Photo: Chevrolet
Question: which is the best-selling vehicle offered by General Motors in the United States? That would be the Chevrolet Silverado series of pickup trucks, which sold 520,604 examples in 2016. The Cruze, despite being less popular than the Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Sierra, is crucial for the biggest of the Big Three in Detroit, even in its most spartan form.
Having sold 171,552 examples in the calendar year 2016 in sedan and hatchback configurations, the Cruze prepares to enter the 2019 model year with an all-new transmission. The six-speed manual that’s currently offered as standard is going the way of the dodo according to a document submitted by GM with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and in its place, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) will have to make do.
Uncovered by The Truth About Cars, the document has yet to be confirmed by General Motors, though the writing is on the wall for the stick shift. After all, the row-your-own gearbox has a small fanbase in the United States. What’s more, a CVT is more comfortable for everyday use.
A torque-converter automatic transmission soldiers on for 2019, and it will be offered on select models. The diesel-powered Cruze with the Opel-designed 1.6-liter CDTi will continue to rely on the nine-speed Hydra-Matic 9T50 that made its debut in the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier.
What’s new in the powertrain department is the CNG-capable 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and the 1.5-liter four-cylinder that serves as the entry-level option in the Malibu. With 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet on tap, it is more than adequate for a compact-sized car like the Cruze.
For those who mourn the loss of the manual, TTAC highlights that “stick shift take rates in North America hover in the low single-digit range.” And what’s more, there are a few other compact vehicles available with manual transmissions, including the award-winning Subaru Impreza.
Uncovered by The Truth About Cars, the document has yet to be confirmed by General Motors, though the writing is on the wall for the stick shift. After all, the row-your-own gearbox has a small fanbase in the United States. What’s more, a CVT is more comfortable for everyday use.
A torque-converter automatic transmission soldiers on for 2019, and it will be offered on select models. The diesel-powered Cruze with the Opel-designed 1.6-liter CDTi will continue to rely on the nine-speed Hydra-Matic 9T50 that made its debut in the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier.
What’s new in the powertrain department is the CNG-capable 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and the 1.5-liter four-cylinder that serves as the entry-level option in the Malibu. With 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet on tap, it is more than adequate for a compact-sized car like the Cruze.
For those who mourn the loss of the manual, TTAC highlights that “stick shift take rates in North America hover in the low single-digit range.” And what’s more, there are a few other compact vehicles available with manual transmissions, including the award-winning Subaru Impreza.
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