Detroit's history will cruise down Woodward Avenue on Saturday (though this rolling party has been revving up for weeks). Detroit's future, however, arrives in October with Chevrolet's big-little compact, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Make no bones about it, this car carries General Motors Co.'s future in its 15 cubic-foot trunk.

Sure, the extended-range electric Chevy Volt has had 1,500 days of publicity without actually being up for sale yet, but the Cruze is where the low-rolling resistant rubber meets the pavement. (The Volt's tires debut on the Eco Cruze this fall, before the Volt.)

The Cruze will do more to help the environment, do more for consumers and do more for GM's bottom line than the Volt will for a generation (note: car generations are kind of short).

More importantly, for the first time since, well, since GM tried selling small cars, the Cruze is the best compact car available. Don't take my word for it, go drive one.

Here's what you'll find: A well-appointed interior, a gutsy little engine, smooth acceleration and a surprisingly quiet and elegant ride. It's the people hauler for the masses.

Raising the bar wasn't difficult. The Cobalt, the tiny compact the Cruze replaces, was what people bought because it was on sale or they had some sort of employee discount. The Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla decimated the Cobalt in annual sales -- because they were better cars.

That was then. Now, the Cruze doesn't raise the bar, it sets it. A true global vehicle, the Cruze grabs influences from GM's designers and engineers from around the world, which might explain the awful spelling.

I've test driven the Cruze a number of times as Chevy wanted to tout different development phases on the vehicle over the past year. The most recent test drive was in Washington, D.C., where we were put in the completely ready as the consumer is gonna see 'emCruzes. (Unfortunately, the 40 mpg Eco Cruze was not available for testing.)

The turbocharged 1.4-liter Cruze LT with a sport package sat shining just off Dupont Circle, calling my name.

For the most part, this car needs that compact context. Just like the Civic and Corolla -- the big wigs of the compact world -- the Cruze was designed as stylish transportation. It's not a sports car.

It's better. It combines form and function with a lot of space inside.

The Cruze maintains that Chevy dual cockpit approach, but with a much more open area. The dash curves around nicely to the doors and the instruments and controls are all within easy reach of the driver. The center stack is busy with buttons around a center circle that controls the stereo. But everything feels right and it's comfortable.

There's also lots of technology, such as the optional Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cell phone operation, USB audio input and steering-wheel mounted controls. Even the base model, which starts at $16,995, includes an auxiliary jack, remote keyless entry, XM Satellite radio and GM's OnStar turn-by-turn navigation.

While high tech enough to please most young buyers, its creature comforts will please consumers downsizing to a smaller vehicle. Things like navigation, ultra sonic park assist and a 250-watt stereo are amenities people appreciate.

To read more from The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100819/OPINION03/8190379#ixzz0yI7ErQg5