Skip advert
Advertisement

Chevrolet Trax 1.7 VCDi

We drive the new Chevrolet Trax to find out if it has what it takes to challenge the big-selling Nissan Juke

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Chevrolet Trax
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Chevrolet Trax will be a bit of a hard sell for customers. Any tech-savvy buyer looking for a small SUV with decent space inside will definitely consider it. However, with the almost identical Vauxhall Mokka also on sale, as well as more refined and established competitors, the Trax may face a tough battle to carve a foothold in the market.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With the small SUV boom in full swing in Europe, the latest car to join the party kicked off by the Nissan Juke is the new Chevrolet Trax. We’ve previously driven an American-specification car, but we’ve now taken the wheel of a European model fitted with General Motors’ 1.7-litre VDCi diesel engine.

The Trax is closely related to the Vauxhall Mokka, but Chevrolet has gone for a more brash look borrowed from its larger Captiva 4x4 and Camaro muscle car. That means a large ‘bow-tie’ badge sandwiched between two grilles, more muscular wheelarches and big, blocky headlights. The end result is a small car with plenty of presence on the road.

While the design may be a little different to the Mokka’s, the engine line-ups are identical. The most popular choices are set to be our 1.7-litre diesel and a 1.4-litre turbo petrol. The diesel produces 128bhp and 300Nm of torque, and feels quite punchy low down in the rev range. You have to be careful to keep it in its power band, though, as it runs out of puff over 3,500rpm.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Civic Tourer

2015 Honda

Civic Tourer

23,617 milesAutomaticPetrol1.8L

Cash £12,178
View Civic Tourer
Astra

2023 Vauxhall

Astra

11,209 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £21,199
View Astra
EcoSport

2019 Ford

EcoSport

16,963 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £10,495
View EcoSport
Grandland X

2020 Vauxhall

Grandland X

45,973 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £10,495
View Grandland X

Unfortunately, the diesel is also rather noisy, both at low and high speed. On motorways, this is combined with excessive wind noise, which isn’t helped by the Trax’s bluff front end and large wing mirrors.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Handling isn’t particularly sparkling, either, with quite a bit of body roll apparent around even the slightest of corners. It’s possible that the front-wheel-drive versions will handle better than our four-wheel-drive model, as they ride 10mm lower. On the plus side, the steering is responsive and the six-speed manual gearbox has a nice, accurate shift action.

The Trax rides pretty well over individual potholes and large bumps, but if you find yourself on a road with many bumps in succession, it has a tendency to bounce up and down too much and struggles to ever settle down.

Inside, much of the switchgear is recognisable from other cars in the Chevy range. And with a large touchscreen taking care of the major functions, the centre console has a neat appearance. But the scratchy, cheap-looking plastics are less impressive.

One of the Trax’s major trump cards is the MyLink technology you get on the top LT spec. This allows you to link apps from your smartphone to the car, as well as controlling music and calls.

One of the apps is a sat-nav system, which downloads maps to your phone and costs around £50 per year – rather than the £700 to £1,000 you’d normally pay for a built-in system. It also allows drivers to use Siri voice commands on their iPhone.

Despite its compact 4x4 looks, the Trax is a very practical car. There are twin gloveboxes (one with the aux-in point inside so you can hide your MP3 player), wide door pockets and plenty of small storage cubbies littered around the cabin. Then there’s the boot, which holds 356 litres, but can be extended to 1,372 litres if you fold the rear seats.

Yet with the Mokka already on sale, the Juke leading the way and two new challengers in the form of the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur just around the corner, the Trax faces an extremely tough fight for sales.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,200
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,795 off RRP*Used from £11,800
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,672 off RRP*Used from £16,100
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 grant for new EVs sold
News
15 Jul 2025