This car is surprisingly like the Durango. What I mean by that is, on an absolute basis there is nothing really exciting going on here. But if you want a diesel compact car, well, you don't have that many options and this is a fine choice. If you aren't actually looking for a diesel, I'm not sure that this one really makes a case for itself.
16.5 sec @ 83.3 mph is pretty meh but fairly standard for the class.
0.86 g is actually pretty decent.
116 feet from 60 is also decent and they reported good brake feel.
Their tester had the 9 speed auto (GM/Ford joint), and the real MPG ratings are 33.8/45.2/38.1 mpg. These are good numbers but how much better are they really than some of the other options in the segment?
Some quotes:
This makes sense as 240 lb-ft is about what a Monte Carlo SS had, and it makes it at 1,500 rpm (minus some lag). So it should be able to spin tires.Road test editor Chris Walton noted that with all of its torque available at 1,500 rpm, it can easily spin its front tires with the traction control off. Walton also noted that the nine-speed automatic shifts so quickly and smoothly that you can’t even feel it shifting through around six gears on the acceleration run.
When it comes to braking, the 2018 Cruze TD stopped from 60 mph in 116 feet, which is short for the class. Walton also noted that the brake pedal was firm and had a short travel and that braking performance was consistent.
But it is not really a sporty entry. Fortunately, and unlike decades past, a comfortable ride doesn't mean the handling is garbage. It just isn't sporty like some other offerings.Once we were done at the track, we took the 2018 Cruze out on the road to see how it performs as a daily commuter on the streets of Los Angeles. One of the Cruze’s standout features is its comfortable ride.
When equipped with the optional 18-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/40R18 tires, the Cruze TD is a secure-handling car. Sadly, it doesn’t have the fun and engaging character of the Mazda3, and it lacks the handling prowess of rivals such as the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Volkswagen Golf. Think of the Cruze TD as the comfortable cruiser rather than a tossable, agile, and sporty compact. Steering is well-weighted, light at low speeds and heavy at highway speeds. There’s not much communication or feedback, but at least it gives you a secure feeling on the road.
So the hatch actually gets worst MPG than the sedan. Stupid hatchbacks. I thought they were supposed to be better?Our automatic-equipped tester earned a 30/45 mpg city/highway rating from the EPA, but our friends at Real MPG testing revealed an even better result of 33.8/45.2 mpg. Should you want even better highway fuel economy, the Cruze TD equipped with a six-speed manual gets an EPA rating of 29/48 mpg for the hatch or 30/52 mpg for the sedan. The automatic-equipped sedan is rated at 31/47 mpg.