2017 head-to-head · Compact Car
2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,500 a year to fuel (37 MPG), versus $1,603 for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (29 MPG). That's roughly $103 a year, or about $517 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Side by side
| Chevrolet Cruze Diesel | Volkswagen Golf/GTI | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,603 |
| 37 MPG | Combined efficiency | 29 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 25 MPG |
| 47 MPG | Highway | 35 MPG |
| 94 cu ft | Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| 10 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 276 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 309 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 7/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Gas |
| Diesel | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo |
| 9-speed automatic | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI across model years
- Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI has more cargo space (16 vs. 10 cu ft).
Among 50 2017 compact cars, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel ranks 19th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 25th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is a diesel, while the Volkswagen Golf/GTI is a conventional gas model.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel or the 2017 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
Measured by cost to drive, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. The Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is rated 37 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,500 for the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel and $1,603 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI.
Which has more cargo space?
The Volkswagen Golf/GTI, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI in other years
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