[sciphi]

MT has some nice things to say about it. They do have a hard-on for Mazda, though.

I don't know what they're talking about with the clutch take-up. It's quite predictable, even for a driver new to the car. 1st could be a hair bit taller, though. Sometimes the throttle doesn't match up well, and sends the car lurching forward in 1st. I can see how that could result in a stall for a driver unprepared for it.

 

[sciphi]

I do agree with the steering - driving on the highway for the first time in my Cruze, I couldn't keep it straight because I was used to having feedback from the battleship of a Volvo I had before. Took me a few days to get used to.

But the clutch progression is the best I have ever driven. It's very hard to stall this car unless it's in reverse, or bogging down from under gapped spark plugs.

Havent driven the skyactiv, but i really wasnt that impressed with the 2.0 2011. My friends 2009 is much better to drive.

I'm happy to see the Mazda win instead of the Focus or something, though. From the strictly MPG and value standpoint of the article, the Cruze should clearly have won, though.


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My brother may be getting a Skyactiv Mazda3 hatch with a proper transmission, so I may have a test-drive soon.

And, dynamically I think the Cruze Eco MT and Mazda3 Skyactiv "ought" to be close. I mean, the Cruze has only won the WTCC the past few years in a row.