Skip to main content

A golf cart manufacturer may have just made your new favorite EV — the CRU Car

The CRU Car is the perfect EV for getting around your neighborhood

Think about how you use your vehicle. For most, it’s a lot of short commutes and shuttling people around. Those without a vehicle to get around might not see the purpose in owning a highway-ready hauler for jaunts around town. CRU, the latest offering from established golf cart manufacturer Club Car, may be able to do everything most of us want a vehicle to do, particularly an entry-level EV.

CRU is a NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle), much like a stretched golf cart. It’s not focused on toting golf bags around while you angrily drive to your latest sliced drive sitting dozens of yards off the fairway. Instead, CRU is meant for hauling people and groceries and is designed to be customizable. Its base configuration is a bit limousine-like, with an L-shaped bench in the rear of the vehicle and two seats up front. There’s an optional table in the back, and the front passenger seat can swivel around to face those sitting in the back. The CRU’s rear seating compartment is only open on one side – the right curb-facing side – for a few unique reasons.

In collaboration with Designworks (the firm behind BMW’s best and boldest concept cars), Club Car tells The Manual they wanted CRU to be interactive for riders and a “hub” for your short-distance travels. It can reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour and has three-point seat belts for all riders. The closed side of the CRU is street-side; you could drive up to a curb and unload kids or other passengers safely, and without fear they’d sprint out into traffic. CRU also has all the safety bells and whistles mandated by the government, like headlights and side mirrors.

Designworks tells The Manual that the open-side design is also meant to be inviting.

My take: CRU is most of what made the VW Microbus concept car so enjoyable, just for a more bespoke audience. Club Car did a lot of research and found tens of millions of homes within a short distance of amenities. And a lot of those homes are in large subdivisions where people may want to visit friends or take kids to and from school or sports practices.

Club Car is trying to define a market with this proof of concept. We see golf carts used as primary short-trip vehicles in retirement communities with aplomb, making CRU feel like the natural next step for this type of travel, something Club Car calls “Neighborhood Electric Vehicles” (NEV).

There are obvious concerns with a NEV like the CRU. It requires a more temperate, dry climate. It’s most useful as a second vehicle, and securing items like groceries or whatever you may pick up during shopping trips is not possible. You likely wouldn’t park it outside, which means you’d need a secure area like a garage to house the CRU Car. Luckily, the platform CRU Car is built upon leaves many customization options, just as we see with golf carts, so future iterations may not require you to house it in a closed space.

The CRU is also about $27,000, which edges very closely to pricing for small EVs like the Chevy Bolt. But the CRU isn’t a Bolt and doesn’t want to be. And we wouldn’t want that, either. CRU is uniquely cool and quirky. Many people will buy the CRU Car when it comes out, and it’s easy to see why.

For now, Club Car is sticking with its existing dealer network for the CRU Car and launching across the southern US, starting near its main manufacturing plant in Georgia.

Learn More

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nate Swanner
Nate is General Manager for all not-Digital-Trends properties at DTMG, including The Manual, Digital Trends en Espanol…
The most over-the-top vehicles for extreme overlanding this summer
When you're looking to get far, far off-grid, these ridiculous rigs are designed to take you there in style.
Unimog U 4000 / U 5000 extreme overlanding vehicle parked in a rugged location.

If you’re looking to drop off the grid—somewhere you can fully disconnect from your phone, social media, and the daily grind—you’re going to need a rugged overland vehicle. If you're venturing into a U.S. National Park or some semi-remote dispersed campsite, a Toyota 4Runner or the new Ford Bronco is probably all you need. But what if you want to get far, far off-grid? That's when you need an extreme overlanding rig.

Forget 4x4. We're talking 6x6 or even 8x8, massive tires, commercial-grade winches, and fuel tank capacities in the hundreds of gallons. But it's not just about getting out there; it's about getting out there in style. The best go-anywhere rides help you get to your favorite off-grid remote destination while letting you enjoy the journey in luxurious comfort (think: lounge areas, flat-screen TVs, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances, and designer interiors). These are the most over-the-top vehicles for extreme overlanding in 2023.
Applied Minds KiraVan Expedition System
Price: $22 million (approx.)

Read more
BMW’s latest project? An EV yacht dubbed THE ICON
Make waves with the new EV yacht from BMW
THE ICON, BMW's new EV Yacht

Step into the world of THE ICON, where luxury and sustainability dance together on the shimmering waves of the sea. On May 17, BMW’s latest project, THE ICON, was unveiled at the charming port town of Cannes. Amid all the excitement of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, this mesmerizing vessel steals the show.

THE ICON is an extraordinary watercraft that defies expectations. It's not just your ordinary vessel — it's a symbol of cutting-edge innovation. Powered by batteries, this EV yacht is perfect for emission-free travel. Prepare to be swept away!

Read more
McLaren reveals its future hybrid supercars will have a V8 engine
A new generation of V8 hybrid engines by McLaren
A McLaren Artura supercar on the road

Almost 12 years ago, McLaren partnered with Ricardo to develop the twin-turbocharged V8 engine of the McLaren 12. It began a business partnership between McLaren and Ricardo that would continue over the past decade.

More succinctly, McLaren and Ricardo collaborated to develop the engines used in popular models, such as the McLaren GT, McLaren 570S Spider, and McLaren Senna. In fact, more than 30,000 McLaren supercars produced over the past decade come with V8 and V6 engines designed by Ricardo and McLaren. However, with the world shifting toward electric vehicles, it remains to be seen how McLaren will adapt. 

Read more