Chevrolet Cruze hatchback brings practicality to new generation
Chevrolet’s next-generation Cruze hatchback, previewed in renderings, hints at a more versatile body style and updated engineering for global markets.
Chevrolet is exploring a hatchback version of the new-generation Cruze, with recent renderings giving an early look at how the model could translate its saloon styling into a more practical five-door format. The images, created by Theophilus Chin, are not official but suggest Chevrolet is considering a direct rival to established European hatchbacks.
Practicality and updated engineering
The shift to a hatchback body would bring the Cruze into line with rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, appealing to buyers who value boot access and rear-seat versatility. The renderings show a rear design influenced by the latest Opel Astra, which shares much of the Cruze’s platform engineering. While these images are speculative, they reflect Chevrolet’s intention to expand the Cruze’s appeal beyond the saloon segment.
The new Cruze sits 25 mm lower and stretches 68 mm longer than its predecessor, with a wheelbase extended to 2,700 mm. Chevrolet claims this is the best in its class for wheelbase, which should translate to improved cabin space. The company has also focused on weight reduction, with the new body dropping 113 kg and achieving a 27 percent increase in structural stiffness.
Turbocharged petrol engine for global markets
Under the bonnet, the 2016 Cruze is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 153 hp and 240 Nm of torque. This engine is expected to be the core offering as Chevrolet targets more than 40 markets worldwide with the new generation. The brand’s global ambitions for the Cruze are clear, with the hatchback variant likely to be key in markets where five-door models dominate.
