Eye candy on wheels: Chevrolet Trax RS

The crossover segment, particularly the compact variety, has become quite a battlefield in the Philippine market. 

Car buyers now have a multitude of models to choose from. As such, it has become a challenge for carmakers to introduce a crossover that truly stands out. One brand attempting to do so is Chevrolet Philippines with the Trax, which it launched a year ago. 

So, the question now is, does the Chevrolet Trax have the qualities to emerge as an attention-grabbing contender amongst the sea of other crossovers in the market? Zigwheels Philippines found the answer to the said question when we borrowed the Trax RS for a week. 

Exterior

Upon seeing the Trax RS for the first time, most will be smitten with its appearance. From its sharp and aggressive front fascia to its straight but elongated side profile and hefty-looking rear, there’s plenty to like about the Bow-tie brand’s compact offering. 

Particularly eye-catching are the Trax’s LED exterior fixtures, which received fluidic designs that appear to “drip” down from the vehicle’s centerline. Sure, its sides get the usual black plastic claddings typical of crossovers, but its flat roof and thick rear haunches also give it a sportier appeal. 

The exterior of the vehicle also offers many amenities. A sunroof provides heaps more enjoyment during road trips, while its power-folding side mirrors and rain-sensing wipers will greatly enhance the convenience it gives to any driver. 

Many will likewise appreciate the sheer amount of color options for the Trax. In total, it has eight, which will help a lot in “personalizing” the vehicle. The one Zigwheels Philippines managed to borrow came in Ziggy Solid, which worked well in making the car stand out in traffic. 

Overall, the Chevrolet Trax, especially the top-spec RS trim, is a huge leap from the humdrum looks of the previous-gen model. For sure, the nameplate has gained a much more mature look, which will help it stand against the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-3, Ford Territory, and GAC GS3 Emzoom in terms of style. 

Interior

While the exterior of the Trax is eye-candy, more points of discussion can be had regarding its interior. 

For starters, most of its cockpit, interior door cards, and dashboard are made of shiny or textured plastic. The aforementioned bits are far from flimsy, but considering the vehicle's price, Chevy could have given the Trax more soft-touch materials. 

Comfort inside the vehicle’s front cabin, however, is quite adequate, even for large individuals. At five feet and 11 inches, the author didn’t have any difficulties in finding his preferred driving position thanks to the Trax’s eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat and its tilt and telescopic steering wheel. 

The seats themselves also feel nice, thanks to the use of soft and supple perforated leather-style materials. The same goes for the steering wheel, which showcases an attractive and ergonomic shape. 

Its array of physical controls for the vehicle’s automatic air-conditioning (AC) system and music player are also great to use. The buttons and knobs for the AC are easily understood from the get-go, but the auxiliary volume and audio track selection toggles positioned behind the steering wheel can be odd at first. 

The aforementioned buttons are placed where paddle shifters are usually found. But once a user knows where the buttons are, they offer seamless control over the car’s audio system, which is a big help in keeping one’s eyes on the road. 

The Trax RS's central infotainment display features a sizable 11-inch screen, which is responsive to inputs and is very legible in any driving condition. Paired with the main screen is an eight-inch digital gauge cluster, which can display loads of driving-related information, such as tire pressure and engine temperature, among others. 

Unfortunately, the infotainment screen doesn’t come with Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto is available. Thanks to a wireless charging pad, keeping one’s devices topped up aboard the Trax is also a breeze. 

In its rear cabin, passengers of various sizes will find no issue with space. It offers a huge amount of legroom and elbowroom, plus it has amenities like a rear AC vent and USB ports. 

The Trax's trunk space is likewise decent, with up to 1,405 liters if the rear seats are folded down. The tonneau cover, though, takes up a lot of room. So, for folks intending to use the car as a grocery getter or a road trip chariot, the said part would be better left at home. 

Safety

As expected from a modern crossover, the Trax has many safety features. Anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, a reverse camera, rollover mitigation, and six airbags are standard on all trims. 

The aforementioned bits are supported by an array of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), which include forward collision alert, following distance indicator, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, front pedestrian detection, and autonomous emergency braking. 

During testing, we didn’t get to use much of the Trax’s ADAS features, but its cruise control works well enough on roads like the North Luzon Expressway. The vehicle’s lane keep assist, however, was a tad too aggressive, but it can be turned off with a simple press of a button. 

Engine and Performance

Under the hood of the Chevrolet Trax is a 1.2-liter inline-3 gasoline engine paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. 

On paper, some may consider the three-cylinder mill as too small for the vehicle, but in reality, it actually has some kick to it. 

At the most, the Trax’s three-banger can churn out 137 horsepower and 220 Newton-meters of torque. All those horses are readily accessible to the pilot thanks to an electronic turbocharger, which helps stave off some amounts of forced induction lag. 

So in real-life driving, the vehicle is reasonably responsive and quick on its feet when overtaking at highway speeds. In taking corners, the Trax does a respectable job of staving away body roll. Its suspension system is also good at keeping the ride smooth when one is forced to take on speed humps, shallow potholes, and uneven road surfaces. 

However, minute amounts of wind and tire noise can be heard at speeds of around 80 kilometers per hour. The noises are tolerable, and the vehicle’s engine sounds at high revolutions per minute also give the ride plenty of personality. 

The compact crossover also returns a respectable fuel efficiency reading of 11 kilometers per liter in the city. To note, the said economy figure was taken at an average speed of 22 kilometers per hour in moderate traffic with only the driver on board. 

One downside to how the Trax drives, though, is the deadened feeling of its steering wheel, which is par for the course when it comes to crossovers nowadays. Strangely, the shifter also requires a larger range of motion to manipulate, at least when compared to other automatic crossovers. It doesn’t impact the vehicle’s performance in any way, but it will take getting used to. 

Variants, Price

• Trax LT: P1,793,888
• Trax Redline: P1,866,888
• Trax RS: P1,948,888

Final thoughts

Overall, the Trax can be considered a good car. It has a respectable amount of safety features, a decent array of onboard amenities, and engaging driving characteristics. But now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. 

As pointed out above, the Trax has a starting price of P1,793,888. Even more eye-watering is the Trax RS’ asking price of P1,948,888. 

With that price range, the Chevrolet model is already on par with several entry-level mid-size sports utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and plenty of other more powerful crossovers. Among budget-conscious Filipino car buyers, this is a tough pill to swallow. 

On the upside, the expensive price means a sense of exclusivity for folks who are buying the Trax. Plus, the Chevrolet has more than enough bits to make it a unique ride amongst the sea of crossovers in the market today. 

Also read:

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