The Chevrolet Cruze is a fundamentally frugal front-engine, front-drive compact sedan. It’s the car that Chevrolet chose to develop into the ‘hybrid’ Volt. In the process, some of the fuel-saving technology has been passed down to the conventionally powered Cruze.
The particular model I drove was called the Eco, which is short for ecological. The changes to this 5-passenger sedan push the envelope mechanically to create a lighter, more aerodynamic and more efficient package. As such, the Cruze Eco easily achieves over 40 mpg on the highway! And depending on usage, the Cruze Eco can actually achieve better fuel mileage than the vaunted Volt. In nonstop driving cross country, for instance, the Volt would never have a chance to run purely on electricity.
Turbo Power!
The 2011 Cruze Eco employs a little rev-happy 1.4-liter inline-4, the same engine used in the Volt as an electrical generator. In the Cruze Eco though, it gets the addition of a turbo and is mated to a standard 6-speed manual transmission, which has easy short throws. The joy of driving a conventional gearbox paired with a peppy engine is hard to beat. When compared to the lack of driver involvement in a Volt, opting for the manual is an easy choice for driving enthusiasts to make. Performance is decent; the Cruze Eco hits 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. That’s quicker than Honda’s sporty CR-Z, which offers far less passenger space, and surprisingly the Cruze Eco even posts better slalom and skidpad figures, but not by much.
It Wins Races
The suspension of the 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco is standard hardware, its front struts and rear twist beam axle exhibiting a tight and well balanced feel. The low-rolling-resistance Goodyear rubber is an Achilles’ heel on the skidpad for sure, but they don’t ruin a good onramp cloverleaf where it’s possible for the rear tires to pick up a benign slip angle. Then, at corner exit, the turbo boost is enough to light up an inside tire. Yes, the stability control can be fully disabled, which makes the car a hoot to fling about. Now I know why the Chevy Cruze has won both the British and World Touring Car Championships. Although the Cruze Eco isn’t paying homage to a race car, it does employ a similar philosophy. The small engine saves weight, as do numerous other minor details such as the electric-assist power steering, forged 17-in. alloy wheels, thinner sheet metal in strategic locations and the aforementioned tires. At under $20,000, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco is a wise choice for the enthusiast who appreciates being green. Throw in a few parts from the GM performance parts catalog, and the new Cruze might become the perfect fuel-efficient corner carver.