2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel Rated At 46 MPG Highway

It has been almost 30 years since General Motors embraced a diesel-powered sedan in America, and there is a lot riding on the success or failure of the 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel. With a 46 mpg highway rating though, the new diesel Chevy offers good fuel economy and lots of torque…but is that enough to justify the $25,695 MSRP?

Originally it was estimated the Chevy Cruze Diesel would get just 42 mpg on the highway, the Cruze Diesel bested GM’s own estimates by some 4 mpg. In the city, the Cruze Diesel will get just 27 mpg, but the 46 mpg highway rating makes it the most fuel efficient non-hybrid for sale in the U.S. The 46 mpg rating also beats out perennial favorites like the Volkswagen Jetta TDI (rated at 42 mpg).

The 2.0 liter diesel engine has 148 horsepower, the same as the 1.4 liter turbocharged gas engine, but 258 ft-lbs of torque, a 110 ft-lbs of torque advantagee. An overboost feature will even allow for brief periods where the engine churns out up to 280 ft-lbs of torque, while still managing to go up to 700 miles on a single tank of fuel. 0 to 60 mph is estimated to take about 8.6 seconds.

Ultimately though, it will come down to the dollars and cents of it, and some buyers may be turned off by the $25,695 MSRP. The Chevy Cruze Eco, rated at 42 mpg, is just $19,995, an almost $6,000 difference. It would take close to 20 years to make up the price difference, especially since gasoline is cheaper than diesel in the U.S. But for those who do a lot of highway driving, or just want more torque, the Chevy Cruze Diesel might be the way to go.

Source: Gas2.0