GMThe 2016 Chevrolet CruzeThe 2016 Chevy Cruze is all-new from the ground up.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsIntroduced to much fanfare last June, Henry Payne put the Chevy (base price: $17,495) through the wringer at GM's Milford test track for the first time last week --just as the Cruze hit dealer showrooms.ChevroletUnlike Generation One, the new Cruze charms with a distinct personality on one of the auto kingdom's most competitive dance floors.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsWith class-leading connectivity, cabin quiet and improved rear legroom, Chevy lays claim to the best interior in class.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsShoppers will discover a strikingly different car inside and out -- from the Impala-like face and swept greenhouse, to the Camaro-like instrument display.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsFrom left, the Chevy Cruze competes against the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, and Honda Civic.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsThe Cruze (foreground) has a swept, coupe-like roofline that catches up to other swoopy cars in the compact segment.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsOver rough Michigan roads, Cruze proved more poised than its predecessor thanks to electronic steering shared with Camaro and Corvette and a lighter chassis (250 pounds) and refined suspension.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsWith sculpted lines and wrap-around eyewear, the all-new, 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is no longer the vanilla cone of the compact segment.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsAn extended wheelbase for a roomier cabin also equals class-best Civic and Toyota Corolla -- though to match the Honda's airy headroom, Cruze buyers may want to wait for the five-door hatchback, coming in 2017.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsThe Cruze's design makes for one of the most dramatic profiles since the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.Henry Payne, The Detroit NewsThe Cruze's wrap-around headlights and cut sides imitate siblings Impala, Camaro, and Malibu.Henry Payne, The Detroit News"The Chevrolet family needs consistency," says Global Vehicle Chief Engineer Martin Hayes. "There's commonality in Cruze and Impala and Malibu in the lines. And in the interior, there's a Camaro look around the steering wheel and the pod around the gauge cluster."Henry Payne, The Detroit News