Chevrolet

Trax

With its bold stance and rugged good looks, the stylish Trax has plenty to offer buyers looking to invest in a compact SUV. Packed with technology including MyLink which keeps you connected to media devices on the go, the Trax has something for everyone.

Test Drive

Chevrolet Trax 1.7 VCDi LT 2WD

The compact SUV segment is a fiercely competitive arena in which to compete, so you need to have every confidence when launching a new model into it.

Thankfully, the Chevrolet Trax, with its striking good looks, multitude of on-board technology, tempting price-tag and impressive driving dynamics, can hold its head high.

Chevrolet lays claim to inventing the first SUV almost 80 years ago, so you would expect the company to be teeming with expertise and the Trax lives up to the high expectations.

It looks great from every angle thanks to tinted windows, 18-inch alloys, body-coloured door mirrors, daytime running lights, chrome effect door handles, roof rails, chrome-effect grille surround, the traditional Chevrolet bow-tie emblem and a large rear bumper.

And it’s impossible not to be impressed with the high level of on-board technology within the vehicle. It boasts an impressive MyLink system with 7-inch touchscreen display, air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, a rear parking camera and sensors, automatic headlights, a six-speaker audio system plus lots more.

Interior space is good with ample room for four adults to stretch out and luggage will never be an issue either as the already generously-sized boot can be extended further thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

Elsewhere, there are a number of useful storage options, including an under-floor section in the boot, a double glove-box, cup holders, plus small compartments below the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard.

So the Chevrolet Trax looks great and is packed with techno treats, but how does it handle out on the open road when put through its paces?

The answer is pretty well.

The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility thanks to the high-seated driving position and the 1.7-litre diesel powered engine delivers plenty of bite as the Trax accelerates through the six-speed manual gearbox.

The test model was two-wheel-drive, although all-wheel-drive versions are available.

Even so, the road-holding proved very thorough and even tight bends were attacked with confidence.

There is a little engine noise, but it is fairly minimal and my other slight criticism would be the hard suspension, which means bumps and dips can be quite uncomfortable – especially for back seat passengers.

But that aside, the Trax proved a most enjoyable vehicle to drive both in busy town centres and out on the faster country lanes and motorways where it easily kept pace with fast moving traffic.

It had plenty of spirit sprinting to 62mph from a standing start in just 9.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 116mph.

And according to official Chevrolet figures, the economy is also impressive with combined fuel economy of 62.7mpg and carbon emissions of 120g/km.

The Trax also features a thorough and comprehensive range of safety features, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, hill descent control, roll-over mitigation, hill start assist, six airbags and plenty more besides.

All in all, The Trax is a welcome arrival to the compact SUV market and with its appealing price-tag of £18,945 it will certainly keep rival manufacturers on their toes.

Test Drive

Chevrolet Trax

The market seems to be awash with compact SUVs these days so manufacturers launching another model need it to stand out from the crowd – the Chevrolet Trax does just that.

It is competitively priced, looks great, comes richly equipped and handles pretty well too.

Buyers can select from two trim levels, three engines and the option of either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive.

The entry level LS model costs £15,495 and is only available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine. It features 16-inch alloys, roof rails, daytime running lights, reverse parking sensors, privacy glass, automatic headlights, electric front windows, Bluetooth connectivity and lots more.

Step up to the LT trim and you have a choice of petrol or diesel engines along with either manual or automatic transmission.

The LT range introduces features such as 18-inch alloys, a rear parking camera, smart skid plates and door sills and Chevrolet’s impressive MyLink connected radio system with Siri speech recognition. This exciting system allows occupants to access all the data on their smart devices whilst on the move.

Prices for the LT line-up start from £17,495 and rise to £20,495 for the range-topping model.

SUVs have to be versatile and offer maximum flexibility and the Trax does just that.

It can easily accommodate four adults – five at a squeeze – and storage options are pretty impressive with a boot capacity of 1,370 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

In addition, there are under-floor compartments, storage trays, a double glove-box and other smaller storage facilities scattered throughout the cabin.

So like its sibling the Mokka from the Vauxhall stable, the Trax looks great and has plenty of techno treats, but how did it handle on the road? The answer is rather well.

I tested out a couple of Trax models, one petrol and one diesel and they both proved a pleasure to drive.

Firstly, the 1.7-litre diesel model in LT trim priced at £18,945. This six-speed manual Trax can reach from 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds and has a top speed of 116mph. According to Chevrolet figures, it can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 62.7mpg and has CO2 emissions of 120g/km.

The first factor that really impressed me was the amount of technology on offer once you take your seat behind the multi-function steering wheel.

The interior has a somewhat simplistic, yet very effective design with all dials, controls and readouts ideally positioned for ease of use.

The main instrument cluster features a digital speedo, large rev counter, trip computer, fuel gauge, gear shift indicator and compass.

Acceleration is smooth and although there is some engine noise, it is not bad at all. Road-holding was excellent with very little roll and the Trax coped equally well in busy built-up traffic as out on the faster, clearer roads.

Next up was the 1.4-litre petrol model, once again in LT trim, priced at £19,795. It is this model that Chevrolet anticipates will be the biggest seller and it did seem a little more responsive and sharper than its diesel counterpart despite the smaller engine size.

The high seated driving position is another plus factor not to be overlooked.

This particular model can sprint to 60mph in 9.5 seconds and tops out at 121mph. Chevrolet claims it can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 44.1mpg and it has carbon emissions of 149g/km.

The petrol version that I tested also featured Chevrolet’s AWD system which automatically adapts to the changing road conditions and significantly improves traction as and when necessary.

As one would expect, the Trax boasts a comprehensive range of safety features, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, hill start assist, hill decent control, roll-over mitigation, six airbags and much more.

With its eye-catching good looks, excellent value and top notch technology, the Chevrolet Trax is certainly a welcome newcomer to the compact SUV segment.

Test Drive

Chevrolet Trax

It was back in the mid-30s that Chevrolet invented the very first sports utility vehicle – the Carryall Suburban – now 78 years later the company is hoping its entry into the compact SUV market will be just as successful.

Taking on the likes of Nissan’s Qashqai and Juke, the Chevy Trax offers many of the benefits of a full-blooded SUV but with the economy and handling of a small car.

Buyers can select from a number of engines. There are two petrol – 1.4-litre turbo and 1.6-litre – plus one diesel engine – a 1.7-litre turbo.

And there are two richly-equipped trim levels – LS and LT, plus a choice of transmission on the diesel model. All manual transmissions come with a stop/start function to help maximise fuel efficiency.

And with its highly-effective on-demand all-wheel-drive as standard on many models, the Trax has plenty of all-round appeal to drivers who don’t want to be hindered by a cumbersome off-roading giant that guzzles fuel for fun, but still want the flexibility and capabilities that a smaller SUV can offer.

With its elegant styling and bold stance, the Trax looks great from all angles. It boasts muscular rear haunches, pronounced wheel arches, sweeping lines, neat light clusters, a spoiler and a dual port grille with Chevrolet’s iconic bowtie emblem sitting proudly in the middle.

Once inside, there are many creature comforts in the driver-focused cockpit. As well as all the more familiar features, the Trax introduces a MyLink system, which is a standard feature on upper trim levels.

It’s a fact these days that we are incapable of being separated from our mobile media devices for a second. Thankfully, Chevrolet has a state-of-the-art system that helps keep us connected on the go.

MyLink allows occupants to access all the data on their smart devices such as phone numbers, music, photos etc. It can even supply a sat nav facility via a downloadable app called BRINGGO, which is very competitively priced.

The Trax has plenty of storage space with a boot capable of accommodating 1,370 litres of luggage with the rear seats folded flat.

There is an under-floor compartment in the boot, a storage tray under the passenger seats, two glove-boxes – one housing the USB connection – and lots of other handy options throughout the cabin.

So the Trax looks great and is packed with techno treats, but how does it perform?

We tested out a couple of models that Chevrolet believes will be the best sellers and they certainly lived up to the big build up.

First up was the 1.4 petrol model in range-topping LT trim priced at £19,795. According to official figures, this particular Trax can deliver 44.1mpg on a combined cycle and has carbon emissions of 149g/km. It can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 9.8 seconds and has a top speed of 121mph.

Despite being fitted with the smallest engine on offer, this car easily coped with any challenge put in its path.

Steep inclines and tight bends were easily conquered and acceleration through the six-speed manual gearbox was smooth and responsive.

The driver benefits from a high-seated position which means excellent all-round visibility, although the A pillar is quite wide.

Road-holding proved flawless and the ride was surprisingly comfortable with very little roll and next-to-no road surface or engine noise.

Next up was the more economical diesel-powered 1.7-litre model – again in class-leading LT trim with six-speed manual transmission costing £20,495.

According to Chevrolet, this model can deliver a combined fuel efficiency of 57.6mpg and has CO2 emissions of 129g/km. Reaching from 0-62mph takes 9.4 seconds and it tops out at 114mph.

Once again, this model was a dream to drive, although it seemed a little noisy at times – mainly when shifting through the gears. Out on faster roads, it was much quieter and again the handling was excellent.

Both models featured the Chevrolet AWD system which automatically adapts to the prevalent road conditions and significantly improves traction when necessary. We took the Trax on a gravelled off-road route with a few tricky inclines and it easily passed the test.

Chevrolet has packed a comprehensive range of safety features into the Trax, including anti-lock brakes, with electronic brakeforce distribution, roll-over mitigation, hill start assist, hill decent control, six airbags and much more.

All in all, the Trax is a welcome arrival to an ever-growing and fiercely competitive compact SUV segment. But with its rich history this Chevy is truly equipped to take on the challenge.