2013 Holden Trax Reviews

While Holden had the larger end of the SUV market covered by the start of this decade, it didn't have a fair dinkum contender at the bite-sized end.Enter the Trax, a high-riding wagon with the usual SUV touches including the wheelarch extensions and big alloy wheels.The catch was that the Trax you really wanted was the more expensive version with the superior engine.Nothing has changed there.

More and more people are downsizing vehicles and that means even SUVs are getting smaller and more urban focused. The original tiddler, the Suzuki Jimny, is now ridiculously outdated and silly costly at $20,490, but the newly arrived Holden Trax and a run of others are providing good driving at prices close to the small cars that are providing their basics. They're all about the city and suburbs, which means front-wheel drive mostly instead of the all-wheel drive needed for Outback work.The current sales leader is the Hyundai ix35, based on deliveries of 11,021 cars in Australia through July, but things are changing on both size and refinement. We're also looking at a class where the Trax slides in below Holden's family-focused Captiva couple, the 5 and 7, and is more likely to be shopped against a Subaru XV or a Mitsubishi ASX or a Nissan Dualis. Even the ix35 is bigger and more adult than most compact shoppers want, and fits more easily into the bigger family class with its Kia Sportage clone, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.But back to the Trax, which looks good and has a funky name that will resonate with 20-something shoppers, as well as the Holden badge that works for security and that ‘Aussie’ tick. It's priced from $23,490 and makes the grade with everything from five-star safety to a reversing camera across the line, a 1.8-litre engine and an infotainment system with a seven-inch touch screen and imbedded Pandora, Tune-In Radio and the potential at extra cost for a navigation app called BringGo.If you're wondering about the basics of the Trax, they are shared with the Barina hatch, but the SUV twist means its similar in size to a Nissan Dualis and there has been plenty of local testing and development work to ensure it drives like a Holden.It's the Dualis that usually gets the Carsguide tick for people who want a small SUV that's really just a high-riding hatchback, although the Subaru XV looks best and would do much better if it had a worthwhile boot and a CVT transmission that did a better job with its 2-litre engine. As for the ASX, it's not as refined as its rivals and let's leave it at that.We also like the new Ford Kuga, particularly as a drive, although it's also rated in the bigger class where the Mazda CX-5 sets the pace on class and sales, with 11,731 deliveries to the end of July. There is plenty of upside in the Trax and Holden is predicting big things as it finally gets the baby SUV it has needed in recent years. Now we, and they, are just waiting for the full-sized family hauler that will eventually roll in above the Captiva.Holden Trax Price: from $23,490Output: 1.8-litre four, 103kW/175Nm; 5-spd manual/6-speed auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 7.0-7.6/100kmA funky new SUV contender that's going to do well in Australia, especially as it's a fun drive and reflects the improving quality of Holden's cars from Korea.Nissan Dualis Price: from $24,990Output: 2-litre four, 102kW/198Nm; 6-speed manual, CVT auto, front/all-wheel driveThirst: 8.1-8.4L/100kmA smart family choice and practical, with a Dualis+ for people who need more cabin space. Not as trendy as some, but solid, sensible and a nice ride.Subaru XVPrice: from $28,490Output: 2-litre four, 110kW/196Nm; 6-spd manual, CVT auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 7.3L/100kmA good looker with an impressive badge, but getting well up in price. Hurt worst by a tiny boot and a fiddly CVT auto that dulls the performanceMitsubishi ASXPrice: from $24,990Output: 2-litre four, 110kW/197Nm; 5/6 speed manual, CVT auto, front/all-wheel driveThirst: 5.8-7.9L/100kmTime has left the ASX well behind, despite chunky looks that appeal to some and an available diesel engine. It's just too rough and ready, especially as a city runabout.

With no end in sight to the SUV boom GM Holden has added to the choices in the compact segment with its all-new Trax – a five-door, five-seat, high-riding and handsome wagon that is as much about media technology for savvy city slickers as it is engines and drivetrains.Trax is a global SUV sold in the US as the Chevrolet Trax and elsewhere as the Opel Mokka. Holden opted to not bring in an AWD version after market research found buyers top three priorities when buying a compact SUV were styling, cost and manufacturer.GM Holden's Australian engineers were involved in developing Trax for local conditions in South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand with suspension and steering tuning made to suit local roads.The compact Trax SUV fills a void in Holden's line joining big brothers Captiva 5, Captiva 7 and Colorado 7. Trax is based on the Opel Corsa/Holden Barina platform with the powertrain from Cruze.Australia is getting the 2WD drive version powered by the same 1.8-litre in-line four found in the current Holden Cruze.  It comes in two specifications, LS and LTZ with prices ranging from $23,490 to $27,990. Buyers have the choice of either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed auto in the LS and auto-only in the LTZ.Key competitors are Nissan Dualis 2WD ($25,990) , Mitsubishi ASX 2WD ($25,990) and Hyundai ix35 2WD ($26,990) which gives the Holden a significant price advantage. Later in the year Trax will find more competition from Ford's EcoSport. Trax will be in Holden showrooms from mid-September.Trax has a distinctive shape with a bold, rising shoulder line and diving roof line, but the front of the vehicle is unashamedly brash – being designed for the US market. Those who designed the front though were from Australia. Holden's chief designer (who did not design the Trax) said the car had perhaps more road presence 'than it deserves' implying that it actually looks a lot tougher than its performance. There is nothing new in this with soft-roader Jeep and Dodge product taking the same design strategy. Having said that Trax is a handsome SUV that should appeal to buyers, young and not so young.With technology from smart phones also booming, the Trax is fitted with MyLink technology that features embedded apps for music and navigation. MyLink supports Pandora, Stitcher, Tunein and BringGo navigation as well as Siri Eyes Free Mode.In a sign of the times the centre stack does not include a CD slot with the majority of people using Smartphones as their source of music. MyLink allows audio and phone streaming via Bluetooth for Android while iPhone connectivity is via cable. As well the system allows people to view images and movies while the vehicle is parked using USB storage connected via cable.There is also USB and auxillary input and voice control via Siri eyes free integration. Also, Trax has a 240 volt three plug outlet rated to 150 watt, for charging items such as laptops while driving - the only vehicle we know of that has this convenience.On the launch we used the BringGo navigation that costs 99 cents to try and $65 to buy which uses your smartphone GPS to navigate through the car's 7-inch screen. We also used Pandora for our favourite music and listened to our preferred Gold Coast radio station on Tunein while testing the Trax in Victoria.As the Trax was being launched Holden was advised the vehicle had been given a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating with high points. Standard equipment includes a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, stability control, ABS brakes, traction control, hill start assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, six airbags, and three child seat anchors.Our Trax first drive took us through the Melbourne CBD to Berwick, down to the Mornington Peninsula in both specification levels and including one manual variant. The ride is comfortable but a little stiff over uneven surfaces causing a small amount of twitchiness.The steering is light and perhaps a little vague, but as a city car this is almost irrelevant. As a high-riding vehicle Trax has some body roll on corners – as do all the SUV's in this compact segment. One thing we liked was the low NVH (noise vibration harshness). We also like the large digital speedometer read out in these days of prolific speed cameras.It is a five seater, but with a narrow body line the car is best suited to four adults - and possibly a small child from the rear centre seat. The core strength of Trax is in the technology and the practicality along with sharp pricing. Even though Trax is relatively small, the interior does not feel cramped and the vehicle does not drive like a compact car. It feels sturdy and solid.The interior is littered with storage bins and there's a handy storage drawer under the passenger seat to hide valuables including laptops away from prying eyes. The rear seat has a 60/40 split and with a fold and tumble function folds flat to create a good size cargo bed. With all seats in use the cargo area is still impressive with 356 litres of usable space.

You get the feeling this is a car built to a price. A very good price but a price nevertheless, with some features removed and others added to get down to the figure.You see the Holden Trax is a global model, sold in many countries, under many names and in many forms. It's the company's first entry in the emerging light SUV segment, off roaders that are smaller again than the current crop of small SUVs.The lineup has been restricted to just the one engine, with no sign of all-wheel drive and the manual transmission is a five speed  not a six that is the norm these days. But, at starting price of $23,490, it's $2500 less than its nearest competitor and that's a mighty strong argument.Both the LS and more expensive LTZ get a 7 inch touchscreen, reversing camera, cruise control, rear parking sensors, six airbags and Bluetooth with audio streaming. LTZ adds an auto, 18 inch wheels, fog lights, heated front seats and a trip computer and is priced from $27,990. A five speed manual is standard on the LS, a six-speed auto a $2200 option.Designed and built in South Korea, Trax is based on the same platform as the Barina, but sits higher offering a coveted high driving position. The 1.8-litre four cylinder ECOTEC engine is as old as Adam, with 103kW of power and 175Nm of torque.It seen service in one form or another in a variety of vehicles over the years, most recently in the Cruze sedan and hatch. But Holden reckons this latest version is the best yet, with a recalibrated automatic and ride and handling that has been tuned by Holden engineers to deliver the kind of response expected from a Holden.With a 53 litre tank, fuel consumption for the manual is rated at 7.0 litres/100km and for the auto, 7.6 litres/100km, with a CO2 output of 164g/km giving it a Green Vehicle Guide rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars (Prius scores 5). The lower gear ratios in the auto have been shortened to give the wagon a better launch feel while the higher gears in the manual have been also changed to deliver extended performance.Overseas, the car is available with all-wheel drive, as well as diesel and turbocharged petrol engines. But at this stage it's unlikely we'll see any of them because the biggest problem is going to be getting enough cars to meet expected demand. In other countries where it is sold, its siblings have been a runaway success.A bit like Doctor Who's Tardis, it's bigger on the inside than it appears, with plenty of headroom front and back and an impressive amount of rear legroom. The 7 inch touchscreen is not as large as that in the Commodore, but still large enough to stand out.It offers a range of integrated apps, but all rely on your smartphone to work, including the BringGo navigation system that sadly like Commodore does not provide speed camera or school zone warnings. A tiny, second glove box with a power outlet is provided above the main one for the phone itself.Speaking of power outlets, it's the first car we've seen with a 240 volt, three-prong outlet like the one in your living room that is capable of powering a laptop. A full size steel spare is available as a no cost option.Five stars thank you very much, with six airbags and electronic traction and stability control, along with anti-lock brakes, with hill start assist and electronic brake force distribution. Having said that we were a bit surprised to see drum brakes fitted to the rear of the car.The manual is clearly the pick of the pair, with sharper engine response and a sportier drive feel. But here's the thing, you can't get a manual with the better equipped LTZ model and that means foregoing a trip computer with distance to empty. Holden has spent some time tuning the transmission, engine and suspension.It claims the the auto is the best yet, better even than the larger and heavier Cruze with the same 1.8-litre engine/transmission combination  but we don't think so. It labours and chops and changes gears too frequently in full auto mode while the sequential manual change is awkward to use. It's the same setup as that in the recently released Malibu sedan, with a rocker switch at the top of the shifter that you operate with your thumb. Guess practice makes perfect?

Holden has finally joined the booming compact SUV market with the budget-priced Barina-based Trax. It is due to arrive in showrooms in September and will fill the void between Holden’s small-car range and its Captiva SUV.Priced from $23,490 plus on-road costs (auto adds $2200 to $25,690) the Holden Trax undercuts most of the competition, including the Nissan Dualis and Subaru XV -- but it is dearer than the similarly-sized Suzuki SX4.Most of the fuss about Holden has centred on the Commodore this year but the Trax is just as important because it will attract new customers to the brand. Sales of small SUVs grew by 20 per cent last year -- four times the rate of growth in what was a record new-car market.The Trax is designed for inner-city types but could find its way as a favourite among sales reps who spend their working life on the road. The Trax is the only car in its class to come standard with a 240V power socket to charge lap-top computers while on the move. It also has a seven-inch touchscreen embedded with Pandora, Tune-In Radio and Stitcher mobile audio apps which work when connected to a smartphone via a USB port in the glovebox. As is becoming increasingly the norm these days standard fare includes six airbags, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, and a rear-view camera across all models.The basic LS model is priced from $23,490 plus on-road costs (auto adds $2200 to $25,690). The flagship LTZ is available with automatic transmission only and is priced from $27,990 plus on-road costs.The $2300 price premium buys premium upholstery with heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels (instead of 16-inch alloys on the base LT model), front fog lights and a storage tray under the front seat.  For that reason we reckon the basic LT is much better value. Metallic paint -- six of the eight available colours on both models -- is a $550 option. Holden is one of the dearest when it comes to charging for extra sparkles in the paint.The 240V power socket in the back of the centre console is a welcome addition, especially for people with young kids or those who spend their working life on the road. Now to get this handy feature across more models in the Holden range.As mentioned before, mobile audio apps such as Tune-In Radio (where you can listen to almost any radio station in the world) and music sites Stitcher and Pandora are embedded in the touch screen so you don’t have to thumb your mobile phone.The Trax also has BringGo, a navigation app that brings Google-like navigation to the centre screen. The only catch: you must download it on your phone first -- and it costs $70 which is, at least, cheaper than a portable navigation device. Fuel economy from the 1.8-litre petrol engine is par for the class  (7.0L/100km for the five-speed manual and 7.6L/100km for the six-speed auto).Holden has removed the spare wheel and tyre to help limbo to these ratings which are done in laboratory conditions and are sensitive to such weight reductions. However, a full-size spare is a no-cost option at the time of purchase so be sure to ask the dealer before taking delivery.It might look big but it’s the same length as a Toyota Corolla hatch -- with the tall driving position of an SUV.  Now you can see why these vehicles are a hit in Europe and why they’re the next big thing here: because they blend the best of both worlds. Their high-riding stance also takes the bump out of speed bumps that now dot every suburb.As with Holden’s most recent offerings from South Korea, quality has taken a step up from previous General Motors models sourced there. The interior is especially clever in the Trax. The doors have three tiers of pockets, the dash has nooks and crannies galore. The dash has a bright blue digital speed display and overall adds to the classy look.Six airbags, a five-star ANCAP rating and a rear view camera on every model (yes, we’re looking at you Toyota RAV4, why are you the only new mainstream SUV in the past 12 months to lack a rear camera on every model?) give the Trax a clean bill of health.There are a few blots on an otherwise good report card, though. Holden raided the boot and stole the spare to limbo to a low fuel economy score in the lab tests. A full size spare is free -- but only if you ask for it before you buy. Here’s hoping dealers do the right thing and order them as a matter of course.The centre rear seating position does not get a centre rear headrest (critical in prevent neck injuries in rear-end crashes) and can’t be added. And the rear brakes are drums, not discs... come on guys, this is 2013 not 2003.The Trax comes from General Motors’ facilities in South Korea but was tested on Australian roads and tuned for local conditions during its development.It steers through corners with confidence and rides nicely over bumps. We tested the LT automatic, which we figure will be the most popular. In our opinion it’s the best value model in the range.The 1.8-litre engine matched with a six-speed auto is perky enough and a smooth operator to boot. But the Trax drives so well we can’t help but wonder if Holden will fit the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine from the Cruze to create a Trax SRi-V. Now there’s some homework for Holden.Riding on 16-inch Continental tyres it has plenty of grip even though it’s only two-wheel-drive. Despite the off-road pretensions conveyed by its rugged good looks most Trax SUVs will rarely see gravel apart, perhaps, from a groomed driveway to a weekend getaway.Holden and others make these inner-urban vehicles look rugged because we then feel better about driving an inner-urban vehicle. Besides, it can be war out there. Have you tried getting a car park on a Saturday morning lately?

This one comes to us courtesy of Opel, the German division of General Motors. But we will see it in Australia first as the Holden Trax later this year, and then as the Opel Mokka early next year.It’s all part of General Motors becoming one big, happy, global family. Although the Opel Mokka and Holden Trax are made in Korea in a former Daewoo factory, the twins were designed and engineered in Germany, with some Australian testing thrown in for good measure.The starting price of these vehicles will likely be close to $25,000 -- but we won’t know for sure until closer to their respective on-sale dates.This car will put Opel and Holden in head-to-head competition for the first time. They currently compete in the small-car class with the Holden Cruze and Opel Astra -- which are the same cars underneath but have different bodies.The Opel Mokka and Holden Trax, however, are mostly identical but for the design of the grille and the dashboard. This is why Opel and Holden sales and marketing teams are currently in a huddle to find out how to make these cars seem different in customers’ eyes.For both companies this new compact soft-roader can’t come soon enough. Holden just recorded its lowest sales in 19 years and Opel is trying to gain a foothold in Australia, having set up in the world’s most competitive new-car market late last year.An affordable contender in the booming SUV class is crucial to the success of both brands. The trouble is, this car is going gangbusters overseas so Australia’s initial allocations will be limited. That sigh you can hear is from Holden and Opel dealers.The Opel Mokka is named after a coffee, because evidently it packs a lot in a small package. For all its bold and brash presence, would you believe that there is a Holden Barina underneath? But don’t dismiss it on that basis alone.For starters, the latest Holden Barina is a more capable car than it is given credit for, especially since the post-GFC upgrades. Inside, the Mokka has Opel’s audio and air-conditioning controls, which aren’t as intuitive as they are on some other cars.But other practicalities make up for it. There are three storage levels in the doors alone, and a decent sized console and glovebox. In total there are 19 storage cubbies. You’ll never find your phone again. The dash material is soft to the touch, the seats are comfortable, and visibility all around is pretty good (despite the tapering window line).However, both Opel and Holden would be wise to make a rear view camera as standard on all models. Hyundai and Toyota have cameras on $23,990 hatchbacks; it would be a sin of omission to not have such an essential safety feature on this family-sized car.Cargo space is average, and it depends on whether you have a space-saver spare or an inflator kit in the boot. The figures of 356 litres with the seats up and 1372 litres with the seats down (the maximum volume when an inflator kit is installed, there’s even less room when a space saver is used) give it a smaller boot capacity than a Nissan Dualis, and not much more than a Volkswagen Golf and most other small cars.In Europe, the Opel Mokka has lane-keeping technology and a tiny camera that can read speed limit signs. Sadly those systems are not confirmed for Australia, partly because of cost and partly because our street signs are so cluttered by advertising billboards which confuse the cameras.Six airbags and stability control are standard and in Europe it earns a five-star safety rating. Also standard across the range are hill-descent control and hill-hold assistance, to help get moving on steep hills.Top-line models come with a forward collision alert system (although not with automatic braking), auto-dipping high beam and xenon headlights that following the direction of the steering.First, the good news. Opel ships Continental tyres from a factory in Portugal to Korea so that its Mokkas are fitted with quality European tyres. Here’s hoping Opel Australia gets the same deal.Holden’s Trax, meanwhile, is likely to take the Kumho Solus tyre (if most of its other Korean-sourced cars are a guide), which is adequate in the dry but has below average grip in the wet.It was academic during our first drive in Germany, however. Our Opel Mokka was equipped with Pirelli winter tyres. They gripped well but it was unclear whether they were responsible for the suspension feeling slightly busy over bumps, or whether that was a trait of the car. We’ll pass on any further judgment until we test it on local roads.We drove a 1.4 turbo petrol model, which has a satisfactory amount of urge -- not class leading but not class worst. The engine was smooth, as was the six-speed manual shifter. The six-speed auto comes on line in September, in time for the Australian release.As with many new cars the Opel Mokka has idle stop-start technology. As with most drivers of most cars with idle stop-start technology, I found the off switch to leave the engine running all the time.One thing that did stand out: the Opel Mokka felt like it had a broad turning circle. But the information sheet says it has a 10.8 metre turning radius, which is a bit more than a small car and average for a soft-roader of this size.