The Chevrolet Cruze is hardly an unfamiliar vehicle, it is actually Chevy's top-selling car worldwide, but the company is testing the waters with something new: the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatch. Hatchbacks have been selling like hotcakes in Europe, and Chevy is hoping that the vehicle's popularity is cross-continental, bringing its hatch to the US after a confidence boost thanks to 9 percent growth in the category last year.
Hatchbacks are typically overshadowed by more popular compacts and crossovers, which is why Chevy is attempting to build a brand not just for its Chevrolet Cruze but for hatchs in general.Hatchbacks have more utility than compacts, especially for families or adventurers who typically have bigger gear or more equipment to carry, according to the Portland Press Herald. When it comes to crossovers, meanwhile, Chevy said that hatchs have a sportier design language and are more distinctive.
The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze hatch is thus trying to make hatchbacks hot, or the next big thing in car trends. Ford has already made significant inroads in the hatch market with the Focus, particularly with its aftermarket products that drive up performance. According to Art of Gears, this is what is strikingly lacking in the Cruze hatch: an aftermarket supplier or performance variant.
The Chevrolet Cruze hatch comes up short under the hood as well. Powered by only one engine, a turbo-charged four-cylinder, at about 153 hp, it cannot boast of being the fastest in the market. Art of Gears reports, however, that shifting and turning is smooth and fun, making its sportiness compared to a crossover more apparent.
What the Chevrolet Cruze lacks in performance and power, however, it tries to balance with the stylish design Chevy employs both inside and out. Its dashboard features a center stack that is convenient, minimal and sleek, while the cabin comes with other elements like a vertical phone holder, USB charge powers and a storage area. The hatch will begin at $25,600.
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