Price (base/test):
151 thousand NIS/160.7 thousand NIS
Competitors:
Kia Seltos, Renault Arcana, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki S Cross
We liked:
design, space, equipment, performance and price
We didn't like:
fuel consumption, road behavior, quality of materials
Score:
8.5/10
In recent months, Chevrolet Israel lost its sales hit, the small Spark, which still sold well to mini car customers who preferred to avoid the robotic gearbox of the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10.
The reason: General Motors decided to use the same assembly line in South Korea for a more profitable product, a new family crossover.
The Trax is named after a crossover that was marketed here between 2013 and 2020, and was a twin model to the Opel Mokka when the German company was owned by the Americans.
The new model received an old name but a new platform, which is also used by the Chevrolet Trail Blazer, has grown significantly and is now positioned at the center of the family crossover market, similar in dimensions to the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson and even larger than them in some parameters, but about NIS 20,000 cheaper in its base price.
Does Chevrolet have a new sales hit on its hands?
He took the S from an SUV to the end, in a sporty design with a plump and muscular rear part (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Design:
Recreational vehicles are a matter of fashion by their very nature.
In the past, those who tried to be more jeeps, tall and tough ruled.
The previous Trax was designed according to that recipe.
But today the trend is crossovers, recreational vehicles that are higher than family cars but lower than tough off-road vehicles or those impersonating them, in favor of a sportier design, and improved road behavior.
The new Trax belongs to the second group, to which the Mazda CX30 also belongs.
With its 18-inch rims, sporty RS trim, and bold rear wheel arches, it even looks a bit like the semi-luxury Cobra Formentor.
The black color of the test vehicle only added to its presence on the road, something the previous Trax lacked.
And so are the dimensions: with 4.54 meters in length, 1.82 meters in width and 1.56 meters in height, it is significantly larger than the previous Trax, similar in dimensions and even larger than other crossovers such as Kia Seltos, Renault Arcana and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
A modern and rich driver's environment, but the operation is sometimes cumbersome and the digital dashboard is quite simple (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Cabin:
greatly upgraded for a modern composition: 11-inch multimedia screen and even an 8-inch digital dashboard.
In the high finish level RS2 it comes with seats with impressive red stitching.
It is a little less impressive after you use it.
Although the dashboard is digital and colorful, it lacks options to choose between different displays.
The human engineering is not sophisticated, for example there are physical buttons to control the climate control and the volume of the stereo, but there are all kinds of oddities such as controlling the trip computer only from the touch screen and not from buttons on the steering wheel and the lack of control over the gears beyond the L position. The design is modern but the feeling is that the buttons These were brought from the GM parts warehouse, not the Cadillac area.
The seat is not really high, but high enough to feel "tall".
A long hood with a muscular rise in the center - although underneath is a 1,200 cc turbo gasoline engine, not some V8 - give the feeling of a large vehicle.
Plenty of room in the back (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Spacious:
and it is also quite large inside, especially in the back seat, which benefits from a good entry key, albeit one that requires a long leg to be moved, and a modern design with a flat floor - because there is not really a dual drive - and plenty of leg room.
The headroom is also good, and the seat is relatively wide.
Two adults feel great here and a third will also last.
A big change from the previous and crowded Trax.
Too bad there is no air conditioner outlet.
Maybe we will connect fans to the pair of USB sockets, one normal one C.
There is not really 725 liters here as the brochure claims, but there is plenty of space for luggage and easy access (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Trunk:
listed in the books as having a huge volume of 725 liters, but only because it is measured according to American standards, up to the roof and not up to the height of the seats.
It is indeed large and spacious and well suited for family use, but in European standards it would be measured by 450-500 liters.
The floor is flat and there is a small spare wheel under it, but there are no tie-down facilities and other patents to optimize use.
There is also no 12V socket.
You can fold the rear seats for a long cargo area.
Equipment:
the base level RS1 (for NIS 151,000) includes remote control, 18-inch rims, 8-inch screen LED headlights and support for Apple and Android.
The high equipment level RS2 upgrades from a mechanical air conditioner for climate control, from a standard key for keyless entry and drive, from fabric upholstery combined with leather and also throws in a cover for the trunk. The test car was also equipped with an optional electric sun window, which comes as a package together with wireless charging for a mobile phone (additional NIS 5,700 ) and is offered only in the high equipment level, which also comes with roof stripes that upgrade the appearance.
Safety:
Both equipment levels are in line with the top competitors, and include as standard autonomous emergency braking, lane departure correction, adaptive cruise control, vehicle warning in a "dead zone", late cross traffic warning and a rear camera.
The new Trax has yet to be tested in a public crash test.
The small engine provides good performance, but is less impressive in terms of fuel consumption (photo: Walla! system, Kenan Cohen)
Performance:
the engine has only 1,200 cc but a good power of 139 hp, and it is paired with a classic six-speed automatic transmission.
The performance is good, with a determined jump from the spot and quick overtaking accelerations.
However, the option to manually control the gears is sorely lacking, such as for braking on long descents - L mode puts the car at too slow a speed.
Prevent a pleasant sound, although it is not really quiet.
Fuel consumption:
in intercity cruising, the consumption was 13.5 km per liter, and 11 km after the more aggressive driving segment.
When some competitors already come with mild hybrid engines, and others with more efficient turbo gasoline engines, these are not impressive numbers.
We would give up precisely on this American aspect.
Gets along well on deceleration lanes, but less so on a wavy road (photo: Walla! system, Keinan Cohen)
Comfort:
American cars are known for their soft suspension calibration.
The Trax is no different, managing to provide very good ride comfort, handling small potholes and speed bumps nicely.
However, it is less good on a bumpy road, and the soft suspension calibration takes its toll on curves.
He is not quite as flexible there as American women of old, but the body movement is not restrained enough.
The noise isolation could also be better.
Not perfect, but relatively cheap and with a lot of character (photo: Walla! system, Kenan Cohen)
Bottom line,
the Trax will confuse Chevrolet enthusiasts, due to its proximity to the Trail Blazer.
It is longer and more spacious, but less tall and less "tough".
Just as Suzuki sends two different recreational vehicles to the same niche, a Vitra and a crossover, now it's happening with Chevy as well.
It's not perfect: despite the small engine it's too thirsty, and it falls behind the top European and Japanese competitors in the small details.
But the Trax provides very good value for money, with excellent and useful interior space, a lot of space in the trunk, as well as good performance and rich accessories.
And above all, it also adds character and design, a personality that is missing from many recreational vehicles that are proliferating.
17: Chevrolet Trax
Engine, drive:
1,199 cc, turbo gasoline, front-wheel drive
Power/torque:
139 hp, 22.4 kg
Gearbox:
automatic, 6 gears
Dimensions:
length/width/height (meters)
: 1.56/1.82/4.54
Wheelbase (meters):
2.70 meters
Trunk:
725* liters
Performance (manufacturer):
0-97 km/h:
8.6 seconds
Maximum speed:
190 km/h
Fuel consumption:
13.5 km per liter
Fuel consumption (test):
11
Safety
mileage :
European crash test score: not yet tested.
Autonomous emergency braking, lane departure correction, adaptive cruise control, "dead zone" vehicle warning, late cross traffic warning, reverse camera
air pollution:
rating 13 out of 15
Warranty:
3 years or 100 thousand km
vehicle
Vehicle tests
Tags
Chevrolet Trax
