My girlfriend is looking into getting a new to her car in the next couple of months, so I talked her into looking into a diesel Cruze. Any years we need to stay away from or things need to specifically look for when buying one? Thanks!
Diesel Cruze
- Thread starter wilsondiesel
- Start date
Toms got one. I believe the later years are better option wise but all basically the same. Don't think there was any significant changes to the drive train between the years.
I test drove one a few years ago and thought it was sweet but unfortunately out of my price range at the time. The steering felt a little looser or not quite as crisp as I am used to in my TDI. Also it has a slushbox transmission and no manual option. But otherwise better interior in my opinion
Hopefully someone else with more first-hand knowledge will chime in
I test drove one a few years ago and thought it was sweet but unfortunately out of my price range at the time. The steering felt a little looser or not quite as crisp as I am used to in my TDI. Also it has a slushbox transmission and no manual option. But otherwise better interior in my opinion
Hopefully someone else with more first-hand knowledge will chime in
Mine is a 2014. I bought it a few years ago used with 10k miles. I have had warranty issues with 1 bad nox sensor and the def heater. Have around 60k now it it has been a good car. Interior is nice but has very little rear leg room for passengers. Fuel mileage is okay. But not as good as my old ladies passat. The oil filter is kinda a pain to get to. But so far mine has been a good car. But i would have never paid window sticker for one.
Ive had one for a year and a half or so. Its a 2014. Bought with 64000 on it, I have 82000 now. Other than a NoX sensor, which you can replace at home for cheap, and a DEF heater, which is covered under a special warranty policy, I havent had any major issues with the engine. The timing belt has to be replaced at 100,000 miles, so thats coming up. I think a DIYer can do it.
I did find that you MUST use anti-gel fuel treatment on every fill up in cold temps, though. When that fuel filter freezes up, it wont start til you can get the car into a warm garage for a while. I wish this car had a block heater. For some dumb reason GM didnt automatically include one on the diesels. Stupid.
Agreed on the oil filter. Absolutely the most dumb location for a filter I have ever seen. Same for the fuel filter....its under the car, and you have to remove this large cover to get to it. So doing your own oil change and fuel filter change is very difficult unless you have a lift in your garage. Just stupid on GMs part.
Fuel mileage is ok. I average around 35mpg overall. I see 40s on the highway. But I do have a heavy right foot, always have. I could do better but choose not to. I have also found that tire selection is very important to fuel mileage. But Id rather have wider tires than the pizza cutter 215s that are standard.
When doing research, I found the transmissions can be an issue with these cars, esp the earlier models like I own. My trans had been replaced before i bought the car. You know that annoying stop/start crap on GM gassers now? The fuel saver on these diesels works by the computer putting the car in neutral when stopped at a light, then engaging the trans when you give it throttle again. Stupid idea. You get around it by letting off the brake slightly. So there's that.
I put a Trifecta tune in my car, about 50hp. All emissions intact. It woke the car up. Also, there was trans tuning included, and that cleaned up a lot of the "hunting" I noticed and smoothed out the shift points.
DEF sucks. Ive had to refill it once. Damn tank is in the trunk, so you dont have a spare tire. If you want one, buy a Buick Verano spare and jack kit. You can "remove" parts if you want, but I havent got to that point yet.
I did have an issue with the rear brakes eating up the rotor, but I think that was my fault for not doing my normal brake maintenance last spring. Parts are cheap.
I added the factory nav unit to mine. I found a place here in Michigan who can reprogram the silver boxes to clear the VIN and work with the options of the car.
Build quality is good. Interior is roomy for 2 people. Kids would be comfortable in the back seat, adults get cramped. The car is not loud on the highway, and engine noise is kept to a minimum thru use of more sound deadening (from the Verano).
If you sit farther back in the drivers seat and like having the window down, you'll get buffeted by wind really bad. If you sit up closer to the steering wheel, its not nearly as bad.
Overall, its a good car. Would I buy one again? Probably not. Too many stupid engineering decisions made by GM that hurt overall ease of use and performance. DIY maintenance is an issue. The fuel mileage is not that much better than a 1.4 turbo Cruze, and diesel fuel just wont come down in price. So consider that.
I did find that you MUST use anti-gel fuel treatment on every fill up in cold temps, though. When that fuel filter freezes up, it wont start til you can get the car into a warm garage for a while. I wish this car had a block heater. For some dumb reason GM didnt automatically include one on the diesels. Stupid.
Agreed on the oil filter. Absolutely the most dumb location for a filter I have ever seen. Same for the fuel filter....its under the car, and you have to remove this large cover to get to it. So doing your own oil change and fuel filter change is very difficult unless you have a lift in your garage. Just stupid on GMs part.
Fuel mileage is ok. I average around 35mpg overall. I see 40s on the highway. But I do have a heavy right foot, always have. I could do better but choose not to. I have also found that tire selection is very important to fuel mileage. But Id rather have wider tires than the pizza cutter 215s that are standard.
When doing research, I found the transmissions can be an issue with these cars, esp the earlier models like I own. My trans had been replaced before i bought the car. You know that annoying stop/start crap on GM gassers now? The fuel saver on these diesels works by the computer putting the car in neutral when stopped at a light, then engaging the trans when you give it throttle again. Stupid idea. You get around it by letting off the brake slightly. So there's that.
I put a Trifecta tune in my car, about 50hp. All emissions intact. It woke the car up. Also, there was trans tuning included, and that cleaned up a lot of the "hunting" I noticed and smoothed out the shift points.
DEF sucks. Ive had to refill it once. Damn tank is in the trunk, so you dont have a spare tire. If you want one, buy a Buick Verano spare and jack kit. You can "remove" parts if you want, but I havent got to that point yet.
I did have an issue with the rear brakes eating up the rotor, but I think that was my fault for not doing my normal brake maintenance last spring. Parts are cheap.
I added the factory nav unit to mine. I found a place here in Michigan who can reprogram the silver boxes to clear the VIN and work with the options of the car.
Build quality is good. Interior is roomy for 2 people. Kids would be comfortable in the back seat, adults get cramped. The car is not loud on the highway, and engine noise is kept to a minimum thru use of more sound deadening (from the Verano).
If you sit farther back in the drivers seat and like having the window down, you'll get buffeted by wind really bad. If you sit up closer to the steering wheel, its not nearly as bad.
Overall, its a good car. Would I buy one again? Probably not. Too many stupid engineering decisions made by GM that hurt overall ease of use and performance. DIY maintenance is an issue. The fuel mileage is not that much better than a 1.4 turbo Cruze, and diesel fuel just wont come down in price. So consider that.
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Tom, if you plan to keep the car, knock a freeze plug out of it, swap a coolant heater in.
https://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-Freeze-Plug-Core-Plug-Block-Heaters/752718/10002/-1
I have a 2014 as well, about to cross 85k on mine.
So far, replaced a EGT sensor and NOX sensor, along with being plagued with the "DEF poor quality" countdown to useless car mode. Otherwise, no issues, but will have to do brakes soon I think.
That being said, I really do like the car, its very quiet inside and the interior is very nice. (Granted my other vehicle is a SLE duramax) I can fit my two chocolate labs in the back and all my stuff in the trunk with no issue.
I drive mainly highway commuting, and average 43-45mpg. Yes the oil filter and fuel filter are retarded locations but, with a lift, its not bad. I forgot it was not my truck in the last snow storm and ripped half the underside plastic off sadly. :rofl:
I keep looking at getting it tuned, but always get turned away at the price to remove the emissions junk.
So far, replaced a EGT sensor and NOX sensor, along with being plagued with the "DEF poor quality" countdown to useless car mode. Otherwise, no issues, but will have to do brakes soon I think.
That being said, I really do like the car, its very quiet inside and the interior is very nice. (Granted my other vehicle is a SLE duramax) I can fit my two chocolate labs in the back and all my stuff in the trunk with no issue.
I drive mainly highway commuting, and average 43-45mpg. Yes the oil filter and fuel filter are retarded locations but, with a lift, its not bad. I forgot it was not my truck in the last snow storm and ripped half the underside plastic off sadly. :rofl:
I keep looking at getting it tuned, but always get turned away at the price to remove the emissions junk.
I have a 2017 diesel cruze 6 speed manual, 2017, and 2018 are available with a 6 speed manual, 2019 is not. 2017 was the first year for the new 1.6L the previous years were 2.0, I have no problem averaging 48-50mpg even with letting the car warm up here in the winter months. 50-52 is pretty common during the warmer months even with all the after treatment still installed. The new body style cruze is a lot nicer car than the previous ones. Lots of leg room for driver and can still drive comfortably with passengers in the back, just have to move the seat up a little.
Thats fantastic, I was under the impression that they were never going to offer a standard transmission. Those are pretty good mpg numbers too
Definitely one of my better purchases. I drove 7 hours one way to PA and didnt have to fill up until halfway back. Thing gets crazy mpg
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Thanks for all of the feed back guys! Great to hear actual first hand feedback. She in a 2019 Cruze has but it is a lease she’s looking to purchase instead of lease.
I am very curious about this as well.
Easy to justify mods if they make better fuel economy
Around town mpg was increased a decent bit , peak mpg wasn’t really affected I hand figured almost the same hwy mpg before and after on the same trip to Michigan, I have done About 20 of these cars.
Overall highway mpg is damn near identical. Biggest gain was not dropping to 25mpg when it's in regen. At 55mph, I've gotten 62mpg, I normally drive 75-85 so it about killed me :rofl: