The Chevy Cruze has been around since 2009, and the nameplate has truly established itself as one of the most popular compact cars on the market. Therefore, plenty of customers are familiar with what the vehicle has to offer. However, there may be some facts that even the biggest Cruze enthusiast wasn’t aware of.
For instance, while you may be familiar with the Cruze’s various capabilities, did you know it actually delivers some class-leading specs? Were you aware of a future alternative version of the ride, or do you understand where the nameplate actually places among other Chevy cars (in regards to sales)?
There’s a whole lot to learn about the 2016 Chevy Cruze. Let’s dive in and take a look a some of the notable facts…
The Nameplate Offers Some Class-Leading Efficiency
Plenty of car brands will say that their vehicles are among the most fuel-efficient in a respective class. That may not be untrue, but these numbers typically linger around 30 miles per gallon. You rarely see a vehicle deliver the estimated 42 mpg highway efficiency that the 2016 Cruze offers.
The 1.4-liter Ecotec turbo engine is legitimately one of the most efficient offerings in the class. The 42 highway mpg tops the numbers produced by the Ford Focus (40 mpg), Nissan Sentra FE (40 mpg), Mazda3 (41 mpg), Hyundai Elantra (37 mpg), and Volkswagen Jetta (40 mpg).
Thanks to innovations like direct injection and stop/start technology (as well as the nearly 250-pound drop in body weight), drivers can also expect an estimated 30 mile per gallon efficiency in the city, a seven-percent increase over previous-year models.
“Offering a maximum highway range of up to 570 miles per tank– you can spend less time at the pump,” said Steve Majoros, Director of Marketing for Chevrolet Cars. “The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze has more horsepower and torque, and is lighter than the previous generation making it more fun to drive.”
Unsurprisingly, the brand didn’t compromise any power in favor of this incredible efficiency. The 2016 Chevy Cruze still managed to pump out 153 horsepower and 177 pounds-feet of torque, more than respectable numbers for a car this size. Therefore, you can reach your destination at a reasonable time, and you won’t have to make constant pit stops to refill your tank.
There’s a Hatchback Version
Well, there will be a hatchback version. Expected to be released in time for the 2017 model year, the brand is jumping into the hatchback segment with a modified version of its popular compact car.The compact car is following the path of several of the brand’s other vehicles, including the Colorado and the Trax. There’s no denying the sportiness and athleticism of the 2016 Chevy Cruze. However, for those seeking even more muscle, the hatchback may be the right choice.
The new Cruze will feature an identical 106.3-inch wheelbase, but the roof and rear have been revamped to transform the car into a hatch. Besides the inclusion of wraparound taillamps and a new spoiler at the top of the liftgate, the restyled rear also leads to more cargo room. Drivers can now access 22.7-cubic-feet of space behind the third row and 47.2-cubic-feet when the seats are folded. This is a considerable upgrade over the 14.8-cubic-feet of trunk space offered in the current Chevy Cruze.
“With 9 percent market growth in small hatchbacks last year, it’s the perfect time to bring the Cruze Hatch to America,” said Alan Batey, the president of General Motors North America and Global Chevrolet. “As Cruze continues to set the tone for Chevrolet globally, it articulates the brand’s promise of offering cars with the latest technologies, more features and greater efficiency, performance, and safety with fresh, distinctive styling.”
Cruze is Chevy’s Best-Selling Model
The Chevy Cruze has been the brand’s best-selling vehicle since the nameplate’s debut in 2008. The company has sold over four million of the compact cars, and for very good reason.
One of those reasons? Well, the Cruze is generally regarded as “the most connected car in its class.” There are plenty of features and amenities to back up this claim. For starters, the brand’s MyLink infotainment system provides drivers with access to a number of applications via the seven-inch diagonal color touch-screen. Drivers can access an elaborate navigation system or their favorite radio stations (and these tunes can be enjoyed via the Bose premium nine-speaker sound system). Thanks to the inclusion of Apple CarPlay, drivers can even connect their iPhones to the system, thus unlocking many of their phones’ basic capabilities. If you find that it’s too dangerous to operate your phone while driving (as you should), this technology will be right up your alley.
The technology doesn’t end there. The wireless charging dock makes it very easy to keep your smartphone juiced. If you need to access emails or do business on your gadget, the available OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi provides a reliable and strong internet connection. This way, you don’t have to deal with slow service or pay extra for data.
To put it over the top, drivers can even access their new ride remotely. The OnStar RemoteLink mobile application allows drivers to monitor their Cruze even when they’re not around. Drivers can lock and unlock the doors and even operate the engine. This way, drivers don’t have to sit in their freezing car as the vehicle warms up. Instead, they can simply heat up their cabin from the comfort of their own home! Plus, if owners want to scare away animals or potential thieves, they could activate the vehicle’s horn and lights.
Combine this factor with the eye-popping $16,620 MSRP, and it’s no wonder the vehicle is so popular with customers.
There’s a whole lot to learn about the 2016 Chevy Cruze besides the standard specs and features. Potential Chevy customers may have been unaware of the nameplate’s popularity, or perhaps they didn’t anticipate its class-leading efficiency. Even hatchback customers may be intrigued by Chevy’s future hatchback release.
There’s surely plenty more facts regarding the Chevy Cruze that we didn’t even touch on. Of course, to fully grasp what the vehicle can offer, it’s best to hop behind the wheel of the compact car and test it out yourself.
