Both choices are hard since I don't to pick between the two of them at the moment. I strongly suggest you broaden your picks to the likes of Lancer EX

My daily drive (until today since meron na akong bagong tsikot coming) is my sister's Mazda 3 1.6. It's not built for speed runs as you will really feel the weight problem of the M3 on the 1.6L. You need to rev it way past 4000RPM at 2nd gear before you "properly" get moving.

Interior refinement is still top notch. And that's a very good compliment if you take its age (2004) into the equation. Rear seats are cramped. Don't expect to ferry anybody above 5"10 here unless you want to punish him.

Driving fun.. is bar none the best among its peers. It's very hard to quantify why it is fun when it has its downsides but at the end of the day, I'm still enduring its firm suspension on Metro Manila roads rather than opting to drive a Camry

The Cruze still needs more "merits" before I even start considering it. The petrol engine is underpowered even if it has 1800cc of displacement. This is because those "toys" like airbags, safety alphabet gizmos (ABS, SRS, etc. you get the idea) makes as if you're transporting an additional person everytime.

Don't be fooled by the 6-speed automatic. Honda's tranny is WAY smoother and better.

Interior refinement is up to par. But I'd give it a bit more time before saying whether it'll age gracefully. However, one of its biggest pluses is NVH insulation. Something the Mazda 3 lacks and the Cruze has. Like its namesake, it's meant for "cruising". It's no fun to drive but it'll take you from point A to point B comfortably. But, there's the Toyota Corolla Altis does everything the Cruze does and is better at doing it save for the face and the toys.

Given the choices, I'll go for a Jazz 1.5, a Civic 1.8, and at LS territory, the EX GLS which the engine alone makes owning one worthwhile. Interior sucks unless you're getting the MX or GT-A.