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2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Revealed Ahead Of Detroit

It seems, since the internet once again spoiled a surprise, Chevrolet has pulled the wraps off of its 2016 North American International Auto Show debut early. This is the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatchback.

Chevrolet says the 2017 Cruze hatch arrives with the same 106.3-inch wheelbase as the sedan to maximize interior space, and it’s quick to point out it offers two additional inches of rear legroom over the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra hatch.

In the rear, the 2017 Cruze hatch offers up additional cargo space over the sedan: 18.5-cubic feet to be exact, and 42-cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

Again, much like the sedan, the 2017 Cruze also sees 200-pounds shed from its curb weight over the outgoing sedan in North America, and hatch across the globe. Chevrolet says the lighter weight adds to the Cruze hatch’s overall driving dynamism.

“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, president, General Motors North America and Global Chevrolet. “As Cruze continues to set the tone for Chevrolet globally, it articulates the brand promise of offering cars with the latest technologies, more features and greater efficiency, performance and safety with fresh, distinctive styling.”

Key features donning the 2017 Chevy Cruze hatch include the following:

  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability via the MyLink system, plus OnStar 4G LTE with WiFi hotspot
  • More standard safety features than a comparable Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic with additional adaptive features including, Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Park Assist
  • Available Teen Driver System
  • Standard 1.4-liter turbo engine with direct injection and Stop/Start technologies, electric power steering and, on Premier models, a Z-link rear suspension
  • Available features including heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, Athens leather-appointed seating surfaces, true French seams and halogen projector-beam headlamps with LED signature lighting.

Chevrolet states the 2017 Cruze hatch will arrive in LT and Premiere trims with the additional RS package optional. Expect the 2017 Cruze hatch to arrive at your local Chevrolet dealer by Fall of 2016.

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Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. Looks good!

    Reply
    1. Looks really good. I like the rear end and the way in which it is integrated. For instance, tha exhaust treatment is marvelous. Now if only there were two of them (one on each side) in a high-performance variant… 🙂

      Reply
      1. These pictures may just be for the RS model. The other models may not receive the exhaust treatment. The Sonic has a similar exhaust tip exclusive to the RS model.

        Reply
    2. How does a hatchback look good?
      now the sedan definitely looks good, but hatchbacks are awful.

      Reply
      1. The market for hatchbacks is getting larger every year. The Cruze hatch will provide a sales increase for the brand but also have a direct competitor for the Focus, Elantra, Golf, Mazda3 and expected Civic hatch.

        Reply
  2. Please price it right……close to the sedan …… and it will sell like hotcakes!!!

    Reply
    1. From what I have read the pricing will be around $4000 higher than the base sedan starting at $21K.
      That pricing makes sense because it will not come in L or LS trims like the sedan plus hatchbacks normally transact for higher prices than sedans anyway.

      Reply
  3. Now it needs the SS

    Reply
  4. This is the Opel Astra “J” with sporty design, very nice to Cruze range

    Reply
    1. Minus the sporty performance. HHR SS is my next wagon… unless I splurge for a CTS.

      Reply
  5. Excellent job Chevrolet.
    Very good looking car. Hopefully the pricing is on point.
    Looking forward to an SS model. Drop the 2.0T motor in this bad boy.

    Reply
  6. Not bad! Don’t know if I like those tail lights, though. Maybe they’ll look better in the flesh. Overall it looks pretty good, though.

    Reply
  7. This is very nice! Sharp, cohesive design!

    Reply
  8. It looks really good. This should do well if priced and equipped competitively.

    Reply
  9. Interesting shade of orange, it would look good on a Camaro, Sonic or Colorado too.

    Hatchbacks aren’t my thing, but no reason they shouldn’t try to grab a slice of that pie.

    Reply
  10. Would like to see this in SS trim with 2.0L engine and AWD.

    Reply
    1. They will introduce that version. It’s called the Envision.

      Reply
  11. It l looks a lot like Astra. Bringing the Opel-Buick variant over now seems silly and very old school GM.

    Reply
    1. Not if there is enough differentiation between the two.

      Reply
      1. No, the products are very similar with matching character lines. The same thing, plus a floating roof, had happened with Bolt.
        I love it. But Buick needs to be careful not offering an overpriced hatch.

        Reply
  12. Nice!!!

    Reply
  13. Drop in the 275 horsepower turbocharged 2.0L 4-cyl engine from the 2016 Camaro and instantly the Cruze Hatchback becomes the Cruze Hatchback SS which isn’t just functional as it becomes a lot of fun; although of course, being that the Cruze is lighter than th Camaro, it would mean possibly that the Cruze Hatchback SS might be faster than the base Camaro or even the Cadillac ATS.

    Reply
  14. The problem with the Cruze SS is that to compete with the Ford model or even the Golf GTI you would have to add enough things that would put the price closer to $35,000. By then the Camaro really becomes a good option even with a V6.

    Also you would only sell maybe 5K-10K units at best. Just how much would someone pay for a Cruze and just how many would GM need to sell to make a buck at a lower price.

    Now if you took the 3 door Asta Opel OPC and brought it here as a Buick you would leverage the car out globally So lover sales would not be as much of an issue. Also the car would be more upscale and better justify the higher price over the value brand Chevy.

    I own a HHR SS and love it but in 2008 it as stickered at $28,000 and still had the cheap interior on the old Delta platform. The price of this car as an SS would be difficult to justify and do right as a Chevy.

    Ford is trying to do it all and while they offer a performance Focus it is not cheap and they have no Buick option level brand.

    Just take a look a the Opel Astra OPC and see what we already have and what really could be.

    Also be aware that with FWD it is not likely it would be faster than even the V6 Camaro at a similar price. Getting traction is an issue on the FWD. My SS is fast but I can spin the front tires on dry pavement over 50 MPH. Even with the launch control it just slows you down. I do have the GM tune on it so I am pushing 300 HP.

    I love the engine but if given a choice today I would take a Camaro Turbo 2.0 at 3300 pounds over my SS.

    Reply
    1. Scott3 I hear what you are saying. But you are missing something here. If all the consumers are getting steered into buying the 2.0T Camaro instead of buying the Cruze hatch 2.0T option or a Cruze SS .It is basically watering down the individuality of the Camaro. The Firebird option is already gone.
      So basically by putting only the 2.0T Camaro out there as GM/Chevy’s only sporty/affordable option you are really doing some damage to the Camaro “brand”.
      It’s GM/Chevy saying “hey if you want something sporty, fun and reasonably priced buy the Camaro 2.0T that’s your only option”.
      You always talk about Cadillac having to show that it’s a premium brand, well IMO GM also needs to look out for the Camaro name.
      I tried to keep it short but you catch my drift.

      Reply
      1. If a 13 second V6 or 14 second Turbo 4 is watered down then more power to you.

        You really need to visit a dealer when the non SS cars arrive and you will be shocked they will not be watered down.

        I have seen the new Camaro’s and these are not the gutted base car stripper models of the past. The V6 is faster than the 4th gen and the 4 is faster than the 3rd and most 2nd gen cars and even some of the first gen cars. Just because it has less cylinders does not make it a lesser car.

        I catch your drift and I can see you have not been around the new car yet. You will catch my drift when you drift a V6 in a turn.

        The problem is to do this right you will price a Cruze over $30,000 to $35,000. Now how many people would pay that much for a 270 HP FWD economy coupe. Many are mistaken to think this will be a $20-25,000 car and that is not going to happen in SS trim.

        My heart is with you as I would love to see a car like this but the realities of the volume, price and profits come in.

        This is just to do at the Chevy level. We have Buick to do this low volume work and Opel already makes the car and it is sold globally and will be seen even as a Holden soon.

        The days of Chevy having a performance model of nearly every car in the lineup are long gone. Development cost and pricing has made it difficult anymore to do this.

        Reply
        1. Scott, you need to stop assuming on what ppl type.
          I meant watering down the Camaro name. not the power of the engine. And yes that happens when the consumer that just bought an SS for $45,000 and there are a ton of $27k to low $30k 4-cyl and V6’s out there…. that most ppl cannot even tell from the SS. If everyone has a Camaro that ruins the individuality of the car., so yes Chevy needs to give some chevy consumers looking for a sporty car one other option that is affordable. Pontiac is long gone- it’s not gonna kill the General to throw the turbo engine in the Cruze.

          Also go look up the starting price on a Ford Focus ST hatchback-they start at $25,000. so stop putting up the numbers that you like to make it sound like this is going to be a $35,000 car (the fully loaded one will be- BUT SO WHAT!!!! ). I don’t care about the fully loaded FORD FOCUS ST- I am stating you can get one for $25,000-ish with Ford’s 2.0 turbo engine to start with.

          Reply
  15. Great job Chevrolet, this is the car I wished had been available in 2013. I like everything I see in the photos, wished I had the time to make it out to the Detroit Auto Show. Really reminds me of my Malibu Maxx. I see only one thing that Chevrolet needs to address an get it over with. Go ahead an make is so the dealers can either add a trailer hitch an tranny oil cooler or make it available to order from the factory. A 1/ 1/4″ hitch for the lawn mower trailer / wheel chair rack. I don’t need a huge tow capacity, just a 1,000 pounds. Every once on a while we need to take the riding mower in for maintenance, mower an trailer is maybe 900 pounds. My wife wants a new vehicle as well, she moved towards the Buick Encore, was surprised it can’t tow anything. Question … would it really hurt to put the CURT 1 1/4″ hitch an trailer wiring to haul the 900 pounds on the Encore? The Cruz Hatchback is for me, done deal, the Encore is for her … but still like the towing option on both vehicles as we have now.

    Reply
  16. Very Nice! Very late….but Very nice.

    Reply

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