Right now, buyers looking at a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze may be surprised to see Chevy offers a manual transmission on numerous trims and variants. However, the row-your-own option isn’t long for this world, if new documents prove true.
The Truth About Cars reported last Friday that GM’s VIN decoder document does not list a manual transmission option at all for the 2019 model year Cruze. We actually find that rather strange since GM touts the Cruze Deisel’s 52 MPG fuel economy figure, which comes by the way of three pedals. In the manual gearbox’s place, a CVT (continuously variable transmission) is listed as a new option. The document does not list what models may feature a CVT, though.
Our best guess is a Cruze Hybrid, which could use a CVT maximize fuel efficiency over a traditional automatic transmission. The document still shows an automatic for gasoline-powered Cruze models and for the Cruze Diesel. We can assume the transmissions won’t change from their six- and nine-speed cogs.
Elsewhere, the document does point out that a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will be available. The engine serves as the base engine in the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Perhaps the Chevy will offer the engine in the Cruze as a slightly more powerful offering? We don’t know just yet. We do know the Cruze is poised for some major updates soon, according to these documents.
Comments
It’s about time they offered the 1.5T. Now they need to step things up another notch and offer a 2.0T Sport variant.
Right above this comment section is a link to “General Motors Files Trademark Application For ‘Cruze Eco’” and the 1.5 engine listed does not mention turbo. It sounds to me like the ECO model is coming back with a small 1.5 4 cyl and a CVT. I hope it actually is turbo though, as I can’t imagine the 1.5 without turbo would make any power at all.
I love this decision! Why make versions of cars that just sit on lots going unsold just to say we at GM build small cars with 3 pedals.
Imagine if you could be like the fictional TV character Michael Knight (of Knight Rider) driving your Chevrolet Cruze and when you want extra power, you can press a button that engages the electric motor of the hybrid module to dump an extra 50-75 horsepower for 5 seconds without disengaging the gas motor.
Stick is for peeps who are stuck in last century.
Sticks are for peeps that love to drive cars. Most “peeps” don’t have a a clue how to drive them.
It seems odd to me, given they were touting the crap out of the “52 MPG” highway figure of the diesel with the manual.
I’d think they’d at least leave that variant. On the Cruze forums, a fair amount of Gen 2 Diesel owners have gotten it with the manual.
Given that the current Family I turbo engines are sourced from Korea, with no plans to produce the turbo SGE/MGE engines, what’s that mean for GM Korea ?
The Cruze needs more variants, not less. The car needs more broad appeal.