Cruze Across America: Journalist Drives From California to New Jersey on Less Than 73 Gallons of Gas

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LITTLE FALLS, NJ--May 11, 2011: Richard Truesdell, editorial director of Automotive Traveler Magazine and AutomotiveTraveler.com put the New Chevy Cruze Eco to the ultimate test.  

On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 he arrived in Little Falls, New Jersey at 10:00 a.m., ending a 3,000 mile road trip challenge which originated from Riverside, California. The final gas mileage was tabulated when he arrived at Schumacher Chevrolet, located at 8 Main Street in Little Falls, New Jersey.

The trip was supported by General Motors who supplied the Chevy Cruze Eco, which is among the most fuel efficient cars in America, with an estimated EPA highway rating of 42 MPG.

Truesdell left California on Friday, April 29 with the goal of reaching his final destination (3,000 miles away) using just 75 gallons of gas or less.  

He traveled through rain, ice and sleet as he made his way from California.  Driving cross country in real-life road conditions, he mapped the trip through Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska , Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, finally arriving in New Jersey.

The official fuel mileage calculation was recorded as 40.35/MPG consuming 72.53 gallons of gas for the coast-to-coast drive. The CRUZE Eco met the challenge and made the trip across America on less than $300 (even with gas prices at an all-time high).

"I felt like I was driving a much more expensive car," said Truesdell.  "It really is a fantastic car; with a sticker price of under $20,000 and with gas prices sky rocketing, driving a vehicle with great fuel efficiency is paramount."

According to Chevrolet's website, the Cruze Eco is equipped with a powerful, efficient 1.4L turbocharged engine, to which engineers added new components to help reduce drag and improve aerodynamics.

Truesdell made the cross country trip with his golden retriever Savannah, who sat comfortably in the passenger side foot well. He was greeted with a reception party hosted by Judith Schumacher-Tilton, dealer principal of Schumacher Chevrolet as well as members of the media who came to witness the outcome of the challenge. Video of his arrival is online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYd4JBOL-gk.

Details of Truesdell's road trip and his cross-country journal can be found on the Automotive Traveler website, Automotive Traveler .  Videos from the trip can be found on Facebook at Automotive Traveler Facebook . 

"We were honored to be the destination dealership and we were not worried for one minute about putting the Cruze to the test.  We were certain that it would perform as expected and it did surpass everyone's expectations," said Schumacher-Tilton.