“It's a great car. Nice exterior and interior design, great sound system, drives very smoothly, great gas mileage.”
2018 Chevrolet Cruze: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest change for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze is the diesel engine's expansion to the hatchback. Otherwise, this is a light-update year with no redesign or broad changes to safety or infotainment.
About the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze
2nd generation Cruze (U.S. sedan 2016-2019; hatchback added for 2017), pre-refresh middle year before the 2019 styling update.
Chevrolet positioned the Cruze as a compact car that balanced comfort, easy tech, and strong fuel economy more than outright sportiness. Its appeal was simple: a quiet, grown-up cabin for the class, a user-friendly touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a choice of sedan or hatchback practicality, and an available diesel for long-distance drivers. Compared with rivals, the Cruze leaned toward everyday ease, value, and cargo flexibility rather than a flashy personality.
LT remained the center of the lineup, pairing the gas turbo engine with alloy wheels, upgraded lighting, heated mirrors, and cruise control. LT Diesel focused on highway driving and combined its turbo-diesel engine with standard leather, heated front seats, keyless entry and starting, and a power driver's seat; the new hatchback version added more cargo flexibility. Premier was the comfort-focused model, with leather seating, a heated steering wheel, remote start, and 17-inch wheels.
What changed, by category
Powertrain
The 1.6-liter turbo-diesel engine expanded from the sedan to the hatchback, creating manual and automatic LT Diesel hatchback models.
2018 Chevrolet Cruze specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo Diesel, 1.6 Liter |
| Transmission | Manual, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 9-Spd |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Diesel |
| MPG City | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 28–29 mpg | 29–30 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 40 mpg | 40 mpg | 38–40 mpg | 37–39 mpg | 48–52 mpg |
| Horsepower | 153 hp | 153 hp | 153 hp | 153 hp | 137 hp |
| Torque | 177 lb-ft | 177 lb-ft | 177 lb-ft | 177 lb-ft | 240 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 1000 lb | 1000 lb | 1000 lb | ||
| Trunk/Cargo | 14.8 cu-ft | 14.8 cu-ft | 13.9–47.2 cu-ft | 13.9–47.2 cu-ft | 13.9–47.2 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 36.1 in | 36.1 in | 36.1 in | 36.1 in | 36.1 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Alarm System | |||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||
| Cruise Control | |||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||
| Park Assist | |||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||
| Fog Lights | |||||
| Heated Mirrors | |||||
| LED Daytime Running Lights | |||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||
| Rear Spoiler | |||||
| Navigation System | |||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||||
| Automatic Air Conditioning | |||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||
| Heated Rear Seats | |||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | |||||
| Leather Seats | |||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | |||||
| Power Driver Seat | |||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||
| Remote Start | |||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze?
The biggest change is the addition of a diesel-powered hatchback. The 1.6-liter turbo-diesel engine was no longer limited to the Cruze sedan.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze diesel come as a hatchback?
Yes. For 2018, the LT Diesel came in both sedan and hatchback body styles, with manual and automatic hatchback models.
Was the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze redesigned?
No. The 2018 Cruze remained part of the second generation and received no major exterior, chassis, safety, or infotainment overhaul.
What changed on the 2018 Cruze LT Diesel besides the hatchback body style?
Leather seats became standard on the 2018 LT Diesel rather than optional. It also had heated front seats, keyless entry and starting, and a power driver's seat.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze much different from the 2017 model?
No. Most of the 2018 lineup carries over from 2017; the meaningful differences are the new LT Diesel hatchback models and standard leather seating on LT Diesel.
2018 Chevrolet Cruze Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.
4.1
2018 Chevrolet Cruze
(327 reviews)
“The Chevy is a great brand car, I myself have a Chevy. Vehicles have been very reliable.”
“I love my Chevy Cruze! It drives smooth, is really quiet and has a great infotainment system. The Chevrolet car app could use some tweaking but is nice to check if you forgot to lock your car and start your vehicle before you get back to your car to adjust the AC/heat depending on the season.”