Chevrolet Trax offers a full-blooded SUV in a smaller package

Chevrolet has just released more details on its first entry into the small SUV segment, the Trax. It is set to launch later this year. Chevrolet say Trax gives buyers many of the benefits of a full-blooded SUV while combining the driving dynamics and fuel economy of a smaller car. The Trax was first unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and later in 2013 at the North American International Auto Show.

What will this small SUV offer in the way of space then?  It stands at 4.2m long, 1.7 m wide and 1.6 m high, 356-litre boot and you can fold 40/60 rear seat flat for a loading space that can be extended to accommodate a maximum of 1370L, with further space available under the cargo floor, plus a roof load capacity of 75 kg and can tow trailers weighing up to 1200kg.

To aid in fuel efficiency, the Trax will offer cutting-edge aerodynamics. The strength of its structural design makes Trax one of the safest small SUVs in Europe. Should the car roll over, it has been engineered to carry more than four times its own weight.

The engine line-up will comprise a 1.4L turbocharged petrol unit, a 1.6L petrol engine and 1.7L turbo-diesel engine. All manual transmission variants come with Stop/Start functionality. Both the 1.7L turbo-diesel and the 1.4L turbo petrol engine can also be offered with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

For those who really enjoy the latest in-car technology, the upper trims of the Trax come standard with the Chevrolet MyLink which connects your smart-phone entertainment with the Trax’s own systems allowing access to media including specialist apps from compatible portable devices.  For those customers with a compatible iPhone running iOS 6, they can ask Siri, an intelligent assistant, to perform a number of tasks while they safely keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. An Eyes Free mode enables drivers to interact with their iPhones using nothing more than their voice while keeping the device's screen from lighting up.

It certainly sounds impressive so far. If you are considering buying a compact SUV but haven’t quite decided on which one yet, then head over to Chevrolet’s website where they have compiled a competitive comparison chart measuring the Trax up against others in this competitive segment, such as the Nissan Juke and Skoda Yeti.