Holden Announces 1.6L Turbo Engine For 2014 Cruze Refresh
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As expected, General Motors’ Australian subsidiary Holden has announced a refresh for the 2013 2014 Cruze range that consists of a new powertrain option, re-calibrated automatic transmission and suspension characteristics, the addition of the MyLink infotainment system as standard equipment across the entire range, as well as changes in trim levels.
The biggest change for the 2014 Holden Cruze range consists of the addition of the 1.6 liter turbocharged Ecotec engine making 177 horsepower (132 Kw), which is now standard on the high-end SRi and SRi-V sport models. In those configurations, the boosted 1.6 replaces the 1.4 liter turbo-charged Ecotec engine (LUV/LUJ). Whether the engine is the all-new 1.6 liter Ecotec unit first announced by Opel in late 2012 or the existing 1.6 liter Ecotec (LLU/LDW) currently seen in the Chinese-spec Chevrolet Malibu isn’t clear; we’re reached out to Holden for clarification on the matter, and will update this article accordingly upon hearing back. We have confirmed with Holden this is, in fact, the last-gen 1.6 liter turbocharged Ecotec engine, the LLU/LDW. To note, Chevrolet has offerred the Chinese-market Cruze with this powerplant, along with the Chinese-market Malibu, for several months. As for the revised suspension, Holden says that the new sport suspension features a modified damper tune locally developed by Holden engineers — without providing more information.
In addition, the Equipe trim level replaces the CD as the base while adding front fog lamps, a sports grille, 17″ alloy wheels, and rear park assist as standard features; the CDX adds keyless entry with push-button start and a reverse camera, and the range-topping SRi and SRi-V models gain the reverse camera and rear park assist as standard features.
Following is revised trim level equipment for each Holden Cruze model:
Cruze Equipe (Base)
- 1.8L 4 cyl ECOTEC petrol engine with 5-speed manual trans or optional 6-speed auto trans with Active Select
- Optional 1.4L 4 cyl iTi engine with 6-speed auto trans with Active Select
- Optional 2.0L 4 cyl turbocharged diesel engine 6-speed auto trans with Active Select
- 17” x 7” alloy wheels, 215/50R17-91V Bridgestone tires (petrol)
- 17” x 7” alloy wheels, 225/50R17-94V Bridgestone tires (diesel)
- Comfort suspension tune
- Electric Power Steering, with 1.4L turbo
- Body-colored door handles and mirrors
- 5 Star ANCAP Safety Rating
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC), including Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control (TC), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)
- 6 airbags, including Front airbags – driver & passenger, Front side impact airbags, Side curtain airbags, Collapsible pedal assembly system, Driver & passenger sunshades with mirror & cover
- New color range
- All power windows
- Auto headlamps
- New 7” color touch-screen radio display with MyLink infotainment system with in-built app functionality
- 6 speaker audio system with radio, in-dash CD, USB flash drive/iPod/MP3 compatibility
- Air conditioning with electronic controls
- Steering wheel remote audio and cruise controls
- Trip computer
- Flip keys (2)
- Rear Park Assist
- Front fog lamps
Cruze CDX (Sedan Only)
- Includes all Equipe specific features, plus:
- 1.8L 4 cyl ECOTEC petrol engine with 6-speed auto trans with Active Select
- Optional 2.0L 4 cyl. turbocharged diesel 6-speed auto trans with Active Select
- 17” x 7” alloy wheels, 215/50R17-91V Bridgestone tires (petrol)
- 17” x 7” alloy wheels, 225/50R17-94V Bridgestone tires (diesel)
- Leather-appointed seat trim & heated front seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Driver & passenger sunshades with mirror, cover & illumination
- New high quality metal appearance console with translucent rings & chrome top controls
- Electronic climate control
- Keyless entry and push button start
- Reverse camera
- Glasses holder
- Rear seat auxiliary 12V power socket
- Body-colored door handles with chrome strip inserts
- Digital speedometer
Cruze SRi
- Includes all Equipe specific feature highlights, plus:
- New 1.6L 4 cyl turbocharged engine with 6-speed manual trans or 6-speed auto trans with Active Select and sports setting
- 17” x 7” alloy wheels, 225/50R17-94V Bridgestone tires
- Sports suspension incorporating Watts Link
- Electric power steering
- Sports front and rear fascias, rockers and spoiler+
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Driver & passenger sunshades with mirror, cover & illumination
- Cloth seats with sportec bolsters
- Chrome exhaust tip
- Sonic Blue cloth trim with Perfect Blue and Karma exterior colors
- Spoiler (sedan only)
Cruze SRi-V
- Includes all SRi specific feature highlights, plus:
- 18” x 8” alloy wheels, 235/45R18-94W Bridgestone tires
- Leather appointed seat trim & heated front seats
- New high quality metal appearance console
- Electronic climate control
- Keyless entry and push button start
- Reverse camera
- Glasses holder
The GM Authority Take
Well, the Chinese- and Australian-market Cruzen get the turbo-charged 1.6, which offers up roughly 40 horsepower more than the most powerful (1.4 liter turbocharged LUJ/LUV) engine available in the U.S.- and European-market vehicle. How about showing us some love, as well, Chevy?
Update: an earlier version of this article cited the updates being for the 2013 model year Holden Cruze. This has since been corrected to 2014.
Any word on whether the 1.6L will be available in the redesigned US version Cruze?
Ernie have a look at the GM Authority take in the article.
Yes I read it. Just wondering if anyone knew anything other than speculation. I am considering a new Cruze. Perhaps the new diesel in about a year. Perhaps we will know more after the ’14 models are released.
@Ernie We should know more for the 2014 model year… but I’m not sure that the 1.6T has been federalized yet. We should know officially in May/June/July timeframe.
We’ll publish the info as soon as it become available in our RPO Central section here:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/category/gma-special/rpo-central/
The 1.6 motor is from the Opel Astra GTC. Opel is GM’s European “cousin” of Holden Australia.
@David technically speaking, Chevy and Holden are aligned globally… making Chevrolet Holden’s cousin… nay, brother. In fact, most Chevrolets are sold as Holdens (Barina Spark, Barina, Cruze, Malibu, Trax, Colorado/Colorado 7, Captiva), and some Holdens are sold as Chevrolets (Commodore/SS, Caprice). In addition, Opel is sold as its own brand in Australia:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/09/opel-commences-sales-in-australia-chile/
But you seem to be correct in stating that the 1.6T is the LLU/LDW engine found in Astra, Insignia, Corsa OPC, along with the Chevrolet vehicles mentioned in the article (Malibu, China-market Cruze). However, we haven’t received official confirmation that this is the case from Holden/GM yet… and there aren’t any specs of the 2013 Holden Cruze 1.6T for us to compare yet. So until then, we can only assume it’s the LLU/LDW rather than the all-new 1.6T unit.
Yes Opel has only just launched here in Australia. Its biggest seller, the Astra was previously sold here by Holden, but Holden stopped selling it in favour of the (cheaper) Cruze instead. So since the Astra was “dumped”, Opel decided to launch itself here instead with its other models as well.
Reviews here from Holden openly declare that the 1.6 engine is the same as Opel’s engine (just as the 1.4 in previous model Cruze was Opel’s 1.4 engine too).
I wasn’t aware that this particular 1.6 engine is the same as the one in US models you mentioned, but it stands to reason that just as cars can be world cars, so too can their engines (as they are all owned by GM).
One thing I don’t understand… in the review for this new Cruze model, Holden engineers said there were not allowed to change the appearance of the car (ie external panels, etc), only the internals, as it is a world car – that is why all our Cruze models essentially look the same. But your latest Cruze has a newly designed front bumper. Why couldn’t Holden change to that, or something else, if your Cruze was able to change? It seems a tiny let down that nothing on the outside has changed… but as for the rest of the upgrades, the car sounds awesome!
Well, the 1.6T isn’t available int he US (yet)… it has, however, been available on the China-market Malibu and Cruze.
As for the appearance, are you sure that the US Cruze has a different bumper cover than the Aussie-spec one? Here’s the 2014 Cruze TD, for instance:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/02/chicago-2013-this-is-the-25695-2014-chevrolet-cruze-clean-turbo-diesel/
Other than that, I assume that GM wants to maximize its profits on the Cruze as it enters its last 2 years on the market. Making any kind of changes to the design would likely require making changes presses/stamping or at the least, molds, which aren’t the cheapest changes to make.
Okay. I saw this pic on the ‘net and assumed your Cruze adopted this new look.
http://carwallpapersfreedownloads.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/chevrolet-cruze-station-wagon-2013.html
d2 will get the engine from europe not the china version.
It would be nice to see G.M. federalize the new engine and give us a little more power. But the biggest wish is still for the other body styles to come here. Like you say in the GM. Authority take: How about showing us some love too?
There is always complaining from car enthusiasts regarding lack of performance traits on some GM cars: no AWD, soft suspension, not enough power, etc. But often times, the complainers aren’t in the market and wouldn’t buy the car even if it had the traits they ask for. GM is trying to sell cars and make a profit, not appease people who complain about “poor performance.” The XTS is a perfect example of this. People complain about it being FWD and being a floaty ride but the car is selling like hotcakes (at least here in Florida). GM seems to have accomplished their goal. Probably 98% of the people who complain about its lack of performance aren’t in the market for a large luxury car. Most people who buy most cars don’t care if it is FWD or RWD and many prefer a softer ride. No, I am not suggesting Cadillac should return to the days of the Cimarron because that didn’t work either but I’m just saying that people should keep in mind the goal of the company: sell cars/make profit. All that being said, I think Chevy is making a huge mistake by not offering the Cruze in the U.S. with a more powerful engine. I actually am in the market for a small car such as the Cruze but have put off buying one because of my hope they would produce one with more power. I love everything about the Cruze but the engine. I am now forced to look elsewhere. I’m not looking for a 2.0 turbo with 270hp but something like the 1.6 turbo that has a little more power. There are many people who prefer a middle of the road engine for passing and accelerating in traffic. I’m sure people like me have have purchased from another manufacturer because of this problem. It’s a shame that such a great car doesn’t offer an engine with more than 138hp and that Chevy is losing customers because of it. It’s baffling . . .
I have not driven the Cruze but I do have an HHR with a 2.2L (around 150hp), at first I wanted a 2.4L for my HHR but honestly after driving for over a year I am cool with th HP. Truthefully I have gotten used to the HP, I think for many the turbo adds the kick and provides enough hp to make many Cruze owners satasfied; Matt its not like you are using the Autobahn or going racing… Matt if you like the Cruze that much what more do you really need it has 4 wheels it looks excellent when the warranty is up have the turbo 4 modifird… Buy GM… What other vehicles are you cross shopping..,
Will either 1.6 make it to Encore in US? If yes, when?
Since the picture is a hatchback, any news about it coming to US?
I’m going to start sounding like a damn sales rep lol, but Trifecta has a tune for the 1.4T giving a 36hp and 54ft-lb increase for only $300. And it’s reliable.
Here is a customer’s dyno sheet:
http://www.trifectaperformance.com/DynoSheets/2011ChevyCruzeLUJDyno.jpg
Personally if I were a Cruze owner, or anyone with the 1.4T (Sonic, and… etc lol) I’d be ordering up the tune, getting some good pads and rotors (StopTech), thick anti-roll bars, strut tower bar up front, eibach springs or Ground Control sleeves (if they make them for the Cruze), CAI, and Conti DW tires.
Then being pretty damn happy with a peppy car that would most likely handle and stop better than any SS version that was never released. Probably cheaper too.
Yabadabadoo, that’s the problem. Ford, Honda, Mazda, and Dodge all offer compacts with more power but the only car that isn’t far inferior to the Cruze in terms of quality is the Ford. The problem with the Ford is that, in my opinion, it is one of the ugliest cars on the market, particularly the front end. I have actually started looking at the Sonic since it offers the same turbo engine but is about 300 pounds lighter and the interior is barely smaller than the Cruze. It drives nicely but is still not as quiet and solid as the Cruze (that’s where much of the 300 lbs comes in). I can probably live with that since it is less expensive. It just seems like all of my options involve compromise and I don’t think I’m being too picky. I don’t think asking for more than 138hp in a 3100 lb car is asking too much.
Matt, I hear you…