Chevy’s 46 MPG Cruze Diesel is expected to take center stage this year, according to a press released by the Detroit, Michigan-based company.
The 2014 Cruze model will have the best highway miles-per-gallon of any non-hybrid car. But despite the fantastic highway mileage, the car’s city/highway mix isn’t anything to boast about.
The 2014 Cruze will have a 27 mpg city rating and a 33 mpg rating for mixed driving. The new diesel model is expected to be released in mid-summer. And despite the car’s average city mileage, the 46 MPG highway Chevy lets the driver enjoy about 700 miles of driving before they have to stop for gas.
The range certainly helps for road trips. The car will also help Chevy be more competitive with Volkswagen, whose Jetta TDI automatic is the only modern diesel car in the US market. Gary Altman, chief engineer , Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, stated:
“We harnessed generations of diesel expertise to adapt our world-class global engine for the North American market. The Cruze Diesel is the best diesel passenger car out there. Chevrolet is redefining the meaning of great fuel economy with this car.”
The new model is the first diesel sedan Chevy has introduced into the US market since the 1980s. Along with the 46 MPG Chevy, Mazda will also enter the race for diesel dominance this summer. The company is expected to release its redesigned 2014 Mazda6 midsize sedan, including a diesel version.
Chevy’s 2014 Cruze Diesel was first introduced at the Chicago auto show in February. The company initially said the highway mpg would be about 42, but that it was a conservative estimate. The new model will come with a six-speed automatic transmission with a starting price of $25,695. There is no manual model.
The car’s main competitor, the Jetta TDI, starts at $23,695 for a manual transmission and $24,885 for an automatic. Chevy added that their sedan will come with more standard features than the Jetta, like leather seating, larger wheels, and a longer powertrain warranty.
