If you're comparing a compact car Cruze to an SUV or truck, then yes, it beats those. If you're talking about the Cruze versus the Corolla, Elantra, or Civic, then no. Wife and I rented a Corolla and a Elantra for a long mandatory trip and got 40 mpg highway on 87 octane gas, despite the EPA mpg saying highway was around 36. City MPG's were all pretty much the same, despite having bigger engines. Performance was similar. None of those vehicles had auto stop or a turbo. Nothing wrong with a turbo per se as long as it works, but it is another potential thing to have a problem with.
We've only got 2500 miles on ours so far, but currently are getting 29.5 to 32 mixed, 34 mpg 50/50 c/h, and 40-42.9 straight highway, depending on whether it's a level highway or very hilly, etc.
The wife and I are retired and living on SSD, so there won't be any laughing. We can get along just fine with a compact car for everyday driving, although we do have an 06 silverado 4wd for those occasional times when you absolutely need a gas guzzler to do something in particular, or the snow is up to your knees because it blew off the fields and onto the local roads. (we live in the boonies) We know however that not everyone can comfortably drive a compact car, like my wifes parents, or my granddaughter with 6 kids and a husband. I think that if there is anyone out there buying a gas guzzler simply because 87 isn't $4 a gallon right now should reconsider. Even if it doesn't go to that this summer, it will eventually anyway.
Speaking of prices, none of the other car options I previously mentioned had any issues with pistons cracking. I've heard one possible solution is 91 octane. Where I live 87 octane was 2.559 a gallon at the local station. If we use 91 octane as some have suggested to prevent pistons from cracking, the current price is 3.499 already. So if you're having to use 91 octane to prevent pistons from cracking, it doesn't compare to a similar class of car that can run just fine on 87 and doesn't have a history of that kind of problem. Using 91 instead of 87 is going to cost you where I live thousands of dollars more over 100k miles, all to allegedly prevent a problem that shouldn't be happening in the first place.
If the car can't reliably run on 87, Chevrolet should've said so, so people would know what they're getting when they buy the thing, and comparing it to other compact cars.
