Hoping to cut through the noise in China’s crowded market for new cars, now the fastest-growing in the world, the creative team for GM staged a breathtaking video shoot, mimicking Pacman, and creating a scene where the Chevy Cruze Turbo chases and eats ghosts.

Here in the States, however, GM doesn’t need to rely on trickery if it hopes to sell the Cruze. Instead the automaker can point to the car’s unparalleled fuel efficiency, and wait for buyers to queue up, as the nimble little roadster is already eating its competitor’s lunch.

Today was a big day for the sporty roadster as new EPA fuel efficiency figure marked the car with a big red bow. The 2011 Cruze has been rated at the top of its segment in terms of fuel efficiency, with 42 miles per gallon highway efficiency and 28 miles per gallon in city conditions on manual transmission models, according to new EPA guidelines for 2011.

“Chevrolet Cruze continues to redefine the compact segment, offering class-leading standard safety features, upscale amenities – as well as hybrid-like fuel economy without the price,” said Chuck Russell, vehicle line director, in a company release. “The Cruze Eco is in a league of its own and will challenge perceptions of the efficiency available in a more affordable non-hybrid.”

More efficient than some hybrid vehicles, and creeping into the efficiency territory of cars like the Prius, the Chevy Cruze is both cheap, stylish and fun with a–gasp–conventional internal combustion engine. The sticker price for a Cruze is 18,895, including destination charge, according to today’s press release.

That’s a hard price to match, and when fuel savings are factored in, it’s easy to see why the Cruze makes a lot of sense for cost conscious, eco-aware buyers. While high-mileage hybrids and non-emitting EVs are great options, their high startup costs mean that drivers on a budget are unlikely to get behind the wheel.

However, when it comes to transportation sustainability, there are many ways to make a difference, and its helpful not to think of things as a race between different car makers, but instead as a long distance relay race, where we’re all one team.

Last week we wrote about how low rolling resistance tires can increase vehicle fuel efficiency by 10 percent, a fact that tire industry lobbyists don’t want you to know. We’ve also written about how a switch to diesel engines would make a huge improvement in the fuel efficiency of America’s fleet of passenger cars.

When more cars like the Cruze are available to customers, we can have a more substantive discussion about the best ways to decrease our dependence on imported oil, and fossil fuel in general. Until then, we’ll keeping snacking on ghosts.

[H/T SocialCarNews]