Yahoo Autos 2015 Chevrolet Trax
Chevrolet favors a certain look to its deeply grained interior plastics that does not imply luxury. This is used throughout the Trax, although efforts have been made to lighten the mood with optional two-tone color shading, some delicate applications of metal-like plastic, and an unconventional gauge cluster that riffs on the Sonic’s by pairing an analog tachometer with a digital display showing everything else that matters. It works well and it looks cool. Who would have thought that hidebound GM would be the only company to seriously-and effectively-deviate from the speedo/tach two-dial cliché that dominates the industry?
Sprightly Enough
The 1.4 makes a doused, distant growl up to its 4900-rpm power peak and won’t be known either for its voice or its thunderous power, although it does pull the Trax up a grade with urgency when you’re on it. The transmission does its business with rote efficiency and never seems to stumble. The EPA numbers come out at 26 mpg city and 34 highway (24/31 mpg with AWD), good figures for the window sticker, but a heavy right foot will make that turbo swill gas.
The steering is lively enough to make the Trax feel like the small car that it is, and the suspension tune and tall-profile tires-even the 55-series pieces on the LTZ’s 18-inch wheels (the LS and LT trims have 16s)-absorb impacts with measured cushioning. One way the Encore earns its price tag is by having hydro-elastic bushings in the front suspension, which dampen out some of the shivering you get in the Trax over mild bumps. The worst thing you can say about this small crossover is that it has a short wheelbase, which gives it an inherently choppier ride versus a vehicle with more inches between the wheels. Welcome to the wonderful world of small cars.
Car people will say, “Why not just buy the Sonic hatchback? You save a few bucks, get your curb weight and center of gravity down, and have the option of a manual transmission.” These are excellent points. The Trax does offer a smidge more interior space plus the higher seating position that many buyers crave, along with some nicely styled character lines down its flanks. It also comes well equipped, with 10 airbags including rear-seat side airbags, a standard backup camera, and available all-wheel drive, the last of which the Sonic doesn’t offer.
As this new segment of wee SUVs matures, expect more of these car-version-vs.-ute-version comparisons, which to some people will seem like choosing between chocolate and vanilla. Insert your personal preference here.
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