Holden Cruze

Holden Cruze: which version to buy (1.5 MT vs 1.5 AT)

The Holden Cruze in this catalogue is one generation (2002–2006), Mini 5-doors, two versions: 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT. Both use the same 1491 cm³ Gasoline engine (100 hp / 74 kW at 6000 rpm, 138 Nm at 4500 rpm, Inline 4, No boost, Front, transverse, AWD). The buying choice is not a different motor. It is gearbox and weight: 1.5 MT is Manual 5 and 985 kg; 1.5 AT is Automatic 4 and 1000 kg.

The Holden Cruze in this catalogue is one generation (2002–2006), Mini 5-doors, two versions: 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT. Both use the same 1491 cm³ Gasoline engine (100 hp / 74 kW at 6000 rpm, 138 Nm at 4500 rpm, Inline 4, No boost, Front, transverse, AWD). The buying choice is not a different motor. It is gearbox and weight: 1.5 MT is Manual 5 and 985 kg; 1.5 AT is Automatic 4 and 1000 kg. Acceleration to 100 km/h, top speed, fuel use, CO2, eco class, gross weight, ground clearance, and wheel size are not measured for either version.

Holden Cruze specs compared: 1.5 MT vs 1.5 AT

Power, torque, displacement, fuel type, cylinder count, cylinder layout, boost, drive, injection, compression, and bore × stroke are identical. 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT both list Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 9.5, bore × stroke 78 × 78, 4 valves per cylinder, fuel 95, Front, transverse, AWD.

The arithmetic that actually separates them:

• Engine output: 100 hp and 138 Nm on both (difference 0 hp, 0 Nm).
• Specific output: 100 hp ÷ 1.491 L ≈ 67.1 hp per litre on both.
• Torque per litre: 138 Nm ÷ 1.491 L ≈ 92.6 Nm per litre on both.
• Gearbox: Manual 5 versus Automatic 4 — one extra ratio on 1.5 MT.
• Kerb weight: 985 kg versus 1000 kg — 1.5 AT is 15 kg heavier (about 1.5%).
• Weight per horsepower: 1.5 MT 985 ÷ 100 = 9.85 kg/hp; 1.5 AT 1000 ÷ 100 = 10.00 kg/hp. The automatic carries 0.15 kg extra per horsepower.
• Fuel tank: 41 L on both (difference 0 L).

There is no second generation in the data to compare. Production window is the same for both versions: 2002-01-01 to 2006-12-31. Body is Mini 5-doors for both. AWD is on both, so four-wheel drive is not a reason to pick one Cruze over the other.

Engine: what you get in every Holden Cruze 1.5

The catalogue engine is one unit shared by 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT.

• 1491 cm³ Gasoline, Inline 4, 4 valves per cylinder, No boost.
• 100 hp (74 kW) at 6000 rpm; 138 Nm at 4500 rpm.
• Front, transverse; Distributed injection (multi-point); compression 9.5; 78 × 78; fuel 95.

If you want more horsepower, a turbo, a larger displacement, or a different cylinder layout, this model line as listed does not offer it. Buying 1.5 AT does not buy a different engine. It buys Automatic 4 and 15 kg.

Peak power is quoted at 6000 rpm and peak torque at 4500 rpm on both versions. That rpm pair is not a reason to prefer Manual 5 or Automatic 4; the data does not split engine maps by gearbox.

Which gearbox to buy: Manual 5 or Automatic 4

Choose 1.5 MT if the numbers that matter to you are lower kerb weight and more gears:

• Lightest Cruze here: 985 kg.
• Best weight-to-power in the table: 9.85 kg/hp.
• Five forward gears versus four.

Choose 1.5 AT if you want Automatic 4 on the same 100 hp / 138 Nm AWD Mini 5-doors package. You pay 15 kg and one fewer ratio. Power and torque stay 100 hp and 138 Nm. Tank stays 41 L. Drive stays AWD.

There is no third gearbox in the data. There is no hybrid, diesel, or higher-output Gasoline row. The “extra money” question cannot be answered with a price — prices are not in the data — only with hardware: Automatic 4 and +15 kg versus Manual 5 and 985 kg.

Because 0–100, top speed, and consumption are not measured, you cannot use this catalogue to claim the automatic is slower or thirstier. You can only use weight and gear count: 1.5 AT is heavier by 15 kg and has 4 speeds instead of 5.

Performance and mpg: not measured on both versions

For 1.5 MT:

• 0–100 km/h: not measured
• Top speed: not measured
• City / highway / combined fuel use: not measured
• CO2: not measured
• Eco class: not measured

For 1.5 AT:

• 0–100 km/h: not measured
• Top speed: not measured
• City / highway / combined fuel use: not measured
• CO2: not measured
• Eco class: not measured

Search queries about Holden Cruze mpg, 0–100, and top speed cannot be answered with a number from this dataset. Saying the figure is missing is the accurate answer; omitting the line would look as if the car had no such parameter.

What you can still compare without inventing times:

• Same 100 hp and 138 Nm.
• 1.5 MT is 15 kg lighter, so mass per horsepower is 9.85 kg/hp versus 10.00 kg/hp.
• Manual 5 versus Automatic 4.

That is the full performance comparison the numbers support.

Dimensions and weight: what actually differs

Measured:

• 1.5 MT kerb weight 985 kg; 1.5 AT kerb weight 1000 kg.
• Fuel tank 41 L on both.

Not measured on 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT:

• Gross weight: not measured
• Ground clearance: not measured
• Wheel sizes: not measured

Suspension and brakes are the same English labels on both versions: Independent, spring front; Independent, spring rear; Ventilated disc front; Disc rear. Chassis layout in the data does not give a reason to pick 1.5 MT over 1.5 AT. Weight does.

15 kg on a 985 kg kerb mass is 15 ÷ 985 ≈ 1.52%. Relative to 1000 kg it is 1.50%. The automatic Cruze is the heavier of two otherwise matched Mini 5-doors AWD cars.

Tank capacity does not change with gearbox. Range cannot be calculated: consumption is not measured.

Generations: one generation, two versions, no restyle row

Holden Cruze here is 1 generation only (kluch 2011 in the source, calendar years 2002–2006). Body: Mini 5-doors. Modifications: 2.

There is no second generation to contrast for “which generation to buy.” There is no restyling listed as a separate generation. Both 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT start 2002-01-01 and stop 2006-12-31.

What did not change between versions: years, body, engine size, power, torque, fuel, cylinders, layout, boost, drive, tank, injection, compression, bore × stroke, valve count, engine position, suspension labels, brake labels.

What did change: gearbox (Manual 5 vs Automatic 4) and kerb weight (985 kg vs 1000 kg).

Reliability and problems: not in the specification sheet

This catalogue does not list failure rates, known defects, or service intervals. Reliability and “common problems” cannot be ranked between 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT from these fields. Shared hardware (same 1491 cm³ Gasoline Inline 4, same AWD, same Mini 5-doors years) also cannot be turned into a reliability score.

What the sheet does show: No boost on both, so neither version is specified as a turbocharged 1.5. Compression 9.5 and fuel 95 are the same. Those are specification facts, not durability claims.

Which Holden Cruze version to buy, using only these numbers

Buy 1.5 MT when you want the lightest Cruze in the table (985 kg), the lower weight-per-horsepower (9.85 kg/hp), and Manual 5. Engine, drive, body, years, and tank match the automatic.

Buy 1.5 AT when you want Automatic 4 on the same 100 hp / 138 Nm / 1491 cm³ Gasoline AWD Mini 5-doors Cruze. Accept 1000 kg kerb weight and 10.00 kg/hp. You do not get more horsepower, more torque, a larger tank, or a different drive.

Do not buy this model line expecting a choice of engines. Both versions are 100 hp, 74 kW, 138 Nm, 1491 cm³, Inline 4, No boost, Front, transverse, fuel 95.

Do not use 0–100, top speed, or mpg to decide. All are not measured for 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT.

Do not wait for another generation in this dataset. There is 1 generation, 2002–2006, Mini 5-doors, two versions.

Summary arithmetic:

The Holden Cruze choice in this catalogue is 1.5 MT for less mass and five gears, or 1.5 AT for Automatic 4 at 15 kg extra. Everything else that is measured is the same; everything else that buyers usually compare on paper is not measured.