Diesel Chevy Cruze Coming in 2013

If you want an efficient diesel powerplant in a compact Chevrolet, you’re going to have to wait at least 17 more months. The company confirmed today that it will release a diesel version of its popular Cruze compact car in calendar year 2013. That means it could debut as either a 2013 or 2014 model.

Currently, the Cruze has an Eco model that uses gas-saving features with a standard gasoline engine. When equipped with a manual transmission, it gets 42 mpg highway.

The Cruze is sold with two different diesel engines in Europe. One makes 127 horsepower and 221 pounds-feet of torque and the other gets 163 hp and 266 pounds-feet of torque. The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI sold in the U.S. has 140 hp and 236 pounds-feet of torque and gets 42 mpg highway.

Chevy hasn’t specified which of its engines it will use in the upcoming diesel Cruze, but we’d expect the automaker to go with the most fuel-efficient choice. Of course, by 2013 there could be an entirely new diesel engine to choose from.

Tell us in the comment section below if you would consider a diesel from Chevy.