I watched the Motortrend comparison recently, and thought it was well done. I don't have any brand loyalty, especially when it comes to economy cars. My top three picks mirrored those that Motortrend picked. I might have leaned towards the Focus over the Elantra, but that dual clutch transmission scares me. The Cruze, while a fine car, just doesn't do anything for me emotionally. It looks like an appliance with a nice interior, and while the power-train is efficient, it's also weak.
JMO, but watch for yourself and draw your own conclusions:
Anyway, the Japanese aren't the real threat right now, it's the Koreans. Both Hyundai and Kia are on a roll.
*just want to add. Look at the EPA fuel economy ratings compared to what these cars achieved in this test.