Cruze Vs Sonic MPG

[OutLier4L]

My wife’s car (new body style Cruze) routinely kills my car (‘17 Sonic) in mpg on the streets and especially on road trips and I drive them the same way. Both 1.4T, what would account for this besides my car having larger wheels. Do Cruzes have a better tranny/final drive?



Thanks

 

[dannyg]

Here's the EPA numbers:

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=37907&id=37942&id=37909&id=37905

You don't mention, but assuming you've got a 2017 Cruze sedan and a Sonic hatchback--and assuming automatic for both--you're looking at 4mpg better on the highway for the Cruze sedan. The Cruze hatch would be 2MPG better.

At highway speeds aerodynamics is a big factor. The Cruze sedan should be more aero than the Sonic hatch. I'm guessing the same for the Cruze hatch which has a "longer" rear end than the Sonic's more cut-off style.

How does that compare to your numbers? Are you using the DIC numbers or measuring at the pump?

A while ago I noticed that the EPA gives better hwy MPG for the Cruze sedan than the hatch--but rates the Sonic sedan/hatch the same. My guess is the Sonic sedan is more aerodynamic than the hatch and thus will have better MPG on the highway. But the numbers don't show it, don't know why.

 

[OutLier4L]

You are correct on the body types, and yes it’s at least a four mpg difference. I thought aerodynamics could play a part in it but also thought since the Sonic is lighter that it wouldn’t matter much.

 

[dannyg]

How many revs is each car turning at say 75MPH? The Cruze might be geared more for economy, the Sonic for fun, I’m not sure.

For comparison, my Sonic 1.8L/5sp turns 3000rpm at 75. It’s definitely geared higher than the turbos, but I can hit 40MPG on the highway with a light foot on the go pedal.

 

[Chazzz]

The updated and all new 1.4L Turbo in the Cruze has both direct injection and variable valve timing, in addition to a fuel saving start stop system that can be switched off for short stops in the 19’s. Also, both 2nd Gen Cruze models have lower roof lines and are more aerodynamic. The Sonic MPG would greatly benefit from a complete new redesign, let alone the updated 1.4 and it’s Long Past Due.....

 

[Chazzz]

For what it’s worth I have owned both an 18 and a 19 A6 Sonic RS Premier Hatch in addition to a 17 and 19 A6 Cruze RS Premier Hatch. Even with the Cruze having 18 inch wheels it routinely gets upper 30’s in normal driving to near 40MPG in mainly highway driving. A very noticeable difference, and while neither car is fast, by the seat of the pants the Cruze feels noticeably quicker off the line (it wants to go) while the Sonic is more fun on twisty roads. The Cruze was named appropriately for sure as it is sporty by appearance only but is a good highway cruiser returning excellent MPG’s. It’s a shame what is happening with GM cars....

 

[JTee2017]

Yes . . . we know. So then . . .?

 

[Chazzz]

As a very loyal GM customer that has taken delivery of 8 brand new Chevy’s in the last 6 years including 3 Camaro's, 3 Cruze’s and 2 Sonic’s, GM is in jeopardy of losing a valued and truly brand loyal customer. I don’t ever see myself in a high riding no fun to drive, boring SUV and at this point it appears no car in GM’s future lineup is safe. As history shows even the currently slow selling Camaro isn’t safe as in 2004 the Camaro and in 2002 the Firebird were both axed due to changing market demands...

 

[OutLier4L]

For what it’s worth I have owned both an 18 and a 19 A6 Sonic RS Premier Hatch in addition to a 17 and 19 A6 Cruze RS Premier Hatch. Even with the Cruze having 18 inch wheels it routinely gets upper 30’s in normal driving to near 40MPG in mainly highway driving. A very noticeable difference, and while neither car is fast, by the seat of the pants the Cruze feels noticeably quicker off the line (it wants to go) while the Sonic is more fun on twisty roads. The Cruze was named appropriately for sure as it is sporty by appearance only but is a good highway cruiser returning excellent MPG’s. It’s a shame what is happening with GM cars....

Yes the Cruze feels very different from a stop than the Sonic

 

[dannyg]

As a very loyal GM customer that has taken delivery of 8 brand new Chevy’s in the last 6 years including 3 Camaro's, 3 Cruze’s and 2 Sonic’s, GM is in jeopardy of losing a valued and truly brand loyal customer. I don’t ever see myself in a high riding no fun to drive, boring SUV and at this point it appears no car in GM’s future lineup is safe. As history shows even the currently slow selling Camaro isn’t safe as in 2004 the Camaro and in 2002 the Firebird were both axed due to changing market demands...

A bit off topic, but IMO the Camaro is safe if only because new Vette is midengine!

Thanks for your comments Cruze vs Sonic. A Cruze hatch was a possible next car for me, but no more. Like you I’m not buying a boring SUV/crossover.

 

[Pak4now]

This thread made me go check the spec books to see what difference there might be. The Cruze has the LE2 1.4 with 153hp and 177 torque. Where the Sonic 1.4 is the LUV with 138hp and 148 torque. If you look at the gearing in the automatics the MNU in the Cruze is numerically lower in every gear but 5th (which is 1.0 in both) than the MH8 in the Sonic. The difference isn't huge for example 1st in the Sonic is 4.58 and the Cruze is 4.449. 6th is .75 and .742 respectively. Weight is the thing that surprised me. Assuming all cars are Lt/Auto the Sonic sedan came in at 2828 and the hatch came in at 2844. Cruze sedan 2842 and 5dr 2882.

 

[Chazzz]

You won’t find the answer to the Cruze being more fuel efficient in curb weight or final drive ratio as they are both similar. The answer lies in the LE2 1.4 in the Cruze being newly designed from the ground up for efficiency. It has all the latest fuel saving technologies I.e direct injection, variable valve timing and a start stop system that in heavy traffic can by itself add up to 8% in fuel efficiency. In addition the Cruze is designed to be more aerodynamic. If the LE2 Turbo was available in the Sonic as a low cost option as it is in the Buick Encore the result would be both improved fuel efficiency and better performance.

 

[dannyg]

This thread made me go check the spec books to see what difference there might be. The Cruze has the LE2 1.4 with 153hp and 177 torque. Where the Sonic 1.4 is the LUV with 138hp and 148 torque. If you look at the gearing in the automatics the MNU in the Cruze is numerically lower in every gear but 5th (which is 1.0 in both) than the MH8 in the Sonic. The difference isn't huge for example 1st in the Sonic is 4.58 and the Cruze is 4.449. 6th is .75 and .742 respectively. Weight is the thing that surprised me. Assuming all cars are Lt/Auto the Sonic sedan came in at 2828 and the hatch came in at 2844. Cruze sedan 2842 and 5dr 2882.

Thanks for posting the info. Do you have the final drive ratio for Cruze and Sonic? That factors in too, I think by multiplying by the gear ratio...but I’m not sure.

 

[gnonne]

Three Sonics owned here... MPG is noticeably lower on the squared-off hatch. The Cruze hatch is more sloped than the Sonic.

Most notable on the highway where air resistance is a huge factor. 1.8 Sedan, auto, routinely gets 35-37 mpg at 75 mph. 1.8 Hatch, auto (same model year, same driver) struggles to get 31 when driven 75 mph. 1.4 Sedan, 39-42 easy at 75 mph.

 

[JTee2017]

Three Sonics owned here... MPG is noticeably lower on the squared-off hatch. The Cruze hatch is more sloped than the Sonic.

Most notable on the highway where air resistance is a huge factor. 1.8 Sedan, auto, routinely gets 35-37 mpg at 75 mph. 1.8 Hatch, auto (same model year, same driver) struggles to get 31 when driven 75 mph. 1.4 Sedan, 39-42 easy at 75 mph.

All very true !
We just did a +330 x 2 mile run (car pick up) on the interstate at speeds of 60 (half a dozen construction zones) to 72 MPH in our 2017 Sonic HB auto. I drove down (faster) and wife drove back. We tanked up when we got down and back . Air Condition on half the time on the way back since it was +80F.
Calculated came out at 34.55 MPG (65 to 72 MPH) going and 38.6 MPG (60 to 65 MPH) for the return trip. We had a gusty cross wind coming back for 165 miles and then turned north which gave us a cross/tail wind.