2016 Chevrolet Cruze: MPG and fuel economy
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 34 combined MPG, with 30 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Compact Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 23% better combined MPG than the average car in the Compact Cars class for the 2016 model year (27.7 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Volkswagen e-Golf at 116 MPG.
- The Chevrolet Cruze has gained 8 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at 29 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $2,000 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 34 MPG |
| City MPG | 30 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 40 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,750 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 261 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze compares
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze returns 34 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 27.7 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 23%.
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Volkswagen e-Golf at 116 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Chevrolet Cruze alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2016 model year (across all classes) returns 25.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2016 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2016
The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 34 MPG | 30 MPG | 40 MPG | $1,750 |
| 1.4L, 4-cyl, turbo, Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 32 MPG | 28 MPG | 39 MPG | $1,850 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 441.2 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $875 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,750 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $2,917 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Chevrolet Cruze
The EPA has rated the Chevrolet Cruze across 9 model years, from 2011 Chevrolet Cruze through 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze returned 29 MPG. The most recent 2019 Chevrolet Cruze returns 37 MPG. That is an improvement of 8 MPG over 8 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 37 MPG | 2019 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2018 | 37 MPG | 2018 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2017 | 37 MPG | 2017 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2016 | 34 MPG | this page |
| 2015 | 32 MPG | 2015 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2014 | 32 MPG | 2014 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2013 | 30 MPG | 2013 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2012 | 30 MPG | 2012 Chevrolet Cruze |
| 2011 | 29 MPG | 2011 Chevrolet Cruze |
Compare against other Compact Cars for 2016
If you are cross-shopping the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Volkswagen e-Golf leads this group at 116 MPG, 82 MPG ahead of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze.
Specifications
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze runs a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s6), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Compact Cars
- Engine
- 1.4L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 8.8 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze.
-
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze returns 34 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year by about 23%. -
What MPG does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze at 34 combined MPG, 30 MPG in city driving, and 40 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,750 for the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze use?
The EPA lists the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Chevrolet Cruze become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Chevrolet Cruze, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, returned 29 combined MPG. The most recent 2019 Chevrolet Cruze returns 37 MPG, an improvement of 8 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 261 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 3,915 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
City driving returns 30 MPG and highway driving returns 40 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze?
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze has a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze have?
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze comes with a automatic (s6) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Volkswagen e-Golf at 116 combined MPG. The Chevrolet Cruze returns 34 MPG, a gap of 82 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.