[UpstateNYBill]

Anyone notice that the price as tested for the Mazda 3 was almost $5,000 more than the Cruze Eco? Exactly how is that a fair comparison?

One fundamental flaw in all this is that the Cruze is technically considered a small midsize car if you look at cargo and interior volume. The Mazda3 that supposedly beat it has inferior 0-60 and 1/4 mile times, inferior braking distance, inferior lateral acceleration, an inferior warranty, and by comparison, a tiny trunk. It's a pity they bumped it to #2 due to the manual transmission.

As a side note, the front end of that Mazda is hideous, IMO of course.

Truth in every word. And the Mazda also has inferior gas mileage, which was the whole point of the article. Gas mileage!