As traditional car models continue to lose ground to crossover utility vehicles not just in the U.S., but around the globe, automakers have been scrambling to keep up with the shift in consumer preference. Famously, Ford this year announced that it would terminate all of its “traditional sedan” products over the next few years, although the automaker had planned on splitting the difference between car and crossover with the Ford Focus “Active” – a lifted, rugged-looking model offered in China and Europe.
The current trade spat between the U.S. and China prompted Ford to change its mind about offering the Focus Active in North America, as the car would have had to be imported from China, but the concept is really nothing new. Japan’s Subaru has been making just that sort of product for years, carving out a lucrative niche long before many other automakers bothered to explore the “rugged car” segment, and the Volkswagen Group has models like the Audi Allroad and VW Golf Alltrack. Even General Motors has gotten in on the action, with products like the Chevrolet Spark Activ and Buick Regal TourX.
Now, Toyota might be poised to introduce a new rugged-looking, crossover-infused compact car of its own, having recently filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to acquire a trademark on the name “Corolla Cross”. Given how inseparable the word “cross” has become from “crossover” in contemporary automotive parlance, it’s hard to imagine what else the name could refer to but a raised, outdoorsy take on the common Corolla.
Our question to you: should Chevrolet follow suit with its own compact car line, launching a lifted, crossover-inspired version of the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback? Such a model could potentially reach an entirely new sort of buyer, cashing in on consumers’ growing interest in rugged lifestyle vehicles without necessitating much in the way of new parts and tooling; some black body cladding and a taller suspension would likely suffice. If GM really wanted to do it up right, it could offer the same AWD system that’s used in the Cruze’s D2XX-platform crossover stablemate, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, although that likely wouldn’t be necessary to bring sufficient customers through the door.
How about it? Would you like to see a Chevrolet Cruze TourX in the not-too-distant future? Let us know what you think by taking our online poll, and of course, stay tuned for all the latest Chevrolet Cruze news.
Comments
Compete with Crosstrec. Needs manual trans.
“Needs manual trans.”
No no no. GM needs to SELL the car to the greatest number of people, not just minority consumers.
It works for Subaru, no problem wth offering the Cruze and Cruze CUV. The Subaru Impreza/Crosstrek are basically the same vehicle but look like different animals appealing to different groups. Sounds to me like it would be a winner!
No, my issue was with the transmission. By and large, manuals are dead in the mass-market, and are not a primary demand for the overwhelming majority of consumers. The only time at which manual transmissions matter are when the pricepoint is high as a reflection of the cars’ performance; which means it’s only real sizable base of consumers is for those who would buy sportscars.
The Crosstrek and the Cruze are not sportscars, so a manual transmission would not increase their appeal. Even offering it wouldn’t likely increase sales volume, as presenting either cars as sporty would be difficult to market or engineer without budgeting more money.
Chevrolet can visit their own parts bin and create an electric hybrid module for the Cruze which would increase performance, add all-wheel drive as the electric motor would power the rear wheels and increase overall fuel mileage.
I can’t wait to laugh at everyone when gas prices are at $3.50/gal for the national average. Everyone will be crying when they see how much it costs to refuel their vehicle. Consumers will regret it, just like they did in 2009-2011.
You do realize such a vehicle would have minimum impact on already high mpg.
Hell I just turned 31 mpg with my new Acadia recently.
The only people impacted are Tahoe and Suburban buyers who if the can afford the truck they can afford the gas.
The real question is just how much would it sell for and how many would you expect to sell?
GM does not have as extensive global market to spread out production as the others like VW, Ford and Honda can.
Also do you just fix up the Cruze or do you take he money and replace the car entirely with a better car as AWD fixes nothing of the present issues.
Where does this leave the coming larger Trax? Would it be better to make a sporty Trax that is already AWD and part car part CUV?
The idea is right but it needs to go farther. Many said the Hatch would turn things around too.
I would start new on this idea and find a way to keep it affordable and sell it in Asia and South America.
Going in a different dIrection, maybe GM should build the hatchback cuv for Buick as a Verano replacement. This would give Buick a new entry level vehicle with a different stance than the Encor and replace the Envision that they will lose to tariffs.
It needs to be AWD not just jacked up rugged looking FWD or forget it.