Would you pay about $22,000 more for an electric version of the same car?

The Chevy Cruze and Volt are the same size and have just a few major differences. The Volt is an electric car with a small internal combustion engine. The Cruze has an internal combustion engine and delivers 28 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. Even for those concerned about gas mileage, 42 mpg on the highway seems pretty good. The second major difference is that the Volt cost $22,000 more. I don't see how it can pay to buy the Volt (see an earlier discussion here). The third difference is that the Volt has a maximum range of something over 300 miles. It takes about just 4 to 10 hours to recharge the battery. In extended range after the first 50 miles you get about 35 mpg. There is obviously no similar range limit for the Cruze.

Fox News has this title right: "Forget the Volt, Chevy Cruze to Get 42 MPG"

GM has managed to deliver on its promise of segment-leading fuel economy for its new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco model, with the EPA announcing this week that the fuel efficient sedan will return 28 mpg in the city and up to 42 mpg on the highway when equipped with a manual transmission.

The numbers are so good that the Cruze Eco’s highway fuel economy beats non-hybrid segment competitors--including 23 percent greater highway fuel economy than the Honda Civic--as well as the Ford Fiesta subcompact and many hybrid models. In fact, it’s better than Ford Fusion Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid. . . .

An extensive review of the Volt is available here.