By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos GM Media
For 2016 Chevrolet Trax Offers a unique option in the small SUV Market, customers looking for a well-equipped, entry-level SUV will find the Chevrolet Trax a perfect fit.
Exterior
With its signature dual-port grille, prominent bowtie emblem and swept headlamps, the Trax is immediately identifiable as a contemporary Chevrolet. Its grille design with chrome accents emulates other Chevrolets and provides a more cohesive appearance across the brand’s lineup of crossovers and small cars.
Available cues such as front fog lamps and simulated front and rear skid plates lend a sportier presence, while vertical tail lamps flank the tailgate, accenting taught body lines and pronounced wheel arches that give the Trax a confident stance.
In addition to the four new hues, exterior colors available on the Trax include Brilliant Blue Metallic, Orange Rock Metallic, White Pearl Tricoat, Black Granite Metallic, Summit White, Silver Ice Metallic, Deep Espresso Metallic and Blaze Red.
Interior
Inside the Trax, distinctive styling carries over to a dual-cockpit instrument panel. In the center, it houses a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color display for the standard MyLink voice-activated infotainment system. There are also displays for available SiriusXM satellite radio and a standard rearview camera, as well as the available GPS-enabled app navigation system that customers can download.
A bold instrument cluster features a large, performance-style analog tachometer combined with a prominent digital display for the speedometer and other readouts. A small-diameter, thick-rimmed steering wheel enhances the sporty ambience.
For versatility, the 60/40 flat-folding rear seat features a fold-down armrest with cup holders, storage in all four doors, four bins in the dash, pockets in the seatbacks and bins under the rear load floor and a hidden storage drawer under the front passenger seat. It also offers 18.7 cubic feet of storage behind the split-folding rear seat and 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat also folds flat to extend the cargo length and accommodate items up to eight feet long.
Connectivity and infotainment
Available Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users enhances connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity so customers can keep phones stored and their hands on the wheel.
Connectivity features are becoming more important, the Trax accommodates increasingly connected lifestyles with available OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The hotspot provides a mobile hub that is on whenever the vehicle is on. Additional connectivity comes from MyLink technology, which features a seven-inch color touch screen.
Performance
Trax is powered by a power-dense Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine backed by an efficiency-enhancing six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at an SAE-certified 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm.
The wide rpm range for the maximum torque a specific trait of turbocharged engines helps it deliver a more confident driving experience, with a strong feeling of power across the rpm band. The turbocharger’s on-demand performance also contributes to efficiency because it enables greater power when needed with the lower fuel consumption of a small displacement engine.
A Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission with TAPShift control is matched with the 1.4L turbo engine. It has a unique design, with the planetary gear sets positioned on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline, making the entire powertrain unit shorter fore-to-aft. This design enables a shorter overall vehicle length, increased interior space, enhanced safety crush zones and lower weight.
Ride and handling
Built on a robust platform and engineered with precise suspension tuning, Trax delivers one of the quietest and most refined driving experiences. Available all-wheel drive seamlessly shifts power to the rear wheels when required for better traction and handling.
A 100.6-inch wheelbase and wide stance 60.6-inch front and rear tracks contribute to a confident driving experience, while a strong structure enables greater suspension precision and a quiet ride; A MacPherson strut front suspension is used with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules.
The rear suspension incorporates a compound crank design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged twin-tube shocks. It combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Noise-damping urethane spring isolators improve ride isolation and dampen noise.
Summary
With a 5-star Overall Vehicle Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Trax is one of the safest vehicles in its class. Features such as a protective safety cage made of ultra-high-strength steel surrounding the passenger compartment, 10 standard air bags, a rearview camera and available rear park assist.
Fusing small-car agility and utility convenience of an SUV, Trax offers a sporty and sleek appearance, combine with an Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine under the hood, providing the efficiency of a small displacement engine with the power of a larger engine on-demand.
The Estimated fuel economy is rated at 26 mpg City and 34 mpg Highway with the Ecotec Turbo 1.4L 4-Cylinder engine. Manufacturer’s suggested starting retail price is $25,230.00, for the 2016 Chevrolet Trax LTZ FWD, the one I drove included: Power Sliding Sunroof, 18 Inch Black Aluminum Wheels, Jet Black Leatherette Set Trim, Unique Front and Rear Carpeted Floor Mats, Body Color Door Handles and Exterior Granite Metallic Paint, and it came in at $27,525.00 including destination charge.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
