Is 2015 Chevy Cruze FWD or RWD?
The 2015 Chevrolet Cruze is front-wheel drive (FWD). This article explains that the car was not offered with rear- or all-wheel drive in that model year, and what that means for handling, economy and ownership. In practice, every Cruze sold in 2015 was FWD across all trims.
Drive layout and platform
Here are the core drive- layout characteristics of the 2015 Cruze and what they imply for everyday use.
- All 2015 Cruze models (such as LS, LT, and LTZ) use front-wheel drive as standard.
- The Cruze employs a transverse-mounted engine connected to a front transaxle, driving the front wheels.
- No factory all-wheel-drive option was offered for the 2015 Cruze in North America.
- The front-drive setup supports a compact packaging and typically better fuel economy for this class, with handling tuned for front-wheel-drive dynamics.
Bottom line: For 2015, the Cruze is a front-wheel-drive compact sedan across all trims, with no AWD or RWD variant available.
Engines and transmissions
These are the powertrain options and how they pair with the Cruze’s FWD layout.
- Engine options: 1.4L turbocharged inline-4 and 1.8L inline-4 gasoline engines.
- Both engines were paired with front-wheel drive and offered with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, depending on trim.
The combination of two engines and two transmissions gave buyers a range of efficiency and performance while maintaining the same front-drive architecture across 2015 Cruze variants.
Regional notes
In the 2015 model year, Chevrolet did not offer an all-wheel-drive Cruze variant in major markets such as the United States and Canada, and the same front-drive configuration applied in most other regions as well. This is consistent with the Cruze’s design focus on efficiency and practicality rather than off-road or all-weather capability.
Why this matters for buyers
Choosing a front-wheel-drive Cruze in 2015 affected everyday use in several practical ways. FWD generally contributed to lower purchase and maintenance costs and better fuel economy in a compact sedan. It also meant that winter performance relied on tires and driving habits rather than a more traction-oriented drivetrain, a consideration for buyers in regions with snow or ice.
Summary
The 2015 Chevrolet Cruze was manufactured with front-wheel drive only, with no rear- or all-wheel-drive options offered. It was built on a front-drive platform and offered two gasoline engines (1.4L turbo and 1.8L) paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. This setup prioritized efficiency and everyday practicality for a compact sedan audience.
