First drive: 2014 Chevy Cruise DIESEL

[chevyburnout1]

My work just took delivery of their first 2014 Chevy Cruise turbo diesel and they gave it to me to do the pre-delivery inspection. I must say this car has potential. Pretty impressed with it so far. Power isn't anything to get too excited over, probably the same acceleration as a normal Cruise ECO. Only available in an automatic unfortunately but I can see their understanding behind it. If you drive it easy the transmission will shift about three times before you even make it through an intersection. Basically lugging the motor down as much as possible. The torque converter locks around 15mph and will lug it even more. Floored from a dead stop there is about 1.5 seconds of lag then it picks right up. Revs to 3900rpms but I feel if you manually shift it and keep it below 3000rpm's it feels quicker.

Oh, and you can turn off traction control and with some fancy footwork on the brake, there's a possibility that it'll burn the tires off :happy2:

 

[SmokeShow]

Good!!! By the time I'm ready for one (3-5yrs), the bugs will be worked out if there are any and they'll hopefully be affordable! Gonna see if the ol' TDI gets to half a million first though!

Whats the going rate for one reasonably optioned?

 

[dirty_max]

haha sounds like a pretty sweet rig

 

[OregonDMAX]

Oh sweet i was wondering when someone was going to post something up about a test drive, just wait until the aftermarket gets there hands on it i wouldnt be surprised if we saw lots of performance stuff for it.

Isn't it nice to be able to drive stuff like that before everyone else, i was lucky enough to drive the first ZL1 in cali when i was working at a dealer down there, it feels great to break in a car even before someone buys it.

 

[chevyburnout1]

Whats the going rate for one reasonably optioned?

This one we got is a 2LT, so I believe one step down from the fully loaded LTZ. Sticker price is $28,050. It's basically a fancied up Cruise ECO. It has the front grill 'shutters' that shut at highway speed to increase mpg.

Isn't it nice to be able to drive stuff like that before everyone else, i was lucky enough to drive the first ZL1 in cali when i was working at a dealer down there, it feels great to break in a car even before someone buys it.

I do like these perks of the job. Get to be the first to drive the next gen dmax or every Z06 Vette on the showroom floor. Pretty excited to get our first 2014 Silverado in and check it out.

 

[chevyburnout1]

 

[chevyburnout1]

Prepare to get your trunk covered in white DEF crystals if you spill though...

 

[OregonDMAX]

aww really could they have made that any harder to get to, that's gonna piss some people off i bet

 

[chevyburnout1]

The UREA injector and DPF.

 

[05chevy]

Might have to trade my wife's eco in. Hers runs pretty good tho. Injen intake and tunes. Once you tune the tranny its a world of difference in the eco. Hopefully you can do the same with the diesel.

 

[Tityrous]

One of these with full 3" exhaust an intake and EFI Live would be a fun little DD!

 

[chevyburnout1]

I totally believe just a tune to open up the powerband above 2900rpm's would make it a new animal. Someone mentioned it should have a 'Power' button that gives you a little more passing power for a few seconds, but I didn't find it.

Another little feature. It accepts the 'medium duty' larger diesel fuel pump nozzles. So, ya know, if you want to fill up the tank in like 10 seconds haha.

 

[dmaxman06]

thats awesome i was thinking about one of theas little cars mabey in a year or to sounds like they will be a good deal

 

[LBZ]

aww really could they have made that any harder to get to, that's gonna piss some people off i bet

Probably to keep stupid people from putting diesel in it.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

I totally believe just a tune to open up the powerband above 2900rpm's would make it a new animal. Someone mentioned it should have a 'Power' button that gives you a little more passing power for a few seconds, but I didn't find it.

Another little feature. It accepts the 'medium duty' larger diesel fuel pump nozzles. So, ya know, if you want to fill up the tank in like 10 seconds haha.

What size is the engine?

I had a 2011 tdi golf that was a blast, after all the suspension mods I did, then I tuned the engine and did a full exhaust and tuned the DSG transmission and it was pretty damn fun and sounded pretty killer too, one of the reasons I got rid of it was the lack of aftermarket support though. Sure there were/is a small tune for it, but basically it was the euro file, and it was only like a 28hp and 55ft lb bump, and increased throttle response, the full exhaust and intake with low pressure egr delete and dpf delete added another 18-20hp. With all of that I could beat stock mustangs and camaros, smoke a gti with ease and basically have a lot of fun and still get 32mpg burning off the tires at every stoplight or get 47-52 mpg on the freeway cruising. But for the $3000 dollars it took to get appx 45hp and 70ft lbs, it would've been cooler to be able to put that money into a twin set up and nozzles. Not to mention the 2000+ I had in suspension

That's when I looked into "real" tuning, and it was not there, neither was the ability to get upgraded injectors, or add a bigger turbo, or twin the smaller turbo, the room was there for a twin in the engine bay, the little 2.0tdi had a ton of potential, but the tuning was just not available for such upgrades. There is a company in Europe that will do it, but due to recent EPA crackdowns you have to register your vehicle as a race only vehicle with the state you live in before they can accept your work order, then they send notice to your wherever it is that said work has been done. BIG BROTHER

All in all the golf was a fun car after its mild tuning and exhaust work and suspension mods, it would peel tire into and almost through third, it had plenty of torque it just needed more horsepower, I imagine the chevy cruise will not be much different, in all areas

 

[chevyburnout1]

The engine is a 2.0L

One gripe I have, and this applies to the gasoline version as well, is where is the 'ECO' button like what the Equinox has. I feel like the button is useless in the Equinox as I feel no difference in power or shifting or anything. Seems like if GM actually made a bit more 'agressive' economy tuning for the Cruise and then had an 'ECO' button to actually kick in power when needed would be a lot better.

As for the DEF tank filler location. I'm more so curious at how long the car can go before needing to be filled up. A 6.6L Dmax towing 23k VS. a 3000lb 2.0L passenger car with almost the same size tank. I feel like filling up the DEF tank in these cars may become more of a 'once-a-year' sorta experience.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

The new jeep Eco diesel has managed to make the def tank last 10k miles, and that is when the service is due as well, so, it would seem like they are trying to make it as user friendly as possible, making it a dealer service item. I imagine the cruize is no different, but idkfs about chevy's intent on that, just jeep.