Compact and midsize sedans sales are falling fast. So are diesel sedan sales. Why not combine the two and do a compact diesel sedan?
Chevrolet must have a good market for the diesel Cruze, since it’s been making them for quite some time. The 2019s get a 1.6 liter version, with 240 pound-feet of torque. Diesels are good for going up steep hills with the air conditioner on and four passengers — in short, they generate lots of torque at low rpm. That also makes cars more responsive, generally, even if sprint times aren’t quite as good as equivalent gasoline-powered cars. Finally, they can achieve superb gas mileage in city and highway cycles alike; the 2018 Cruze boasts 52 mpg (highway) with the diesel.
| Engine | HP | Torque |
| Gasoline | 153 | 177 |
| Diesel | 137 | 240 |
The base engine of the 2019 Cruze is a 1.4 liter gasoline turbo four. The diesel is not just the only other option, but it’s the only way to get a manual transmission in the 2019 Cruze. If the diesel’s horsepower seems low, consider it roughly matches the Toyota Corolla — but with over 100 more pound-feet of torque, and probably better mileage.
The 2019 Cruze has subtle styling changes, including new and revised LED accents; the hatchback form continues from 2018, and is expected to get around a fifth of the car’s sales. A seven inch touch-screen will be standard.
If Chevy can sell the diesels at a profit and keep regulators happy, the Cruze should make many customers happy, too.
David Zatz has been writing about cars and trucks since the early 1990s, including books on the Dodge Viper, classic Jeeps, and Chrysler minivans. He also writes on organizational development and business at toolpack.com and covers Mac statistics software at macstats.org. David has been quoted by the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Detroit News, and USA Today.
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