Attention Hyundai ix35, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Dualis, Skoda Yeti, SsangYong Korando, Volkswagen Tiguan and any others with aspirations in the budget end of the compact SUV segment. A new arrival starting at $23,490 has slipped under your best price and it’s a world car from General Motor’s local arm Holden.
While the current rivals have strong claims, the fact is the Trax is a Holden so it comes backed with the confidence of Holden’s local engineering and Australia-wide dealer network.
Combine the segment-best pricing, good looks and nice driving dynamics and the total package is certainly compelling.
General Motor’s plant in Bupyeong, South Korea makes the Holden Trax and its twins sold in other markets wearing Buick, Chevrolet, Opel and Vauxhall badges.
Holden Trax Overview
Trax is a distant relative of the Holden Cruze (the pair share GM’s 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine) but it’s a five-seat compact SUV/Crossover (front-wheel-drive) with a high-riding SUV seating position.
‘Remarkable’ is the only word to describe the value-for-money proposition of the all-new Holden Trax. Even the entry-level LS model is equipped with features such as a rear-view camera, six airbags, the full suite of electronic driver aids including Hill Start Assist and Descent Control System, 16-inch alloy wheels rear parking sensors, ISOFIX child seat anchors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a superb infotainment system which includes a seven-inch colour touch-screen and Holden MyLink with embedded apps for BringGo navigation, Pandora and Stitcher SmartRadio.
The luxury Holden Trax LTZ adds extras such as 18-inch alloy wheels, upgraded seat trim, heated front seats, front fog lights and some extra storage inside.
The lineup is:
LS (manual) $23,490
LS (automatic) $25,690
LTZ (auto only) $27,990
Holden Trax Engine
All-new Holden Trax is powered by the familiar Korean-sourced naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine as fitted to most Cruze models. Maximum power is 103kW at 6300 rpm and peak torque of 175N is delivered at 3800rpm.
Drive is to the front wheels via a five-speed Gen II manual transmission or the Gen II six-speed automatic (as introduced in the Model Year 2014 Cruze).
Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 7.0l/100kms (manual) or 7.6l/100kms (automatic).
Holden’s powertrain engineers took the lead on engine/transmission and electric power steering calibration not only for Australia but also for New Zealand, Russia and South Africa. For example the transmission ratios were chosen to deliver appropriate low-speed pulling power appreciated by Aussie drivers.
Holden Trax The Interior
Again GM’s interior designers have excelled with the Trax delivering a pleasing, contemporary look inside, highlighted by nice, bright material choices and crisp lines. And there’s no doubt about the Holden Trax’ stature as a compact SUV – you don’t climb-down to get-in, it’s a high SUV-like seating position to welcome you on-board.
The steering wheel (leather-wrapped in both LS and LTZ) is straight from the Cruze and adjusts for rake/reach. In front is a small binnacle with a compact, sharply packed layout for speedometer and fuel level.
To the left is the Cruze-style centre stack with the seven-inch full colour touch-screen for the audio and Holden MyLink infotainment system. During our media launch test drive we sampled the excellent BringGo navigation embedded app which brings brilliant maps and functionality via your smartphone…top-shelf navigation for a fraction of the price.
We particularly liked the smartly-shaped automatic gear-lever with button operation for manual changes. And families will like the abundance of storage bins throughout (LTZ gains a secure out-of-sight bin under the passengers’ seat).
Rear seat space is on par with similar rivals and the seat split-folds 60:40 for cargo versatility. Luggage space with the rear seat in-place is 356-litres or 1370-litres when folded.
For families, it’s the small things that count – Car Showroom’s ‘almost-teenage’ daughters will appreciate the Trax as the only vehicle in this class with a rear-seat 240V socket in the rear to power laptops.
Holden Trax Exterior & Styling
As a world car for General Motors, designers for each brand (Holden, Buick, Chevrolet, Opel and Vauxhall) were responsible for individualizing the Trax and its siblings. Of course the starting point was a relatively high (4278mm) compact five-door SUV with contemporary and muscular looks accentuated by its squared-off wheel-arches and rear-swept roofline with its tailgate spoiler.
Up-front, Trax promotes its muscularity with centre-line creases for the bonnet and outboard scallops. The dual halogen headlights get chrome interior bezels and the LTZ model’s fog-lights have nice chrome accents.
LTZ also runs chrome side strips.
At the rear Holden Trax introduces a degree of sophistication with some curves for the tailgate, a nicely-shaped tailgate lever and large tail-lights.
Holden’s design team configured the ‘Holden-style’ grille and five-spoke alloy wheels (16-inch on LS, 18-inch on LTZ).
Holden Trax On The Road
Car Showroom drove both LS (manual) and LTZ Trax models during the one-day national media launch drive program from Holden’s Port Melbourne HQ down to Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsular (a combination of freeway and back roads) and then back to Port Melbourne via the new Peninsular Link Freeway.
The rain pelted down at times and the winds were officially ‘gale force” (ah, Melbourne in August!). Even so we were immediately impressed by the Holden Trax’ quietness (virtually no tyre noise and little wind-noise) on both the 16-inch and 18-inch wheel/tyre combinations and also its stability even when passing ‘B-Double’ semis in the wind squalls.
Trax runs GM’s familiar McPherson Strut front end/compound crank rear axle.
A brief run over a couple of dirt sections near Upper Beaconsfield confirmed the excellent suspension calibration by Holden’s engineering team (Holden also calibrated the electric power steering). Just the lack of drive to the rear saw us encounter some chatter over a downhill section of ruts.
Holden Trax LS manual weighs 1356kgs (manual) and 1371kgs (automatic) so it’s actually lighter than the Cruze. Not surprisingly, response of the 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine was good with the manual version actually best for extracting maximum pep from standing starts.
Maneuverability was also impressive – a compact SUV with a 10.9-metre turning circle will please mums tackling those shopping mall car parks.
Holden Trax Challenges
While the five-speed manual Trax definitely has some extra zip under acceleration over the auto, it’s a ratio short of modern technology…that would provide even better cruising and reduced fuel consumption too.
Holden Trax Verdict
Once again we tip our caps to Holden. Just like the VF Commodore, the Trax is way better than its price tag suggests.
Translation: Holden Trax offers brilliant value-for-money.
Compact SUV sales in Australia are up by 55 per-cent so Holden has chosen precisely the right time to enter the fray with its handsomely styled and nicely-specified global contender.
Holden Trax The Competition
Ford mustn’t like Car Showroom’s brand of aftershave because for some reason we weren’t invited to join the media trip to drive the upcoming EcoSport compact SUV in India. Of course the EcoSport gets the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine and a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder powerplant, is rumored to be stickered in the ‘Low-$20,000 region’ but unfortunately won’t be on-sale for a while.
Of the current list of similar contenders, the SsangYong Korando gets closest to the Holden Trax on dollars, starting at $23,990.
Hyundai ix35 is a Car Showroom favourite and is as tad larger than Trax, but starting price for the ix35 2WD petrol is $26,990.
Nissan’s British-built Dualis is also on our ‘Favourites’ list but it’s $25,990 for the 2WD petrol ST model. Same price for Mitsubishi’s ASX.
Holden Trax Likes: Smashes comparable rivals in value-for-money; nicely styled; practical interior
Holden Trax Dilikes: Five-speed manual is outdated
