Figured I'd update this after approximately 14 months and 35k miles on the car.
After a few upgrades/updates such as a headlight harness/better bulbs, putting Amsoil Synchromesh into the transmission, and flashing a Trifecta Performance dual-mode (economy/performance) tune into the computer, this is a very good car. Has it been flawless? No. I have had to fix some squeaks and rattles in the steering wheel and in the overhead console. Fortunately those were easy fixes, and the rattles have not returned. Then again, the aftermarket tune likely caused some of those rattles since the car has a lot more grunt down below 1500 RPM, where the engine can shake the car much more. Suffice to say the issues I've had with mine have been minor, and easy to fix (knock on wood).
A recurring issue was the trunk switch going dead. I've got that licked, but it still does act up. Most of the time I use the remote to open the trunk, so it's a non-issue to me.
Even with a tune and an occasional bout of spirited driving, I've averaged 44.1 mpg in that 35k miles. Most of my driving is done between 45 and 60 mph, which helps matters greatly. Oil changes have been about every 7500-8000 miles with full synthetic 5w-30, as this has shown to be a good interval via two UOA's.
While some folks might scoff at a tiny 1.4 liter engine with a turbo attached, I've not found myself wanting for more power once I flashed the dual-mode tune. Get it spinning past 2000 RPM and it'll scoot when in the economy mode. With the tune in performance mode, it moves along very smartly, say to merge down a too-short on-ramp. Most of the time it's kept in the economy mode for better fuel economy and because the performance mode makes the throttle very twitchy. Fun for short stints or for on-ramp blasting, not for long-distance driving.
After spending a lot of seat time in this car, the interior is still a comfortable, quiet place to be. The engine is just barely audible at highway speeds, and most of the noise in the cabin is road or wind noise. The stock radio sounds fine to my ears, and is easy to use. The controls are mostly intuitive, and nothing is awkwardly placed. One can spend several hours in the car and be fine getting out. The Cruze Eco MT does a fantastic "land yacht" impression when out on the highway.
Handling, ride, and braking have been very good, even on the OEM LRR 215/55-17 V tires. This car is comfortable attacking corners, and has pretty high limits, even with the LRR tires. A mid-corner bump will throw the rear end off a little, but this has improved markedly since everything's had a chance to seat in. The limits of the car are higher than my own. It's a fun car to hustle down a twisty 2-lane. The ride is fine, even over broken surfaces. Most small bumps are more heard than felt, which is nice. Even big bumps don't upset the car. Hitting the bumpstops is a non-event. Braking is very good since adjusting the rear drums early on. They're about due for another adjustment, which is par for the course with drums. The stock pads are FF rated, don't dust that much, are quiet, and have a ton of meat left at 35k miles. The pedal can be easily modulated and has an acceptable amount of feedback.
Chevy still needs to work on the dealer service experience, and making it consistently good. The squeak/rattle issues I fixed myself since it was more hassle dealing with a dealer than DIY'ing. The obvious issues, like a trunk switch or a TPMS sensor were dealt with very well, though.
Overall, I'm still quite happy with my Cruze Eco MT after 35k miles. I'd recommend it to family and friends looking for a fuel-efficient highway/long-distance commuter, with the caveats that it needs synthetic oil, and the OLM is optimistic.
