New Chevy Cruze diesel tests American demand for oil burners

For the past decade, automakers around the world have vowed to bring a fleet of new cars to America powered by the same diesel engines popular in Europe and other countries. And for a decade, most of those plans were cancelled in the face of a tough buying argument for diesels in this country. The revolution may finally kick off this year if this car succeeds: the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel.

The economics of diesel engines for cars in the United States don't pencil out as favorably as they do in Europe, where a supermajority of new vehicles come with oil burners under the hood. There, diesel fuel enjoys a tax break versus gasoline; in the United States, diesel fuel often costs 10 percent more than regular gas, with prices that fluctuate wildly. Tougher emissions rules mean diesels cost more here, and come with extra service costs; the urea tank used to treat exhaust gases in most models must be refilled every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or the car won't restart, a requirement of the Environmental Protection Agency.

As a result, diesel cars accounted for only 0.8 percent of U.S. vehicle sales in 2012. But with fuel economy rules pushing for ever-more efficient models between now and 2025, the industry expects diesels to finally catch on. This year, Jeep and Mazda will offer diesel variations of the Grand Cherokee SUV and the Mazda6 sedan, and more non-luxury diesels are expected in years to come.