GM Korea Chevrolet Trax

Ever since in two years ago when Mr. Mike Arcamone finally axed the Daewoo brand for good and use the Chevrolet brand to its Korean made cars (with the exception of the Damas, Labo, and Alpheon flagship sedan) to boost its sales as well as its renaming the South Korean division of General Motors from GM Daewoo to GM Korea Company, it bridged the gap between Hyundai-Kia and Renault-Samsung, becoming one of South Korea's biggest carmakers. I know it was a good idea to kill of that ugly Daewoo brand for good because nobody in the world really liked the Daewoo brand after all but sometimes, even the Korean-made Chevrolets should have known better than that because I don't think they fared well against the competition. The Chevrolet Cruze, for instance, is facing sluggish competition against the Avante and the K3 while the Chevy Aveo (Sonic in most markets) is making a deadheat against the Kia Pride and the Hyundai Accent RB and the Chevrolet Captiva is losing its ground against the Santa Fe DM and the Sorento R. Sadly though, GM Korea doesn't have a competitor against the Hyundai Tucson iX or the Kia Sportage R so when they guys went to the drawing board, this is what they came up what known to be as a proper rival to the Tucson or Sportage...

2013 GM Korea Chevrolet Trax

This might be a potential contender, it's called the TRAX and by the name TRAX, people should not to be confused with the 2007 concept car of the same name that inspired Mudflap from Transformers 2 or that K-POP duo called The Trax. He he he he he..... Anyway, while the name sounds confusing for a Korean, what's underneath the Trax is the chassis that was used on the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka (Buick Encore). It's even built by the same factory where most Korean-made Chevys were made. Where? Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea! Not sure where? Look at the map, okay?

2013 GM Korea Chevrolet Trax

 Anyway, the Trax is a compact crossover that slots below the Captiva and as a compact crossover, the TRAX was made to be for those who are living the urban lifestyle, it's like a relaxed adult spending hours listening to Crossover FM on his/her iPhone app or at a sound system that is five times more expensive than an ordinary radio while living in a very luxurious condo somewhere in Filinvest. The Trax though is like that, it's like being me who spend the rest of my free time shopping at Festival or at SM Southmall for some stuff that I like to make myself comfortable. Judging from my free time doing a bit of shopping or relieving my field trip memories, the Trax is just something that I'm easing my worries about.

However, as an alternative to the Tucson or the Sportage R, this is a fair choice because with the starting price of just 19,400,000 Korean Won, the Trax is the affordable of the three. Engine choices of these three? Let's have a look... Sportage R has 2.0L T-GDi and 2.0L CRDi-VGT, Tucson is available only with 2.0L CRDi-VGT, Trax is petrol only at that time. It has a 1.4L turbocharged engine that produces about 140HP of power and 20.4kg-m of torque while being mated with the GEN II 6-speed automatic transmission that you may expect on the Malibu. Fuel consumption takes about 12.2km/L for the only engine offered on the Trax.

Sadly though, no 4WD offered on the Trax, which is a bit of a problem for a crossover of this size and seems to be that those Koreans who want to buy the new Trax might have a bit of a rethink because when the Trax was premiered at last year's Paris Motor Show, it has 4WD but when GM Korea brought it here, where's the 4WD? There's none! The Trax is available only in FF, same as the upcoming Scenic X-MOD that has no 4WD on sight.

As for the driving feel, the Trax is a bit more athletic, it's like a nimble hatchback that really shows its grooves but remember, the Trax is always an urban life vehicle designed and made for those who are as much comfortable as living in a condo in Alabang, not an SUV that you can make some ridiculous stereotypes.

2013 GM Korea Chevrolet Trax interior

The interior of the Trax seems to be a bit cheap, feels like it was made of cheap materials and Chevrolet should have known better when it comes to make eye-catching interiors. Despite it's low-quality interior, the one thing I'm going to like about the Trax is the fact that it has Siri. No, I'm not joking and I'm not making this up because Trax got Siri. That's right, it's your personal assistant you often love or hate on your iPhone is in the Trax and while your iPhone's connected to the Chevrolet MyLink, talk to Siri, Siri knows what to do as you give Siri commands but best to speak clearly or Siri won't understand what you're saying. Trust me, my pronunciations are not that good than yours. He he he he....

To sum up then, what I like about the Trax is that it's got Siri, the turbocharged engine, nimble handling that feels like a sports hatchback, and the same feeling you felt on your posh condo. What I don't like about the Trax that the interior design looks cheap, no diesel and 4WD powertrain on sight, and the design that looks a bit more boxy. Now then, for my moment of truce with the TRAX, Siri, go play me Blind by Trax!

Available colors: Pure White, Snowflake White Pearl, Switchblade Silver, Satin Steel Grey, Velvet Red, Sand Beige Brown, Espresso Brown, Hawaiian Blue, Royal Solid Blue, and Carbon Flash Black.

PRICE LIST:

1.4 LS A/T - 19,400,000 Won
1.4 LS 디럭스 A/T - 20,150,000 Won
1.4 LT A/T - 20,900,000 Won
1.4 LT 디럭스 A/T - 21,900,000 Won
1.4 LTZ A/T - 22,890,000 Won

Photo: GM Korea Company