Wheel And Tire Combo

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco Manual - Short Take Road Test

With summer here and gas prices some four to five times the mercury reading, it’s all most drivers can do to stay cool at and away from the pump. Mileage ratings are soaring past horsepower figures in mainstream headlines, and the fuel-economy wars are in full swing. (Paradoxically, so are the horsepower wars. But we digress.) The ongoing influx of hybrids shows no signs of slowing, but costly batteries and electric motors aren’t friendly to all budgets (not to mention curb weights), so automakers also are duking it out with conventional powertrains. One of the hottest battles right now is being waged within the C-segment ring, where cars like this Chevrolet Cruze Eco are topping the 40-mpg-highway mark.

Eco Optimization

Like many economy-optimizing trim packages, the Eco uses low-rolling-resistance tires (Goodyear Assurance) and lighter wheels to help meet its goals. Unlike most of its competitors, though, the Eco has a higher (mileage) calling from the moment it starts down the assembly line. With weight savings a priority, it is constructed differently than the regular Cruze, using slightly shorter welds and thinner sheetmetal in specific areas. The lighter Goodyears and stylish 17-inch wheels combine for a savings of more than 21 pounds compared to the 16-inch combo on the Cruze 1LT. Factor in a fuel tank that is smaller by three gallons and the lack of a spare tire on manual-equipped cars, and the Eco weighs in at 3018 pounds, between 125 and 188 pounds less than other Cruzes we’ve tested.

Although a commendable and essential effort for achieving better fuel mileage, the Eco’s diet isn’t the only difference between it and a regular Cruze. Benefitting from the hundreds of hours its even-thriftier platform mate, the Volt , spent in the wind tunnel, the Cruze Eco is fitted with the latest aerodynamic gewgaws. It has a movable shutter in the lower grille that closes at high speeds, underbody panels behind the lower front air dam, a rear spoiler, and it sits 0.4 inch closer to the ground. Overall, the Eco’s coefficient of drag is 10 percent less than the standard Cruze’s, helping manual-equipped models achieve 28/42-mpg ratings from the EPA.

Penalty Box No More

Unlike fuel-economy specials of yesteryear, the new crop of misers—like the Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus SFE —doesn’t require you to serve a penalty for not paying at the pump. Instead of forcing buyers into the most basic, stripped-out model to obtain those extra mpg, the Cruze Eco is a normal conveyance with all the customary amenities of a modern small car.

Cheapest Wheel/Tire Combo for C32 - MBWorld.org Forums

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