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SUBCOMPACT SUV

Spotlight on the 2020 Hyundai Kona

June 23, 2020 by admin 3 Comments

On the road with Hyundai’s almost smallest utility vehicle.



Hyundai’s utility vehicle portfolio is one of the newest on the market, composed of multiple models spanning from the diminutive Venue to the roomy and luxurious Palisade. One of its smallest models is the Kona, a subcompact model with room for five. It delivers style, amenities, and performance that punches above its weight.


2020 Hyundai Kona Review


Hyundai offers the 2020 Kona in SE ($20,300), SEL ($22,100), SEL ($23,950), Limited ($26,100), and Ultimate ($27,950) trims.

All trims come with standard front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is a $1,400 upgrade. You’ll find two engine choices; each works with an automatic transmission.

For 2020, Hyundai did the usual equipment shuffling. Adaptive cruise control is now standard on the top Ultimate trim.

Exterior

We’ve noticed a trend from Hyundai over the past 10 years: design cars with a premium look, while maintaining a mainstream price. That strategy has worked well for the automaker as its various “fluidic” designs have won much praise.

Hyundai’s current design strategy is evident in vehicles such as the Kona, Sonata, and Palisade. The look includes a large grille, sporty headlights, beautiful accent lights, generous body sculpting, and exquisite lines. Most definitely the Kona is dressed with distinction.

Hyundai equips the Kona with an impressive list of standard features, including automatic on/off headlights, LED daytime running lights, and a rear spoiler with a center LED brake light. Starting with the SEL trim, the Kona gains heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators, roof side rails, and an anti-theft vehicle immobilizer. The SEL Plus adds front fog lights and a power tilt-and-slide sunroof.

The Kona gets every available feature with the Limited, except the rain-sensing wipers on the Ultimate. Here, the Limited gains upgraded exterior trim, including cascading grille with chrome grille surround. Also standard are aero wiper blades, LED headlights with low beam assist, and LED taillights.

As for wheel choices, the SE comes with 16-inch alloy wheels. The SEL and SEL Plus have 17-inch alloy wheels, while the 18-inch alloy wheels are reserved for the Limited and Ultimate trims. Optionally, Hyundai supplies a contrasting roof option beginning with SEL trim.



Interior

We like the Kona’s cabin, although it is a stretch to say it seats five. There is a quintet of safety belts present, but this model likely will appeal to two adults with the occasional rear passengers present. Even then, the rear space is small and best allocated for two children. Better yet, fold down the rear seat and extend your cargo space appreciably.

Kudos to Hyundai for delivering an interior that uses high-quality material and lays them with precision throughout. There’s nothing that looks cheap here.

The standard Kona comes with keyless entry with an alarm; push-button start rolls out at the SEL level. Full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, air conditioning, cloth seats, and a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat are standard.

At the SEL trim, Hyundai includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, dual-illuminated visors, and a hidden cargo-area storage compartment. The SEL Plus brings in an 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support and an automatic dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink.

Choose the Limited and this trim gains leather-trimmed seats and automatic temperature control. If you want a head’s up display, this feature is exclusive to the Ultimate.




Safety

Hyundai does a good job by supplying the driver-assist safety features we’re accustomed to these days. Under the SmartSense Advanced Safety umbrella, the Kona has standard forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning.

The SEL trim builds on this, gaining blind-spot collision warning with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. No additional features are included until you choose the top Ultimate trim. Specifically, Hyundai includes high-beam assist, pedestrian detection with forward collision warning, park distance warning, and smart cruise control.

Technology

We like Hyundai’s tech features especially beginning with the SEL Plus trim.

A 7-inch touch-screen display is standard. Moreover, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility, two USB ports, and an auxiliary input jack are included.

Moving up to the SEL trim adds satellite and HD Radio. The SEL Plus swaps out the standard audio system with an 8-speaker Infinity package. The big surprise and a nice feature typically reserved for top-trim models (if available at all) is a wireless device charging pad. Furthermore, with this trim, the Kona also gains Hyundai’s Blue Link suite of connected services.

The Limited adds no features, while the Ultimate has the 8-inch touch-screen display with navigation. You certainly don’t need navigation as smartphone compatibility is enough.



Performance

The optional turbo engine is more powerful and efficient than the base driver. We see this from time to time as a manufacturer offers a standard engine, then tantalizes with an optional engine that’s usually a better choice. It’s standard on the two top trims, while the base engine motivates the first three trims.

Our test model had the optional turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. This one makes an impressive 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of trim. Compare these numbers to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine’s 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque and it quickly becomes apparent that the differences are significant. Both engines work with an automatic transmission: the standard engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic; the turbo has a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

We found the turbo is a competent motivator, although we noticed some lag before the engine was warm. This isn’t uncommon, but it’s something to keep in mind if you plan to floor it soon after start. Once spooled, the Kona moves with authority. It’s the engine choice for anyone who wants something beyond the leisurely standard motivator.

You’ll also average no better than 28 mpg compared to the 30 mpg of the turbo.

The Kona is fun to drive with spot-on steering and nimble handling. It may be a “high profile” vehicle, but its diminutive size keeps most incidences of body roll in check. We found the Kona surprisingly fun on curvy roads, although you’ll need to keep it slow when pulling out of corners. If you’re performance-minded, either the Hyundai Tiburon or Hyundai Elantra GT are the better choices.

Competitive Set

The subcompact crossover utility vehicle segment is booming as it offers an affordable entry point into the market. Hyundai has two choices – the Kona and the even smaller Venue. The Venue, however, does not offer all-wheel drive.

Among the competitors in this segment are the Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Ford EcoSport, Chevrolet Trax, Toyota C-HR, and the Honda HR-V. Other models include the Nissan Kicks and Rogue Sport, Mazda CX-3 and CX-30, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and the Subaru Crosstrek.

Like the Venue, the C-HR and Kicks are front-wheel-drive only. All other models except the Subaru offer available all-wheel drive. Only the Crosstrek is imbued with standard all-wheel drive.



Our Recommendation


If you’re on a budget, the base model certainly has its appeal. But we’d step up to at least the SEL to obtain some of the better amenities offered. Of course, it’s hard to ignore the turbo engine, which is only available on the top trims. If the engine appeals to you and you can live without all the advanced driver safety features available with the Ultimate trim, then go with the Kona Limited.

All in all, the Hyundai Kona does what it needs to do to attract consumers, including those moving over from a sedan. The competition is stiff, but Hyundai doesn’t back down with either of its tiniest utility vehicles.


2020 Hyundai Kona Specifications


Hyundai 2020 Kona
Segment Subcompact SUV
Price Range $20,300 to $27,950
Destination Charge $1,140
Engine No. 1 2.0-liter, I4
Horsepower 147 @ 6,200 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.) 132 @ 4,500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Engine No. 2 1.6-liter, I4
Horsepower 175 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.) 195 @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
Transmission 7-speed DCT
Seating 5
Curb Weight (pounds) 2,890 to 3,126
Wheelbase (inches) 102.4
Length (inches) 164.0
Width (inches) 70.9
Height (inches) 61.0
Headroom (f,r…inches) 39.6, 37.8
Legroom (f,r…inches) 41.5, 34.6
Shoulder room (f,r…inches) 55.5, 54.5
Hip room (f,r…inches) 53.3, 52.2
Storage (cubic feet) 19.2, 45.8
Gross vehicle weight (pounds) 3,979 to 4,189
Towing (pounds) NR
Payload (pounds) NR
Fuel regular
Fuel Tank (gallons) 13.2
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway/combined) 27/33/30
Manufacturing Plant NR

Data compiled by Tom Keegan. Specifications supplied by the manufacturer.


See Also — Budget Crossover: 2020 Hyundai Venue

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: all-wheel drive, crossover, Hyundai, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Venue, SUBCOMPACT SUV, turbo

The Nissan Kicks Gets a Big “V” for Value

August 23, 2018 by admin 10 Comments

Silly Wabbit, Kicks Is For Kids!

2018 Nissan Kicks
The 2018 Nissan Kicks is stylish, efficient and affordable.

The 2018 Nissan Kicks is an all-new subcompact crossover utility vehicle, which was designed for one of the hottest and most competitive passenger vehicle segments.

Its arrival this past spring enables Nissan to double-down in a market where consumers continue to move away from sedans to utility vehicles. Nissan hasn’t abandoned its cars, but it is in excellent shape with its utility vehicles as the Kicks replaces the Juke. After the Kicks, shoppers might consider the small Rogue Sport or the Rogue, the medium Murano or the Pathfinder, or the full-size Armada. All except the truck-based Armada are crossovers.

Good-Bye Juke, Hello Kicks

So, what happened to the lovable, but ugly Juke? After a seven-year run, Nissan’s polarizing coupe-like crossover is gone. Anyway, credit should be given to Nissan for bringing the Juke to the market ahead of most competitors.

This writer had the opportunity to drive a pair of Jukes, including one NISMO model that my youngest son and I took on the twisty roads of the southern Appalachian mountains in June 2013. That front-wheel-drive turbocharged vehicle had a six-speed manual gearbox and handled itself quite well as we climbed and descended hill after hill and enjoyed tackling several switchbacks.

Alas, the Kicks has neither a turbo nor a stick shift nor even available all-wheel drive. Good-bye, Juke…you were homely, yet fun.

2018 Nissan Juke

2018 Nissan Kicks: Three Grades Available

The Nissan Kicks is a somewhat basic package with a surprisingly big value proposition. This front-wheel-drive-only model seats five and comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission.

Nissan offers the 2018 Kicks in three grades: S ($17,990), SV ($19,690) and SR ($20,290). Add $995 for the destination charge. Individual options include premium paint ($395), premium paint with a two-tone body/roof ($545) or two-tone paint alone ($150).

The lone available package is the SR Premium Package ($1,000). This package includes a Bose Personal Plus sound system that has a pair of speakers in the driver’s seat headrest. The package also brings in imitation-leather seats, heated front seats and a vehicle security system.

2018 Nissan Kicks

Contemporary Style, Out and In

Where the Nissan Juke once polarized, the Kicks actually soothes. Clearly, Nissan wanted to make a clean break with the previous design. And they did.

2018 Nissan KicksPerhaps what is most interesting about the Kicks’ design is how sophisticated it looks. Indeed, the front fascia has the smallest interpretation of Nissan’s “V-motion” grille yet, which is honed by a pair of sleek headlamps.

That said, the profile is the most interesting of all exterior features as if has long flowing lines and a beltline that suddenly rises ahead of the rear door handle. The two-tone look of my test model reminded me a lot of the Volvo XC40, a model that costs twice as much. From the rear, the Kicks has a clamshell liftgate and stylish wraparound tail lamps.

The standard exterior features include automatic halogen headlights, manual-folding side mirrors, 16-inch steel wheels and roof rails. Upgrades include LED low-beam headlights, front fog lights, heated side mirrors with LED turn signals, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and a rear spoiler.

A Surprisingly Refined Cabin

Inside, the cabin is surprisingly refined or least it doesn’t scream cheap. Sure, you’ll find hard plastics on the doors and lower dashboard, but my test SR model offered a layered dash with soft-touch materials and double-stitched at that. The patterned fabric on the door inlay and seat bolsters were a surprise as was the quilted design of the seats. Clearly, Nissan was looking for a way to avoid the “low budget” label and they succeeded.

2018 Nissan KicksThe interior room is ideal up front, but legroom is tight in the rear. Still, two average-sized adults can sit in comfort for short trips, although families with children in booster seats should be pleased. The overall cabin layout is straightforward, if not simple, which should appeal to most drivers.

You’ll find ample storage behind the second-row seat with that space doubled once the rear seat is folded. Under the storage compartment is a donut spare tire, which is encased in a Styrofoam block that holds the jack and other accessories.

Among the standard interior features are power windows, power door locks, a tilt steering column, and air conditioning. The list of upgrades includes automatic temperature control and a tonneau cover.

Safety and Technology

The Nissan Kicks has a standard automatic emergency braking system, although it does that without adaptive cruise control, which isn’t available. The system will warn you when you’re too close to the vehicle in front and will automatically engage the brakes to avoid a frontal collision.

There are two other driver-assist features available, but not with the base model. Blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are included with the SV and SR trims.

Nissan supplies the 2018 Kicks with a six-speaker audio system. The package includes a CD player, a 7-inch color display, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity, USB and auxiliary audio input.

Satellite radio and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility are available, but not with the base model. Also available is an 8-speaker Bose audio system. Interestingly, there is no onboard navigation system available. Instead, you’ll acquire your directions through your connected Apple or Android device. Perhaps manufacturers will eventually cede navigation assistance to third-party providers, especially as autonomous driving becomes a reality.

2018 Nissan Kicks

Powertrain and Drivetrain

Powering every 2018 Nissan Kicks model is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Nissan matches it with a continuously variable transmission.

This engine has an output of 125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque. If these numbers seem tepid, you need to consider that the Kicks weighs no more than 2,672 pounds empty, which is hundreds of pounds less than some of its competitors.

The Kicks’ lightweight frame means this model can get an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Compare that to the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine powering the front-wheel-drive Ford EcoSport. That model gets only 27/29 mpg city/highway.

2018 Nissan Kicks

On the Road With a 2018 Kicks

Yes, the Kicks isn’t a power maven by any stretch of the imagination. That said, its leisurely drive likely won’t put off a core segment of consumers, which are urban dwellers. The Kicks has several things going for it, including a small footprint and a tight turning radius. Both supply an advantage in high congestion areas.

On the road, the Kicks’ engine drones on and on, especially under hard acceleration. That’s because it is paired with a CVT, which doesn’t supply gear shifts. But credit Nissan for including technology that eases engine noise, by allowing the engine to drop RPMs at select intervals. As for the steering, it is light to the touch and as for handling, its strong suit is with its adept maneuverability.

One final point about the Kicks’ predecessor before we move on: the Juke definitely had fun driving in mind with its hatchback design, lower profile and turbo engine. The Kicks does what it has to do, by delivering reliable transportation at an affordable price.

2018 Nissan Kicks

Parting Thoughts

Although I don’t grade the vehicles I drive (except when I’m writing a separate review for CARFAX), I give the 2018 Nissan Kicks high marks. That doesn’t mean it is a perfect vehicle, but it does do what it needs to do and does that well. Certainly, style and fuel efficiency are important attributes for this vehicle, but it is its value that should appeal to mostly anyone. Indeed, if you were to outfit this model to the max, you’d be hard-pressed to pay $23,000 for one.

Keep in mind you cannot get all-wheel drive, which is the same limitation offered by the Toyota C-HR. That said, if you want all-wheel drive and additional safety features, then the Nissan Rogue Sport is where you’ll want to shop. Its price is competitive and you’ll enjoy the improved rear seat space too.

All in all, the Nissan Kicks is a strong player in the hot subcompact crossover segment. Other competitors include the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and the Chevrolet Trax.


2018 Nissan Kicks


2018 Nissan Kicks Specifications

  • Priced from $18,985 (includes $995 destination charge)
  • Sticker price $22,025 (Kicks SR)
  • Seats five
  • Engine: 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas
  • 125 horsepower @ 5,800 RPM
  • 115 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,000 RPM
  • Continuously variable transmission
  • Wheelbase: 103.1 inches
  • Length: 169.1 inches
  • Width: 69.3 inches
  • Height: 62.4 inches
  • Passenger volume: 93.9 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 25.3/53.1 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: NR
  • EPA: 31/34 mpg city/highway
  • Regular gasoline
  • Fuel tank: 10.8 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 2,639 to 2,672 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: NR
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 36 months/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 60 months/60,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 60 months/unlimited miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Aguascalientes, Mexico

2018 Nissan Kicks


See Also — Hyundai Veloster Dissection: All-New Second-Generation Model

Photo copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 2018 SUVs, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, CVT, four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, NISSAN, NISSAN JUKE, Nissan Kicks, Siri Eyes Free, SUBCOMPACT SUV

It’s a Buyers Market for Small Car Shoppers

April 12, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Some of the best deals are for small cars.

You might have your eye on that small SUV, but if you’re trading up from a compact car the incentives for small cars are very strong as we reach the heart of the spring selling season.

Consumers continue to shift their interest from cars to trucks and SUVs, and that means demand for the former has fallen, while interest in the latter is soaring. And if you know anything about the impact of supply and demand on prices, incentives follow the low-demand vehicles.

2016 Jeep Renegade.
2016 Jeep Renegade priced from $17,995.

Dodge Dart Discounted, Models Realigned

For example, sales of the 2016 Dodge Dart are down by about one-third year-over-year through the first three months of this year. Further, the entire segment is down by just over 5 percent and would be much worse off if Honda hadn’t updated the Civic. Notably, Civic sales are up 30.8 percent and have moved ahead of the previous category leader, the Toyota Corolla (down 7.1 percent).

To help move Dart sales, Dodge is doing a couple of things:

1. Incentives are strong, depending on region. Some models are marked down by up to $3,250. Low-rate financing is also available. Visit the Dodge website, enter your zip code, and check out the discounts in your area.

2. Three trim levels instead of five. Just past the halfway mark of the model year and the 2016 Dart now has two fewer trim levels. The three remaining trims were renamed and given engines to correspond to each level. Likewise, Dodge shuffled content, cut prices, and spread its package options across all three lines. All in all, the result should be a model better positioned to compete in a very tough segment.

2016 Honda HR-V.
2016 Honda HR-V priced from $19,125

Financing and Cash Back Incentives

Toyota incentives also vary by region. In my area (southeast USA), the current deal is 0 percent financing for up to 60 months or 0.9 percent financing for 72 months. But those incentives are better elsewhere, including in Los Angeles, where Toyota is offering $1,500 cash back or low-rate financing. Furthermore, attractive lease offers are in play as well.

Demand for small SUVs is up 6.3 percent year-to-date, a modest number. But the biggest gainers are found in the entry-level, subcompact SUV segment as those sales are up a whopping 78.7 percent. Of course, there are four new products in the mix and are driving sales. These are: the Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, and the Mazda CX-3. The segment has expanded to accommodate the new models as customers shift their interest from small cars to SUVs.

Despite the strong sales, there are incentives on some of the smaller SUVs. At present, Jeep is offering 0 percent financing plus $1,000 cash back on 2016 Renegade models. The brand is also jockeying for market share, hence the discount.

Honda isn’t offering any special deals at the moment for the HR-V, but it is providing a lease deal on its hot-selling Civic. As for financing deals, Honda simply says “Please see your local Honda dealer for available offers.”

Incidentally, both segments offer comparable passenger and storage room, hence the comparison.

Dodge Dart.
2016 Dodge Dart priced from $16,995.

Sample Dodge Dart Savings

Using the Dodge build and price configurator, I spec’d out a mid-grade Aero model ($21,095). I then added the $1,250 6-speed automatic transmission and immediately that cost was fully offset by an “applied offer.” The net price came in at $22,090.

For a better deal, go to the next-level Dart GT and the discounts climb to $2,750 and the final price actually comes in lower at $20,340. You also get a larger and more powerful engine, while saving nearly $1,700 off the Aero price. With smart negotiating you can get the price down even lower, probably below $19,000.

Chevy v. Chevy Price Comparison

Of course, comparing models takes some theatrics, especially if the brand under consideration doesn’t offer both a subcompact SUV and a compact car such as Chevrolet and Honda do.

Chevrolet may offer the best example of the price differences between compact car (Cruze) and subcompact SUV (Trax). The 2016 Cruze is priced from $16,120 and the Trax starts out at $20,300.

With the Cruze, discounts of $1,000 and 1.9 percent financing apply to the LS Manual ($18,995) on up. Choose the Trax and you’ll get a $500 purchase bonus and you may qualify for 2.9 percent financing. Typically, you’ll pay about $4,000 more for a similarly-equipped Trax versus the Cruze. Add another $1,500 for all-wheel drive, available only with the Trax.

To sum up, similar-sized cars and SUVs offer significant price differences, especially after all incentives have been taken. If you really want an SUV, then by all means shop for one. But if you’re on the fence and money is a factor, bargaining down the price of a compact car can make a significant difference for your budget.


Sales figures courtesy of GoodCarBadCar.net.

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: CASH BACK, CHEVROLET CRUZE, CHEVROLET TRAX, compact car, DODGE DART, FINANCING, Honda Civic, HONDA HR-V, INCENTIVES, JEEP RENEGADE, SUBCOMPACT SUV

About the 2015 Chevrolet Trax

March 9, 2015 by admin 3 Comments

The subcompact sport utility vehicle segment is expanding rapidly as new products from Honda, Fiat, Jeep and Mazda enter the fray. Joining the current Buick Encore and Nissan Juke is another small SUV, the Chevrolet Trax, a five-passenger model that gives the bow-tie brand its fifth utility vehicle.

The 2015 Chevrolet Trax is just now entering showrooms, the third crossover and fifth overall utility vehicle for GM’s headmost brand. The Trax arrives just as the subcompact SUV segment receives an infusion of new products, including the Honda HR-V and the Fiat 500X.

Pricing Essentials and Strategy

The Chevrolet Trax is based on the Buick Encore, a premium model with the price and content to go with it. To effectively compete in a segment where a base price of $20,000 will be common, GM established a $20,120 base price for the Trax or $20,995 once the delivery charge is included.

This front-wheel-drive model is also available in all-wheel drive and is sold in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. All-wheel drive adds $1,500 to the price. Chevrolet says that the Trax has the utility of an SUV and the agility of a compact car. Likely, that statement is true because it aligns with my impressions of the similar Buick Encore. Stay tuned for a hands-on review once one passes through my press fleet rotation.

For a small vehicle, there is a lot to discuss beyond its standard 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Indeed, its standard Chevrolet MyLine infotainment system, 7-inch diagonal screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, standard rear view camera, and standard 10 airbags should pique the interest of the intrepid shopper.

2015 Chevrolet Trax

Room for Five; Compartments Galore

Technically, the Chevrolet Trax seats five, but is best suited for four. Its 60-40 spilt, flat-folding rear seat and fold-flat front passenger seat to enable owners to maximize storage space. Chevrolet is quick to note that the Trax’ storage space eclipses the Nissan Juke and is in line with competitors, such as the Jeep Renegade and Kia’s Soul. By extension, you can associate the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen with this segment, a wagon-like model with its own utility vehicle inclinations.

SUVs typically have multiple storage compartments, including a sundry of nooks, crannies and crevices. The Chevrolet Trax does not disappoint in this department as it has 15 of them, including one to the left of the steering wheel and a pair encompassing the center stack. Furthermore, double slots in all four doors run up that tally nicely.

One technological feature that is sure to please beyond the Wi-Fi hotspot is Siri Eyes. Siri Eyes Free works with compatible iPhones and like devices to augment connectivity, through voice control. Specifically, drivers can keep their phones stored and their hands on the wheel, effectively eliminating a distraction point. To point out, Chevrolet will be the only subcompact SUV to offer this feature.

A Profusion of Safety Components

Speaking of safety, the Chevrolet Trax comes with driver and front passenger knee airbags as well as the segment’s only rear-seat-mounted thorax airbags. Furthermore, the expected and mandated safety features common to all vehicles — such as anti-lock brakes, stability control, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist — are present. This model also comes with cornering brake control; rear park assist is standard on the LTZ edition and is available with the LT.

Will buyers make the trek to the Chevy Trax? That’s no slam dunk considering the competition that is also reaching the segment now and in the coming months. At the same time, the Trax will have some in-house competition from the Buick Encore while some buyers may simply prefer the capaciousness of the Equinox, the previous of the smallest utility vehicles in the Chevrolet portfolio.


See Also — SUV Eruption: 2018 Hyundai Kona

Photos courtesy of the General Motors Company.

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: 2015 MODELS, all-wheel drive, AWD, BUICK ENCORE, CHEVROLET TRAX, GM, HONDA HR-V, Siri Eyes Free, SUBCOMPACT SUV, TURBOCHARGED ENGINE

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