The new 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel will be offered with both a manual and automatic transmission for the first time.
GM Inside News reports that Chevrolet has been prompted to offer the new Cruze Diesel with two transmission options due to poor sales of the previous-gen car which was available exclusively with a six-speed auto.
While speaking with the publication, GM Canada product manager Paul Hewitt said that the manual gearbox will be offered for both sedan and hatchback body styles and all available trim levels except the range-topping Premier model.
When it hits North American shores, the new Cruze Diesel will receive GM’s 1.6-liter engine already on offer in Europe, replacing the 2.0-liter unit of the old Cruze. This new engine delivers 136 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, compared to the 151 hp and 265 lb-ft of the previous unit.
It is thought that alongside the poor sales of the previous model, Chevrolet decided to offer the new Cruze Diesel with two gearboxes and a host of variations to help pull buyers away from Volkswagen.
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