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It may be nicer looking, have a better interior, and pack a better punch that its predecessors, but is is quality? If GM expects younger buyers to look at the Cruze, it will have to compete with the Corolla and the Civic for quality. GM thinks they have this worked out. They plan to invest in quality, saying they have learned people will pay a bit more for superior dependability. They even held up production several months because managers were unhappy with performance.

First, federal fuel economy requirements will mandate a huge jump in fuel mileage by 2016, but GM has a lot of catching up to do if it is to meet the 35.5 fleetwide average coming down. Currently, GM's fleet is averaging 24 miles to the gallon, but with the 40 mpg Cruze and the electric Volt hitting the market this year, those numbers will go up.