[BodhiBenz1987]

I've had my 2018 TD manual for just over 12k miles and it really checks all the boxes. I've had two road trips where it got 66 mpg for the whole trip, and have hit 70 mpg on the "last 50" a handful of times. It's very fun to drive, the space is pretty generous (granted I am a 5'6" woman), comfortable interior. The downside as others have mentioned is the potential for emissions system trouble, and the potential flywheel issues. I got an extended warranty for those reasons. Also I'm hopefully an outlier, but my turbo failed last month and it took GM five weeks to provide the dealer with a part. So unfortunately if I'm honest I would consider potential lack of support from GM as a factor. However, the fact that I stuck that out and plan to stick with the car says something ... I couldn't think of anything that could even begin to replace it. So I will continue to rave about this car but just suggest you be prepared for some of the potential difficulties and the fact you may end up with a loaner here and there. The positives still outweigh the negatives to me.

Sorry to hear your Escape is being eaten by rust. I know that pain. I finally took my beloved 87 Mercedes off the road in 2016 with 314k miles. I am actually in the process of restoring it but am lucky to have the space and budget for more than one car. Original engine and transmission, ran great, was the most reliable car I had. Rust stinks!

 

[BodhiBenz1987]

Unless you can get a diesel Cruze for zero or very close to zero cost over a comparable gasoline model, it's a worthless purchase. Even for zero cost it's still questionable. Fuel costs will be higher to the point that the higher fuel economy will not offset the additional purchase price of a gasoline model. That, and every single part to maintain or repair a diesel model is higher cost than the gasoline engine. You can easily achieve 40+ mpg highway with gasoline Cruze vehicles. Buying a diesel gets you about 50 mpg, so it's a 25% increase in fuel economy. But the cost of fuel is higher and then DEF is a cost factor.

In about 16,000 miles of driving I have figured out that a diesel purchase just doesn't make sense when you can get high efficiency with a gasoline model.

I can't really speak to what mpg I'd be getting in a gas Cruze manual though I'd love to try one on a trip and see. Yes, from what I've heard you can easily get 40 mpg on the highway. But I easily get over 60 mpg on the highway in my diesel. Not 50. Road trip of 1,200 miles round trip, averaged 66 mpg. Road trip of 750 round trip, averaged 66 mpg. And as mentioned I have hit 70+ mpg on the "last 25" many times and a few times on the "last 50". So 40 vs 65 is not a small difference. At that ratio even now with the biggest price split between gas and diesel I see per year (70 cents) the diesel less $ per mile. And in the summer, diesel and regular are around the same price where I live. And as MRO1791 mentioned, the gas Cruzes seem to do better on higher octane fuel so that's worth factoring in too.
Don't get me wrong, for sure the gas would be a better economical choice for many people depending on driving habits. But to say a diesel is a "worthless purchase" is a stretch. People just need to do the math and weight various aspects. It's not like most people make a 100% economical choice, anyway. When you factor that diesel is a little more spirited with its torque, it was the obvious choice for me. It wasn't that much more expensive than a similarly equipped gas Cruze. The biggest drawback to me is the reliability issues and potential for lack of support from GM but I decided to take a chance.

 

[BodhiBenz1987]

I do worry about major mechanical system issues ie clutch, turbo, etc. Years ago a friends TDI jetta (that introduced me to small diesels and i learned to drive a stick in) had the turbo fail while we were driving through the mountains; that car barely made it up them without the turbo kicking in.

It's probably worth noting regarding my car's turbo failure that I wouldn't have even noticed it if it weren't for the check engine light and feeling like it didn't have quite as much oomph on hard acceleration. It was from what I'm told an internal electrical failure causing the variable veins (or maybe even just one of them) not to open all the way. But otherwise it still worked. Given that I haven't heard anyone else have the issue I'm not sure the issue itself is too likely to happen to another TD. The wait time to get a part was the big concern in my mind because I worry it will happen with other parts.

 

[BodhiBenz1987]

If you're looking for cost / benefit in a new Cruze diesel vs gas you won't find it. Besides the premium paid for the car new the fact that diesel is significantly more expensive than gas *and probably always will be* washes away any money savings because of increased economy. In fact it's probably more expensive to own the diesel over the life of the car because of the added fuel expense.

Again, people need to do the math and observe fuel prices local to them. To say no one will find an advantage or money savings are "washed away" is extreme. Again, every summer almost without fail there is a time when diesel and regular are priced the same where I live and usually a day or two where diesel is actually cheaper. Factor in that I'm getting 20 mpg more on the highway than a gas Cruze (assuming I would get 45 mpg in a gas Cruze), and that is a huge savings per mile during those months. As I said before right now diesel is 70 cents more expense and that would put me close to even with cost for a gas model. So over the course of a year the fuel cost is cheaper in a diesel, in my specific case. Do I drive enough to offset the upfront cost of the car? Maybe not. But it wasn't that much more expensive than the same spec gas model so in theory I would eventually make it up. And if I drove a ton, at the fuel prices I see, I would make it up. Like I said, the math might favor the gas car in many people's case and I didn't really chose on math alone. But to say the fuel cost is a wash or negated no matter what isn't accurate ... because it varies and there are some people, even if a minority, that will save because of the diesel's fuel economy.

 

[BodhiBenz1987]

I'm with you. All these claims of 60+ are hard for me to accept. I drive 120 miles round trip for my commute from the start of the Ozark to STL Metro weekdays. I run 75-80mph and I've seen 48mpg in the Summer (bought in July '18) and low 40s in the winter. I have a 6spd HB

Sedan vs hatch makes a pretty big difference between the aerodynamics and the larger wheels. Also my 65 mpg tanks of fuel were on road trips where I hit almost no traffic, going 65-70 with a few stretches faster or slower. Pure highway miles. There are a lot of factors .. fuel quality, driving style, weight of driver/cargo, tire pressure etc. I'm not claiming I average 60+ mpg all the time ... just that it routinely hits that mark on long enough highway stretches and I find that very impressive. If I really wanted to lie about my mpg I'd go all-in and quietly change the DIC to UK mpg and tell everyone I was getting 100 mpg. :wink:

 

[BodhiBenz1987]

The hatch also comes with the RS pack standard with the heavier, wider wheels & tires which likely makes a big difference. Worth it to me though as it handles like a little hot hatch!

The hatch definitely has its advantages too, I really struggled with the decision when I bought mine! The torque with the slightly better handling was great, and I love the looks of it. If I could I'd have one of each haha.