Orielly Autos Up-close Analysis 2017 Chevy Cruze Diesel Delivers

It is fantastic to be sitting smack-dab in the middle of the season where many outsiders come to visit and see how much the greater Tucson area has to offer. You really get the chance to open up your vehicle of choice on our winding roads, and check out awesome landmarks in the surrounding area: the Santa Catalina Mountains and off-roading allure of Yuma lure many. The Cruze is not necessarily an off-road capable token of entry, but all the better to get there with: this is a very cool small sedan that has been doing an excellent job of commanding its share of the market.

After the recession when gas prices spiked, GM took on the task of attempting to win at the game of slightly small car manufacturing back, and all of our sales and service staff are ecstatic that they did. The timing for the Cruze's release could not be better, and new owners appreciated the extra dose of upper-end style it possessed. Three million units have since been sold globally, and what we are laying our eyes on today is a new for 2017, turbocharged 1.6-liter diesel four cylinder version. Equipped with either a nine-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual, the Cruze cooks up 137 horsepower, while also laying down 240 lb-ft of torque. This is what diesels are known for, and we wanted to show you some of the finer points of this release, after it was forced to navigate some murky waters during winter.

The first thing we noticed before we drove it is that no matter what your preferences are, you're probably going to enjoy it heaps more than the Cobalt, its predecessor. Erase from your mind any ideas of a featureless econobox that is simply not fun, because the extra flash packed into the Cruze is going to get you excited to drive it in a hurry. Even though the 8-second clocking of the 0-60 time isn't lightening fast, the Cruze's finest point is that it serves up pure excellence on the highway mileage factor. Right at about 52 miles per gallon, it also moves along like a larger car. This proved to cause us a lot of satisfaction, because we don't always like the unprotected feel of a tiny entity drifting along the very populated path of an interstate.

An important thing to keep in mind this year is that this is your only other choice besides VW in the diesel game, and the one that really offers a big-ride feel in a smaller-car package. You're also going to love the Infotainment options: for the price that the Cruze is, you don't always get this clean (and loud!) of a setup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB and AUX ports, connectivity for Bluetooth, Sirius XM radio, and OnStar Navigation with 4G lite are all here for the taking.

We actually will take the liberty of claiming that these offerings boost the Cruze's comfort (and functional) status up to a luxury category, which is nearly impossible at any other rung of this pricing point. A good amount of rear-seat space for whoever wants to join the caravan, as well as trunk space for a long trip or mega grocery haul are other good attributes for family consumers. If you want the regular gas version of the Cruze, you are welcome to go for it: but trust us, you're going to be won over with the features and dominant traits of the diesel. Come see us at Orielly Chevrolet this summer, and check out the practical yet fun ways that this car is going to completely win you over!