[Taboleo] At This Price and Performance, 'Satisfaction'... Chevrolet 'Trax Crossover'

20.52 million KRW. This is the starting price of the Chevrolet Trax Crossover, a brand under General Motors (GM). It is not a common price among recently released new cars in a similar class. This is even more notable considering that all car brands have been raising prices due to rising raw material costs caused by COVID-19. It made me think that GM really bit the bullet to bring this vehicle to the domestic market.

Does that mean this car was made carelessly? Not at all. In terms of performance, it made me feel more "I am satisfied with this price" rather than "I can understand this price." It is truly a vehicle that captures both cost-effectiveness and emotional satisfaction.

Chevrolet 'Trax Crossover'. Photo by Yoo Hyun-seok

Last month, I drove the Trax Crossover around the Paju area. Although the test drive lasted only 30 minutes, even that short time was satisfying.

The exterior of the Trax can be described as "well-designed." The body is low and elongated. It measures 4540 mm in length, 1825 mm in width, and 1560 mm in height. It is longer than similarly sized models like the Kona (4350 mm) and Seltos (4390 mm). Especially, the roofline slopes downwards from front to back, giving a sleeker impression.

Chevrolet 'Trax Crossover'. Photo by Yoo Hyun-seok

The vehicle I test drove was the RS trim of the Trax Crossover, the highest-end model. While performance is the same across trims, there are differences in details. The RS trim adds exclusive exterior options such as 19-inch Carbon Flash machined alloy wheels, Black Ice chrome grille bar, black roof, black Trax lettering, and RS badges.

The interior is spacious. When sitting in the back seat, there was about one to two fists of space left between the front seat and me. This is possible due to the 2700 mm wheelbase. Additionally, there is no center tunnel and the floor is flat, making it easy to utilize the space.

Chevrolet 'Trax Crossover'. Photo by Hyunseok Yoo

In front of the driver's seat is an 8-inch color cluster. Also, an 11-inch touchscreen is located in the center of the dashboard, slightly tilted towards the driver’s side for easier operation.

The driving performance is satisfactory for the price range. The Trax Crossover is equipped with a 1.2L E-Turbo Prime engine. It delivers a maximum output of 139 horsepower and a peak torque of 22.4 kg·m. Before driving, I was worried it might lack power, but it did not feel insufficient. The quick acceleration was impressive. There is a slight turbo lag (delay in engine response typical of turbo engines), but it is not bothersome.

Chevrolet 'Trax Crossover'. Photo by Hyunseok Yoo

The steering wheel is light. Some may prefer this, while others may dislike it. The cars I have test-driven before had heavier steering wheels, which made lane keeping easier. However, the Trax’s wheel is light and the vehicle responds immediately, so it requires more focus while driving. This is a plus for those who like responsiveness but might be a minus for those who want a more relaxed driving experience.

There are some drawbacks. The lane departure warning and lane keeping assist systems do exist, but they activate only when the vehicle is about to leave the lane. Moreover, they do not keep the vehicle centered in the lane. In other words, for long-distance driving, some fatigue should be expected.

Chevrolet 'Trax Crossover'. Photo by Hyunseok Yoo

Nevertheless, my evaluation of this vehicle is "satisfaction." It is hard to find a car with this level of design and performance at this price. I recommend it to those who drive in the city or go on nearby drives. The prices (based on the reduced individual consumption tax) are ▲LS 20.52 million KRW ▲LT 23.66 million KRW ▲Active 26.81 million KRW ▲RS 27.39 million KRW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.