2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel Posts Hybrid-Beating Fuel Economy

The world of ultra-efficient automobiles was rocked on its foundations today with the revelation that the upcoming 2014 Chevrolet Cruze turbodiesel model will boast highway fuel mileage numbers not seen outside of the hybrid segment.  The diesel Cruze will put up a gas consumption figure of 5.11 l/100 kilometres while cruising down the autoroute.

Just how impressive is this number?  Consider, for a moment, that the Toyota Prius v compact hatchback offers 5.88 l/100 km and the much smaller Prius c delivers an identical 5.11 1/100 km.  In fact, only the standard edition of the Prius manages to eke ahead of the Cruze turbodiesel in its highway efficiency.  Even the Honda Civic Hybrid sedan can't outperform the Chevrolet on the highway, although each and every one of these models beat its city rating of 8.71 l/100 km.

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The Chevrolet Cruze turbodiesel also packs a performance punch that the world's most illustrious compact hybrid cars simply can't match.  The bowtie-wearing sedan's 2.0-liter engine pushes out 148 horses and 258 lb-ft of torque, giving it respectable acceleration and passing power.  The price for this commanding combination of power and efficiency is a stiff one, with the Clean Turbo Diesel trim commanding an MSRP of $24,945 - a $10,000 premium over the entry-level Cruze.