2018 head-to-head · Compact Car
2018 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Jetta
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 2018 Volkswagen Jetta 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 $1,409 a year to fuel (33 MPG), versus $1,500 for the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel (37 MPG). That's roughly $91 a year, or about $455 over five years.
Your numbers
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Fuel cost over 10 years
- Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
- Volkswagen Jetta
Side by side
| Chevrolet Cruze Diesel | Volkswagen Jetta | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,409 |
| 37 MPG | Combined efficiency | 33 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 28 MPG |
| 47 MPG | Highway | 40 MPG |
| 94 cu ft | Passenger volume | 94 cu ft |
| 10 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 276 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 271 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 8/10 |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Gas |
| Diesel | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo |
| 9-speed automatic | Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| 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 Jetta across model years
- Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
- Volkswagen Jetta
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 Jetta has more cargo space (16 vs. 10 cu ft).
Among 44 2018 compact cars, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel ranks 18th and the Volkswagen Jetta 11th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is a diesel, while the Volkswagen Jetta is a conventional gas model.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel or the 2018 Volkswagen Jetta?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Jetta. The Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is rated 37 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Jetta 33 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs. the Volkswagen Jetta 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 $1,409 for the Volkswagen Jetta.
Which has more cargo space?
The Volkswagen Jetta, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Jetta in other years
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