. The all-new Cruze Diesel variant draws motivation from a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine delivering 148 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. GM is estimating that the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel will hit 42 mpg on the highway when mated to its standard six-speed automatic transmission--the same number that the 2013 Cruze Eco touches, but with considerably better acceleration. The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel starts at $25,695 including an $810 destination charge.

Who It's For

The European market is no stranger to having a choice of vehicles with diesel engines to choose from. The American public, on the other hand, has not been afforded the same luxury for one reason or another. Now, vehicles with a diesel engine as an option are slowly infiltrating the states but it's unseen how well it will do. Volkswagen is no stranger to offering diesel engines in various models worldwide including the United States. For example, the Jetta TDI has been on sale in the United States for almost a decade now and continues to sell in formidable numbers. Without question, because of the lack of inexpensive diesel-powered compact sedans in the United States, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI is expected to be the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze's biggest competitor.

Key Features

The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel expands upon a model that has been in the top 10 best-selling models in the United States over the past couple of years, and the addition of the oil burning mill is expected to push those sales numbers even higher. Some key features include:

• A 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine rated at 148 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
• Chevy's MyLink infotainment system
• Estimated 42 mpg on the highway
• Compatible with B20 bio-diesel fuel

What We Think

Since its launch in 2010, General Motors has sold 2 million units of the Cruze. The General has also produced over half a million small diesel-engine cars for major markets like Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America in 2012. It's estimated that 40 percent of Cruze models that roam Europe are diesel-powered as well. Will that trend carry over into the North American market? Only time will tell, but the Cruze was solid without a diesel engine before and we expect it to only get better. We expect the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel to give the Volkswagen Jetta TDI trouble in the sales department, but like its German rival, only account for a smaller portion of overall sales.

Back to Auto Show Coverage: Chicago 2013