Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

56 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

THINGS WE LIKE

 Big practicality in a small package

 Comfortable seats

 Reasonable performance and

fuel economy

 Tidy handling

 MyLink features and connectivity

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Ride could be a bit rugged on

18-inch-wheel LTZ model

Front pillars block some vision

Remote-control steering

1.8 is old tech and the 1.4 turbo

likes a drink in town

SPEX (LS auto)

Made in South Korea

1.4-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

six-speed automatic/front-wheel

drive

103kW of power at 4900rpm/200Nm

of torque at 1850rpm

0–100km/h N/A

5.6L/100km highway; 9.1L/100km

city; 95 octane. CO 2 emissions are

160g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited km

Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, hill start assist, 16-inch

alloy wheels, rear camera and

parking sensors, MyLink, Apple

CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth,

leather-wrapped steering wheel

Redbook future values: 3yr: 46%;

5yr: 34%

compare with ...

Honda HRV, Kia Sportage, Mazda

CX-3, Suzuki Vitara, Toyota CH-R

H

olden’s Trax is a small SUV
based on the now defunct
Barina hatchback. It’s only
available as a front-wheel drive,
so think of it as an interesting
take on the compact hatch with
an SUV’s easy access and high,
comfortable seating position.
The base LS 1.8-litre, fi ve-
speed manual is $23,990. The
1.4-litre turbopetrol six-speed
auto 1.4T LS is $26,490. LT 1.4T is
$28,890 and LTZ 1.4T is $30,490.
GM’s 103kW/175Nm 1.8-litre
four-cylinder petrol engine is
an ageing slugger but in this
application it’s OK, offering
reasonable mid-range pulling
power (assisted by quite short
gearing), reasonable fuel economy
on regular unleaded and greater
refi nement than expected.
The 103kW/200Nm 1.4-litre
turbopetrol is a sweet little
engine, much more refi ned,
tractable and responsive than the

1.8, but it’s also thirsty in town

and requires premium unleaded.

The six-speed automatic does

the job smoothly enough, with

a wider ratio spread for more

economical top-gear cruising.

Holden’s chassis engineers

have given the Trax the treatment

and for a short, tall box it handles

predictably and confi dently, with

a secure feel on the road.

Body roll in corners is minimal

and quality Continental tyres are

sticky and quiet.

The ride is quite fi rm and on

the LTZ’s 18-inch alloys/55-

aspect ratio rubber it could

become a little harsh on rough

NSW and Queensland roads. The

16-inch alloys with 70-aspect

ratio tyres on the LS model offer

a far more comfortable and

absorbent combination.

The steering is feather light

and lifeless, with little on-centre

feel. Brakes are OK, though

the brake/clutch pedals in the

manual are very close together.

The interior has been given

an overhaul for 2017, with a

more attractive dash design,

improved infotainment and

higher quality materials.

There’s ample driving position

adjustability but the A pillars in

the Trax do block some of your

forward/side vision in corners,

especially right-handers.

Holden’s MyLink system has

a seven-inch touchscreen and

offers Siri Eyes Free mode for

compatible devices like the

iPhone, plus supported apps such

as Pandora and Stitcher.

Apple CarPlay and Android

Auto compatiblity are standard,

along with rear parking sensors

and a camera.

LS also includes a leather-

wrapped steering wheel.

LT adds a sunroof, push button

start, digital radio and 18-inch

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



STARS

alloys, while the top-spec LTZ

includes leather-faced seats,

heated at the front, rain sensing

wipers and a couple of driver

assist safety tecnologies that are

very useful, especially in traffi c:

blind spot monitoring and rear

cross traffi c alert.

The driver’s seat is supportive

and comfortable, as is the rear

bench, which has two Isofi x

mounts plus conventional child-

restraint anchors.

The boot’s not huge — volume

with all seats in use is slightly

less than a Golf — but it’s

practical enough, with a 60/40

rear-seat extension and four

bag hooks.

A 240-volt electrical socket

with power supplied by an on-

board inverter is unique to this

class and allows you to power or

recharge items like a portable

fridge, cameras or laptops.

Trax is honest enough but

feeling its age and ambitously

priced against rivals such as

Honda’s HRV, the Kia Sportage,

Mazda CX-3, Toyota CH-R and the

Suzuki Vitara.

HOLDEN TRAX FROM $23,990 S