Prior TDI owner as well.. have 2 Gen 1 Cruze Diesels, and a new 2018 Manual Diesel Cruze.. Go with the manual, IF you can find one. We have just over 1000 miles on the 2018, mixed driving, but it has an lifetime average just over 47MPG, Best 50 mile highway run was just shy of 70MPG.. The best of the 2 Gen 1's has a lifetime average of about 39MPG, best 50 mile was 62.5MPG. The Gen 1's were all Autos. I have studded snow tires on one of the Gen 1's and with those it does great in snow/ice. As others have said, the LRR tires from the OEM are not well suited for snow, but that's true of many "all-season" tires. I did get a bit of snow/slush with the new 2018 going over mountain passes on its initial road trip, with the OEM tires, and did OK, I did not feel as if I was unable control the car when it was going through slush and puddles, but apparently it was too much for some other vehicles, as there was an accident going over the pass.
Last item, one of my 2015 has the NAV.. I don't know if it is improved for the Gen 2, but I would not spend a dime on it, as it is in the Gen 1, frankly we pretty much don't use it, we use Google maps on the phone.. with the Gen 2 you can project onto the car screen (Android Auto, and the equivalent Apple app), and it works really well. Buying NAV in the car is a waste of money, in my opinion, and besides, GM wants me to spend $140 for the update for the Gen 1 maps.. that is the DISCOUNTED price.. it's not worth that, Google Maps is constantly updated and better in all aspects.