2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel: America's Most Fuel Efficient Non-Hybrid

When I drove the newest generation of the Chevrolet Cruze, I was impressed with how it looks, felt and drove, but I missed the diesel engine from the previous generation. During the first generation Cruze, the 2.0L diesel was easily my favorite engine option, combining the best fuel economy in the lineup with the best driving dynamics, but when this new generation was introduced for the 2016 model year – there was no diesel engine option available.

Well, the new diesel has arrived for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze and in addition to packing big torque, this new diesel engine makes the compact Chevy the most fuel efficient non-hybrid (or non-EV) sold in America.

“Chevrolet is dedicated to offering customers a wide range of propulsion options. We know there are customers looking for the right combination of fuel efficiency, driving dynamics, fuel type and more. With the EPA-estimated 52-mpg highway Cruze Diesel Sedan, they can get it all,” said Steven Majoros, director of Chevrolet Marketing.

The 2017 Chevy Cruze Diesel
The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is powered by a new Ecotec 1.6L turbodiesel engine which delivers 137 horsepower and 240lb-ft of torque. This is a little less horsepower than the standard 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine in the rest of the Cruze trimlines, but the 63lb-ft advantage in torque should make this Cruze far stronger-feeling on the road. Big torque made the previous Cruze Diesel the best driver in the lineup, and I expect that to be true with the newest Cruze and this new turbo diesel engine.

More importantly to some (especially the marketing people), the 2017 Cruze Diesel will offer up to 52 miles per gallon on the highway. There is no other sold in America without electric assist (hybrids, EVs) which can challenge that 52mpg figure, so the Cruze Diesel is officially the most efficient non-hybrid car sold in the USA.

That 52mpg figure is achieved in the 2017 Cruze Diesel with the 6-speed manual transmission, which also gets ratings from the EPA of 30mpg in the city and 37mpg combined. The Cruze Diesel is also available with a new 9-speed automatic, which is rated at an almost-as-impressive 47mpg on the highway, 31mpg in the city and 37mpg combined.

Even with the automatic, the new Cruze Diesel is among the most fuel efficient cars in America, but right now, no other gasoline or diesel powered non-hybrid can challenge the highway fuel economy figures of the new Cruze Diesel with the manual transmission.

The 2017 Cruze Diesel is priced starting at $25,545 including destination and while this new engine will only be offered in the sedan for 2017 – it will be offered in the Cruze Hatch for the 2018 model year, starting later this year. Pricing for the Cruze Diesel Hatch will be announced closer to the arrival of the 2018 models.