These modifications alone help the manual-equipped Cruze save 0.8 litre of fuel per 100 kilometres. Impressive.
Weight is the enemy!
Taking a page from Colin Chapman, GM enforced a diet on the car in the name of fuel economy. Low rolling-resistance Goodyear Assurance tires (similar to the Volt's) wrap 17-inch, Eco-specific, forged lightweight aluminum alloy wheels. The reduced weld flange length and sheet metal gauge thickness (-0.1 mm) shave some pounds as well.
Furthermore, the rear suspension has been simplified and soundproofing material around the rear seats has been limited. And with a smaller fuel tank (47.7 vs. 59 L) and no spare tire in the trunk, the Cruze Eco has, well, less junk in the trunk!
Overall, more than 40 weight-saving measures have made this model 97-kg lighter than the Cruze LT (1,365 vs. 1,462 kg).
Turbocharged for even greater economy!
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco shares its 1.4-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder with the LT and LTZ models. This 138-horsepower mill comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission whose two lowest gears and highest gear are different from those of the base Cruze LS, the only one to rely on a 1.8-litre, naturally-aspirated engine.
The Eco variant is also available with the same six-speed automatic as the rest of the lineup. The highway rating jumps to 5.1 L/100 km as a result.
What about the drive?
During a brief road test in downtown Los Angeles, the Cruze Eco proved quite pleasant to drive. I found the 1.4L fairly responsive and, as the turbo kicks in somewhere near 1,800 rpm, it never runs out of breath. At lower revs, though, the diminutive powerplant really seems to struggle.
 |
| Low rolling-resistance Goodyear Assurance tires (similar to the Volt's) wrap 17-inch, Eco-specific, forged lightweight aluminum alloy wheels. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
Weight is the enemy!
Taking a page from Colin Chapman, GM enforced a diet on the car in the name of fuel economy. Low rolling-resistance Goodyear Assurance tires (similar to the Volt's) wrap 17-inch, Eco-specific, forged lightweight aluminum alloy wheels. The reduced weld flange length and sheet metal gauge thickness (-0.1 mm) shave some pounds as well.
Furthermore, the rear suspension has been simplified and soundproofing material around the rear seats has been limited. And with a smaller fuel tank (47.7 vs. 59 L) and no spare tire in the trunk, the Cruze Eco has, well, less junk in the trunk!
Overall, more than 40 weight-saving measures have made this model 97-kg lighter than the Cruze LT (1,365 vs. 1,462 kg).
Turbocharged for even greater economy!
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco shares its 1.4-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder with the LT and LTZ models. This 138-horsepower mill comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission whose two lowest gears and highest gear are different from those of the base Cruze LS, the only one to rely on a 1.8-litre, naturally-aspirated engine.
The Eco variant is also available with the same six-speed automatic as the rest of the lineup. The highway rating jumps to 5.1 L/100 km as a result.
What about the drive?
During a brief road test in downtown Los Angeles, the Cruze Eco proved quite pleasant to drive. I found the 1.4L fairly responsive and, as the turbo kicks in somewhere near 1,800 rpm, it never runs out of breath. At lower revs, though, the diminutive powerplant really seems to struggle.
 |
| The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco shares its 1.4-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder with the LT and LTZ models. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |