2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Automatic

We at C/D are unabashed proponents of the hatchback body style. Such cars generally offer more practical space than their sedan counterparts, and we also enjoy the slightly esoteric vibe they exude, at least in America where they are vastly outnumbered by more workaday crossovers, sedans, and SUVs. When Chevrolet introduced its Cruze compact for the 2011 model year, we hoped a hatchback would be part of the plan. Sadly, it wasn’t to be—even though Chevrolet developed a Cruze hatch for the European market in 2012. When the smoothly styled second-generation Cruze made its debut for 2016, there still was no hatchback in sight. Those crafty product planners clung to a sedan-only strategy for one more year, finally granting the Cruze five-door a U.S. visa starting with the 2017 model year.

First Impressions

As we pointed out in our first drive of the hatchback Cruze, it doesn’t stray far from the sedan in terms of styling, powertrain, and suspension. Most of what’s different is behind the rear doors, where the extended roofline combines with the liftgate to provide 25 cubic feet (47 with the rear seats folded) of easily accessed storage behind the rear seats, compared with 15 cubes in the sedan’s trunk. The wheelbase is the same at 106.3 inches, although overall length is down by 8.4 inches, to 175.3 inches.

Likewise, the interior follows the same competent precedent set by the sedan, pairing decent packaging and materials of reasonable quality with a pair of supportive front seats and a useful ergonomic layout. While it can be a challenge for larger drivers to pass through the smallish front door openings, once seated it’s easy for nearly anyone to get comfortable in the airy passenger compartment thanks to the supportive seats. We found the Cruze hatchback exudes a finished, solid feel that eluded General Motors compacts of yore. If you’re thinking the interior of the car pictured here looks a few steps above base, you’re right. Although the sedan can be had in L, LS, LT, and Premier trim levels, the Cruze hatchback is available only in the upper two variants.

Our test car was a Premier, which comes bundled with a six-speed automatic transmission. Sporting a base MSRP of $24,820, its fairly comprehensive list of equipment includes an eight-way power driver’s throne, passive entry, keyless ignition, seat heaters to warm the buns of both front occupants, and a heated steering wheel that tilts and telescopes. It also packs an infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, navigation, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability.

Yet few vehicles leave the factory unadorned with at least a few options, and our test model was no different. First up was the $865 Enhanced Convenience package (automatic climate control, heated rear seats, wireless device charging, and a 110-volt outlet, among other minor features), followed by the $790 Driver Confidence II package (auto high-beams, rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, collision and rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist). Well equipped for a compact, our Cruze stickered at $26,475.

Four Holes of Glory

The motivating force here is the same 153-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four found in the Cruze sedan. (Both body styles offer a newly developed turbo-diesel engine as well.) Relatively smooth and quiet for the class, the gasoline-fired four churns out a maximum of 177 lb-ft of torque over a broad stage stretching from 2000 to 4000 rpm. The six-speed automatic is programmed to keep the revs low, rarely letting the engine explore beyond 5700 rpm into the upper reaches near its 6500-rpm redline.

At the track, our Cruze hatchback required 16.0 seconds to complete the quarter-mile, traveling at 87 mph as it cleared the traps. More relevant to the daily-driving experience, the zero-to-60-mph run consumed 7.7 seconds. Both numbers fall short of those posted by the comparatively priced 2017 Volkswagen Golf automatic, which ran the quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds and was a few tenths quicker to 60 mph at 7.3 seconds. Our automatic-transmission Cruze hatchback outaccelerated its lighter six-speed-manual-equipped doppelgänger, which required 16.4 seconds to cover the quarter and 8.3 seconds to find 60 mph. The best we could coax from the hatchback was 28 mpg overall, a far cry from the 33 mpg returned by the sedan in both of our previous tests.

Drivers more concerned with a comfortable commute than drag-strip acceleration will appreciate the quiet interior and solid build. Registering 69 decibels of interior noise at 70 mph, the Cruze matches the Golf and is a veritable rolling anechoic chamber compared to the 73 decibels in the last Ford Focus hatchback we tested. The low noise level is complemented by a well-sorted and resilient suspension, which offers a smooth, compliant ride over highway expansion strips and rough in-town pavement. Our test car came equipped with 225/45R-17 Firestone Firehawk GT tires, which delivered a quiet ride on varied road surfaces and helped the Cruze achieve 0.87 g of skidpad grip, edging out the 0.82 g earned by the sedan and roughly on par with most hatchback competitors. The tires also are at least partly responsible for the Cruze’s reassuring 161-foot 70-to-zero-mph stopping distance. That’s seven feet shorter than our beloved Golf, although the brake pedal in the Cruze does not share the VW’s ideal placement or linear feel and operation. While we can’t say the steering provides much feedback, it is predictable and direct, as well as free of twitchiness on straight stretches of road and long, sweeping freeway ramps. Combined with the quiet interior, the easy centering at highway speeds contributes to lower operator fatigue over long hauls.

Even if this car fails to raise the pulse, we’re glad Chevrolet is offering a hatchback version of its Cruze. At an as-tested price of $26,475, it’s right in the ballpark with top-trim versions of vaunted players such as the Mazda 3 and the freshly baked Honda Civic, both of which join the VW Golf in offering a more rewarding and spirited driving experience. It’s possible to option a Cruze over the $30K mark, however, at which point you’re nipping at the heels of some premium compacts. Those sold on the Cruze’s solid build, hushed interior, and swoopy styling are advised to keep a close eye on the options and find a dealer that’s willing to, you know, deal.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED: $26,475 (base price: $22,795)

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 85 cu in, 1399 cc
Power: 153 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 177 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 175.3 in
Width: 70.5 in Height: 57.7 in
Passenger volume: 94 cu ft
Cargo volume: 25 cu ft
Curb weight: 2959 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 23.3 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 40.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.2 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.0 sec @ 87 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.87 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA combined/city/highway driving: 31/28/37 mpg
C/D observed: 28 mpg
C/D observed 75-mph highway driving: 37 mpg
C/D observed highway range: 500 mi