While the upcoming 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback has been confirmed for the U.S. market, shown to U.S. dealers, and spied testing in Europe, it has yet to be seen state-side. Until now.
Photos brought to us by Automobile Magazine shows the Cruze hatch being tested near the Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan. Built on GM’s D2XX platform, the new hatch represents a C-segment hatchback that Chevrolet hasn’t offered in America since the Malibu Maxx.
Chevrolet buyers eager for the release of the 2017 Cruze hatch can expect to see it on dealer lots not too long after the sedan model. The hatch model will likely be available with a 1.4L four-cylinder matted to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Diesel fans can expect to see the 1.6L turbodiesel become available for the 2017 model year.
The Cruze hatchback variant will allow the car to better compete with the likes of the Mazda 3 hatch, Ford Focus hatch, Volkswagen Golf, and the re-birthed Honda Civic hatchback (which costs $2,000 more than the Cruze).
We think a 2017Â Cruze hatch diesel would make for a fine daily driver, and will be an excellent (and cheaper) alternative to the Golf TDI, wouldn’t you agree? Share your thoughts by commenting below.
Comments
Great news for hatchback fans. They need a coupe also along with SS versions of all three to compete head to head with the CIVIC.
Agreed! We need a sport compact to compete with the Civic and Focus. I have actually e-mailed the CEO and made suggestions. But of course no reply. I like the new Cruze a lot, but I am in to the tuner scene and drive a 15” Civic SI. I was extremely disappointed to find out the Cruze LTZ NOT AVAILABLE IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION. The engine is a bit under powered at 1.4L 140hp. Civic SI had a 2.4 N/A 205hp with a 6 speed manual as the only transmission. I have always bought GM
first car 1991 Chevrolet Beretta GT
1998 Sunfire SE Sedan with the 2.4L
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
2004 Pontiac Vibe GT…… Still have this one with 330,000km on it
Now a 2015 Civic Si Sedan
Sure there are going to be some haters to my message. But I wanted a car that is fun to drive, decent power and the ability to build it the way I want. IE) Exhaust, suspension, spoilers, body kits etc….
I agree with you. GM is one of the biggest car manufacturers… to not offer the Cruze with the 2.0 turbo is ridiculous.
The Cadillac ATS is cool, but you are then talking a lot more money for a compact.
Chevy Cruze should be that entry level Compact in GM’s entire line up that still has something for the enthusiast/tuner scene. with Pontiac gone there is no excuse to not have the Cruze with a 2.0
They do offer the Cruze with a 2.0T. That’s the Verano Turbo.
I suspect there is considerable dissension amongst the ranks at GM on this subject. Some want a return to GMPD where every Chevy has a high-performance option. Some want Pontiac to come back where Astra GTC can sell like hotcakes. And others want to keep status quo – forcing people into Buicks to get the GM car they want.
The big problem today is that most of these customers are buying used. I would rather buy an HHR SS today than anything on the market in this segment. Not only is it vastly cheaper, but GM supports it to 290 hp… which they don’t even do on the ATS.
The only major advantages to Cruze hatch over an HHR SS is superior safety shell/airbags, ride comfort, and improved infotainment. GM needs to improve the cost and performance-output equation (rear-biasable AWD wouldn’t hurt there) to swing these customers back to new. They’ve done that on the Camaro, but not on their commuter cars.
Christopher- I hear what you are saying. And yes the Verano Turbo in a way is the Cruze 2.0 T but the Cruze would be priced at about $2,500 to $3,000 less and by the time a customer negotiates and possibly receives a rebate from GM. they can have a Cruze turbo at around mid 20s.
As I do understand what you have posted, GM still has no good reason to not make the Cruze with the 2.0 turbo.
Ridiculous -yes, but no more ridiculous than not offering the Malibu with the 3.6.
Yes Chris, it is more ridiculous.
The Malibu gets the 2.0T so it at least has something with some horsepower.
The Cruze gets that little pudwacker 1.4 L Turbo engine.
Unfortunately, GM now views the matching of cars like Cubic as Buick’s job. You can see this will Malibu, too, and how it only gets a 4 cylinder and no AWD. Another example is this talk of no next generation Impala: If you want a large car by Buick.
I guess Buick is the new Ford Titanium but with unique sheet metal. I’m very disappointed.
Except the Buick will have longer warranty than those of the ford titanium that’s the sad part for ford
Without question the Chevy Cruz has been a successful car. And as a Ford driver (C-Max) I need the extra storage space, especially when I pickup horse feed. Yeah, could have bought a mini-van, but like most others I don’t really care for them. I traded my beloved Chevy Malibu Maxx for the C-Max. Would have bought the Chevy Orlando had it been available. The Chevy HHR just didn’t have the leg room (side to side) I needed. Really liked the Caddy CTS Sport Wagon but we don’t have the budget for that. I’m looking forward to buying a 2017 (keeps cars 5 years kept M-Max longer) Cruz 5-Door. I really don’t believe the GM Management understands the the “Wagon” mindset most people have. If I could tell GM Management … bring back the Malibu Maxx, yeah it’d eat into SUV sales but it is what most of the buying public wants … we don’t need another soccer mom SUV that the only time it sees dirt is if it backs into a flower bed.