Holden Trax 2017

Holden Trax for 2017 has a fresh new look that is much crisper and balanced.  I reckon the old design was ok but this one is loads better with its less droopy nose being a little more attractive.

There are plenty of colours to choose from but probably my favourite will be the deep, dark blue exterior matched to the leather interior of the flagship model.  The Holden Trax is not a large SUV, in fact it is one of the smaller SUVs that is sold new in Australia.  Dimensions are small, yet the tall profile does add to the cabin’s sense of roominess.

Life in the back seats is pretty snug to tell you the truth, however the seats are supportive and there is good head and shoulder room.  If you can nab yourself the front seat, or better still driver’s, then the journey will be plenty comfortable.  Leg room at the front is good and the adjustment in the seats and steering wheel is very good.  Premium Holden Trax models come with an attractive stitch in the dash trim and upholstery.  Leather for premium models does lift the vehicle’s sex appeal.

Long legs are attractive, and with the Holden Trax being equipped with the 1.4-litre turbo engine across the entire range, there is plenty of power to cruise in relaxed style.  Pulling power with the 1.4 turbo unit is good, with the turbo kicking in low down in the engine revs for lots of flexibility throughout the engine revs.  Holden’s figures for the newly tuned engine state 112 kW of power and 240 Nm of torque.

Fart tax might be considered a bit of a joke for NZ farmers, but with the emissions regulations getting stiffer by the decade it’s important that we’re ensuring that we drive a clean machine.  The Holden Trax burps less than 160 g/km of CO2 emissions making it a relatively envirofriendly SUV.  Gone is the rather lethargic and dated 1.8-litre.  You can expect the Holden Trax to use less than 7 litres/100 km of gasoline on average.

So, what can you expect to see in the 2017 Holden Trax?  Features like cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity for phone calls, audio streaming, voice control, rear parking sensors, auto headlights, daytime running lights, hill-start assist and Holden brand new MyLink infotainment system with updated ApplePlay and Android connectivity – the sort of technology that you’ll need to stay ahead for the next few years, at least.  In the middle of the dash is the 7.0-inch colour touchscreen interface that connects and talks with smartphone apps.

One area that might be considered average is interior trim and design, but in saying this it’s easy to live with and well-appointed with modern technology.  An analoque instrumentation package has been the preferred choice over the digital dash seen in the previous model, and I can’t say I object.

The older Holden Trax was safe, but Holden/GM have ensured that the new model continues this legacy and a comprehensive set of 10 airbags and a strengthened safety shell are part of the deal.  Keyless entry/start, lane departure warning, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring and forward collision detection are some of the new safety kit expected to be part of the Holden Trax deal.

Out on the road, the Holden Trax performs with assured power delivery and plenty of grip.  Ride is firm yet nicely cushioned for what is good handling for a small SUV.  The Holden Trax offers an awesome view of the road ahead from its elevated front seats.  Road, suspension and wind noise, are well muted from occupants attention.

Hopefully, the Holden Trax, which is made in Korea, will offer an AWD option so it can run against the traction of the Mazda CX-3, Subaru XV and Suzuki Vitara.

The Trax has plenty of door pockets and centre storage, while the luggage space is handy without being amazing.  Of course, the space grows once the multi-split rear seats have been folded.  As far as price goes, the new Holden Trax shouldn’t cost much more than the model it replaces otherwise Holden would be shooting itself in the foot.  In other words, the deal should be less than $25k for some models.  One would also assume that the three-year, 100,000km warranty and capped priced servicing package still stands.

For a small SUV that handles any road surface with ease and relative comfort, the new Holden Trax should tick the boxes.  We like the 1.4-turbo, and there’s loads of modern technology on-board.

Holden/Cheverolet Trax Rear

The complete set of Holden Trax 2017 models are yet to be announced, though one would expect comparable LS and LTZ models:

• Holden Trax

For any more information on the Holden Trax models or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Holden dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!