Diesel showndown
When we pulled up to the final gas station, ready to fill up, we were anxious about the results. We felt certain we knew who the winner would be when we started. Boy, were we wrong.
With a final fuel rating of 5.315L/100km, the Chevrolet Cruze 2.0TD pulled ahead of the Volkswagen Golf TDI by nearly 0.6L. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but in fuel consumption numbers it’s rather large, and kind of shocking.
While this wasn’t a super scientific comparison with enough variables to fill up an encyclopedia, but nevertheless we feel it was a fairly accurate example of what life would be like with one of these vehicles, and clearly proved which one performed better in the most important aspect of a diesel: fuel efficiency.
If it’s money you want to save at the pumps, and you’d like to visit them less often, then diesel should be a serious consideration. And now you’ve got another option, a different option, one that might seem abnormal, but we’ve just proven that it’s a viable and possibly more economical purchase in the end.
What does it all mean? Are Volkswagen done? Of course not. What it likely means is even better diesel products to come from the German powerhouse in the near future as their competition grows. VW isn’t going to sit there and watch their market share wash away to the Americans and Japanese who are nipping at their heels as we write this.
Would we choose the Chevy over the VW if we had to choose a diesel model? Probably not. Even though it won in the fuel efficiency game, there’s more to a car than its consumption numbers. As enthusiasts we’ll choose refinement, personality, and drive over consumption numbers almost any day…
Despite that, we are still super impressed by the Chevrolet Cruze and its overall performance and final numbers. Truly, this was a comparison we thought would prove what everyone (including us) already knew.
Clearly, it’s time we embraced change, because it’s a-coming.
*prices exclude sales taxes, A/C tax as well as freight and delivery charges.
When we pulled up to the final gas station, ready to fill up, we were anxious about the results. We felt certain we knew who the winner would be when we started. Boy, were we wrong.
With a final fuel rating of 5.315L/100km, the Chevrolet Cruze 2.0TD pulled ahead of the Volkswagen Golf TDI by nearly 0.6L. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but in fuel consumption numbers it’s rather large, and kind of shocking.
While this wasn’t a super scientific comparison with enough variables to fill up an encyclopedia, but nevertheless we feel it was a fairly accurate example of what life would be like with one of these vehicles, and clearly proved which one performed better in the most important aspect of a diesel: fuel efficiency.
If it’s money you want to save at the pumps, and you’d like to visit them less often, then diesel should be a serious consideration. And now you’ve got another option, a different option, one that might seem abnormal, but we’ve just proven that it’s a viable and possibly more economical purchase in the end.
What does it all mean? Are Volkswagen done? Of course not. What it likely means is even better diesel products to come from the German powerhouse in the near future as their competition grows. VW isn’t going to sit there and watch their market share wash away to the Americans and Japanese who are nipping at their heels as we write this.
Would we choose the Chevy over the VW if we had to choose a diesel model? Probably not. Even though it won in the fuel efficiency game, there’s more to a car than its consumption numbers. As enthusiasts we’ll choose refinement, personality, and drive over consumption numbers almost any day…
Despite that, we are still super impressed by the Chevrolet Cruze and its overall performance and final numbers. Truly, this was a comparison we thought would prove what everyone (including us) already knew.
Clearly, it’s time we embraced change, because it’s a-coming.
| 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel | 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Comfortline TDI | 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wolfsburg Edition TDI | |
| Base price* | $24,945 | $25,590 w/DSG | $ 26,825 w/DSG |
| Price as tested* | $28,310 | $ 28,375 w/DGS |
| 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel | 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Comfortline TDI | 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wolfsburg Edition TDI | |
| Engine | Turbo diesel 2.0L L4 | Turbo diesel 2.0L L4 | Turbo diesel 2.0L L4 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed DSG automatic | 6-speed DSG automatic |
| Power (hp @ rpm) | 151 @ 4,000 | 140 @ 4,000 | 140 @ 4,000 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 264 @ 2,600 (overboost 280 lb-ft) | 236 @ 1,750-2,500 | 236 @ 1,750-2,500 |
| Curb weight (lbs/kg) | 3,475 / 1,576 | 3,170 / 1,441 | 3,034 / 1,379 |
| Tire size | P215/55R17 | P205/55R16 | P225/45R17 |
| 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel | 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Comfortline TDI | 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wolfsburg Edition TDI | |
| 0-96 km/h (sec.) | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Fuel economy (L/100km) City | 6.7 | 6.7 | |
| Fuel economy (L/100km) Highway | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Observed fuel economy (L/100km) | 5.315 | 5.908 |
2013 Volkswagen golf TDI Highline
2013 Volkswagen golf TDI Highline
2014 Volkswagen golf TDI Highline
2014 Volkswagen golf TDI Highline
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