- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
85kW, 155Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 6.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Holden Trax first drive review
You need look no further than the booming SUV segment to see how cutthroat Australia’s car industry has become.
With sales of the high-riding vehicles tipped to eclipse 70,000 before year’s end, importers are rushing to appease changing buyer tastes.
Now General Motors has spun off its latest interpretation in the booming baby SUV category, the Holden Trax. Based on the Barina hatchback, it promises class leading technologies and all the gadgets consumers come to expect.
The litmus test will be whether it can differentiate itself from myriad other offerings already boasting similar benefits.
The base model LS Trax starts at $23,490 and comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, five-speed manual, seven-inch touch-screen with MyLink embedded apps, reversing camera, rear parking sensors, six airbags and Bluetooth phone and audio streaming. The six-speed automatic transmission adds a $2200 premium ($25,690 plus on-roads).
The range-topping LTZ is priced from $27,990 plus on-roads and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, fog lamps, under passenger seat storage tray and trip computer and a six-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Both grades are fitted with a 1.8-litre petrol four cylinder engine – the same configuration currently fitted to the Holden Cruze, producing 103kW of power and 175Nm of torque.
The four-cylinder engine, while a tad underpowered, reaches highway speeds with ease and maintains momentum on long inclines. The power delivery is smooth and linear, with the engines strengths definitely located in the higher spectrum of the rev range.
A six-speed auto offers a good spread of ratios and while gear swapping is fairly constant, the changes are smooth and efficient. The equivalent five-speed manual has a smooth shifting action, though it does feel a ratio short at highway speeds.
Holden claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.6L/100km in automatic mode; we saw close to 8.5L/100km. Claimed fuel consumption in the manual is 7.0L/100km. However, rivals such as the Ford EcoSport - which arrives later this year - are tipped to have claimed fuel use figures closer to 5.0L/100km.
The Trax shares a global GM platform that has already reaped overseas equivalents from Opel, Chevrolet and Buick. Where this car becomes relevant to the local market, Holden says, is that 25 Aussie engineers have calibrated the steering and engine components to suit local conditions.
Riding on Continental tyres, the Trax offers a decent level of grip and road holding. The ride tends towards firm but manages to strike a fine balance between comfort and performance, reflecting inconsistencies in the road surface without unsettling the cabin. The braking is less redeeming thanks to a rear drum setup.
The cabin is generally well hushed on the road at highway speeds, with the exception of some crashing in the rear over sharp bumps. By far the biggest source of noise resides under the bonnet: the 1.8-litre engine emits a rather raucous note and can become intrusive at times.
Externally, flared wheel arches, sharp body lines and raked roof and window line help give the Trax an aggressive stance on the road.
Inside, textured plastic occupies much of the layout with silver highlight meshed in between. While fairly hard to the touch, the pieces are well fitted together and offer a solid feel throughout the cabin. There are some telling design cues borrowed from the Barina city car, like the combined analogue/digital instrument cluster. One redeeming feature is a 240-volt household power plug fitted at the back of the centre console for rear passengers. According the Holden, the feature will re-charge phones and laptops, or even electric shavers.
While Holden has worked hard to ensure a high level of quality insider, there are some oversights: there is no arm rest or centre console to for the driver or front passenger to lean on, and rear passengers are denied air vents. The storage is a mixed bag as well; there are a good number of cubby holes up front but the door sleeve pockets are narrow and in some sections fairly useless.
But looking beyond those points, the cabin is adequately proportioned, with terrific head and leg room throughout. The 356-litre boot folds out to 785 litres with the seats down.
The Barina-based Trax lobs into a fiercely competitive SUV class that will see it face off against the likes of the Ford Ecosport, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008. The Opel Mokka was also destined to join the quartet before GM pulled Holden’s sister brand from Australia earlier this month.
Holden is reticent to specify how many Trax models it can sell, but the company's executives believe the car will have wide-reaching appeal.
The biggest problem for some prospective buyers will undoubtedly be the 1.8-litre engine. Holden hasn’t ruled out a diesel or turbocharged petrol variants, but says there are no immediate plans.
In reality the Trax is a meat-and-three veg type of equation: offering good fundamentals but without re-inventing the wheel.