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Diesel Trunk Space

9K views 32 replies 21 participants last post by  Garandman  
#1 ·
It's no secret to the diesel owners that the diesel comes with no spare tire due to the DEF tank residing where the spare tire does on other Cruze models. However, all along I have kept reading in reviews how while the gas Cruze comes with a relatively large-for-its-class 15.0 cu.ft. trunk, the diesel model gets a more average 13.3 cu.ft. trunk.

Having seen the inside of the trunk several times before I bought one, I concluded they must be including the spare tire well in the trunk space measurement as I could find no discernible difference otherwise, effectively making the trunk the same size as any other Cruze.

However, it appears to me this is not the case, and I'm surprised it took me this long to notice, but it appears the protective layer between the trunk carpet lining and the DEF tank adds maybe in an inch or two to the bottom of the trunk floor making the trunk ever so slightly shallower, especially towards the rear. It you look in the back right (passenger side) corner in the trunk, it is more apparent where the added floor height comes in. Is this what contributes towards the loss of 1.7 cu.ft. of trunk space in the diesel?

Honestly, it really isn't that big of deal to me. I've probably filled my trunk to the brim twice in it's life, and the Pioneer speakers in the rear deck have probably done more to effectively limit my trunk space than the diesel changes.
 
#3 ·
We want to see pics of your trunks . So we can compare them to a real trunk !
 
#6 ·
Not (honestly) throwing rocks, but the placement of both the diesel fuel filter (behind front wheelwell) and the diesel emission fluid (DEF) tank sure LOOK like "...stick it anywhere it'll fit..." exercises more than TRUE designed-in engineered incorporations! Just MHO.
 
#10 ·
These hinges are an old GM design that is very common. My 3 Pontiacs (01, 03, 07) used a different system that was under the trunk lid, external to the trunk, and so didn't have those huge arms and torsion members negating a couple square feet of trunk space, but the 2 Chevy Luminas (95, 00) I had before them had this identical trunk design--which made it a huge frustration to load up moving to and from college twice a year.
 
#11 ·
Simple, two-rod, torsion bar "lift" mechanism has been around for eons and proven reliable, but GM Daewoo took the "cheap" route so WE're stuck with 'cheap' result.
 
#13 ·
This car was designed with a diesel in mind, for europe as this is a global vehicle. But the DEF tank is definitely an add-on as were the first country to receive it. Correct me if im wrong but I believe europe is getting the DEF soon as well to meet the new regulations.
 
#15 ·
Not an engineer, but just a thought; given the diesel's high mileage, couldn't they have put the smaller Eco fuel tank in the diesel and used the extra space for the DEF tank? That is, unless the smaller Eco tank isn't really that much physically smaller.
 
#20 ·
Mercedes Benz puts the DEF tank in the spare tire well, so it's not just Chevy.
 
#24 ·
Make you wonder.

So you have 12-20 engineers sitting in a room contemplating the def placement and not one of them raises their hand says...."hey...this is a dumb idea???".
 
#27 ·
I guess if I have to put up with poorly designed hinges and less trunk space to get this great engine...so be it. It's worth that sacrifice. If I had the continuous need for more trunk space, I might have to consider a TDI Passat Sportwagen instead. (yeah, I know that's a cuss word around here...lol) Thank goodness it's just me and my lovely bride.
 
#28 ·
I'm beginning to think I'd like to have the spare tire well open for a spare... Got my second flat in two months today. :angry:

Both required a patch from the inside of the tire (plug wouldn't work). Fortunately, the first flat (November) occurred just as I was arriving home from work; the second occurred this morning as I arrived at work...and fortunately, there's a tire shop "next door".

If I would have been out on the road somewhere, I'm not confident that the factory-issue fix-a-flat would have worked.

Either these Goodyear's have wimpy puncture resistance, or I'm particularly unlucky...
 
#31 ·
I can't remember who it was, but I thought I remembered reading in a thread a while back from one of members on here who had purchased a spare for their CTD that they leave in the trunk. For some reason the member "diesel" comes to mind, but I could be wrong.