Holden Trax
The Holden Trax is categorized as a subcompact CUV (crossover SUV), which is roughly equivalent to small SUV in Australia or a J-segment car in Europe. It is called Holden Trax in Australia and the rest of Oceania, but it is known as Chevrolet Tracker for Russia and Brazil, and Chevrolet Trax for the rest of the world.
This crossover SUV is manufactured by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors based on the shared GM Gamma II platform—the same platform used for manufacturing the Chevy Aveo (aka Holden Barina) and the Buick Encore.
The Holden Trax is basically a new car, and the timeline below shows the 7-year span since it was introduced as a concept car in 2012.
2012 – 2013
The concept was introduced to the world at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, with the final unveiling taking place a year later at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. Four essay models were made available for test driving at the 2013 Montreal Auto Show.
2013 - 2016
Holden, a GM-subsidiary in Australia, distributed it in the Oceania region as Holden Trax in 2013. Marketing for this car continued globally from 2013 to 2015 under its three different nameplates. Several versions were made to comply with specific regulations in various countries, but the basic global model remained the same. The drivetrains offered to the different markets were all available in front-wheel and all-wheel drives and were as follows:
- Latin America – 1.8L I4 petrol engine; 140 PS (103 kW) power and 175 N⋅m torque
- Canada and USA – 1.4L I4 turbocharged petrol engine; 140 PS (103 kW) power and 200 N⋅m torque
- Mexico and Australia – 1.4L and 1.8L turbocharged engine
- Europe – 1.4L I4 turbo petrol engine, 1.6L I4 petrol engine (at 115 PS/85 kW and 155 N⋅m), and 1.7L I4 diesel engine (at 130 PS/96 kW and 300 N⋅m)
The US versions added features like built-in OnStar module with 4G LTE AT&T and SiriusXM.
Three trim levels were available for all versions—LS (luxury sport - basic), LT (luxury touring - trim options added to LS), and LTZ (premium/top-of-the-line). The following trims were offered across the board:
- Airbags (front, front and rear, side-curtain, knee)
- Air-conditioning
- Anti-lock braking system
- Electronic stability program
- Emergency communication system
- Parking assist
- Power windows
- Split-folding rear seat
- Tilting/telescoping steering wheel
- Tire pressure monitor
2016-present
Updates were made for the 2017 model year Trax. This upcoming model was first introduced during the 2016 Chicago Auto Show and sold in the fall of 2016. The 2017 Trax facelift included the following:
- Halogen projector headlight
- LED DRL
- Dual taillights
- Restyled front grille
- Redesigned dashboard and instrument panel display
- 18” aluminum wheels (LTZ trim level only)
In April 2019, a newcomer joined the Trax and the Equinox in Chevrolet’s small SUV lineup —the Trailblazer. For the North American market, the Trax will not be replaced in the near future and will remain unchanged for the 2020 model year. It will be the same for Holden Trax in the Oceania market. For China and emerging markets, however, a new model—the Holden Tracker—has already replaced the Trax.