SECTOR: Crossover PRICE: €16,990-€25,990 FUEL: 4.5-6.5l/100km CO2: 120-153g/km

Chevrolet’s B-segment crossover has arrived in Europe over a year behind sister brand Opel but, in a rapidly expanding market sector where C-segment running costs and muscular styling are attractive, it has some solid foundations laid out.

The Trax shares its platform with the Opel Mokka and Buick Encore, and until production of the European market Opel and Vauxhall models is moved to Spain, all three cars are built on the same production line in South Korea. With the Mokka predicted to become a backbone of its range, and the smallest crossover segment growing rapidly with new products, Chevrolet’s newcomer is an important addition.

While its siblings share bodywork, the Chevrolet is visually a very different car. The bulky wheel arches and large glasshouse belie its small size – it’s 250mm shorter than a Cruze hatchback – and the end result looks more closely related to a shrunken Orlando than the cars with which it shares a production line.

This is also true inside, where the Trax features a similar dashboard to the Aveo. It’s noticeably less tactile than the Mokka’s, but with its blue-backlit digital instrument panel and air vents styled like jet thrusters, the interior manages to avoid feeling overly cheap.

Most markets will get two trim levels, and with diesels only available on the higher level, the majority of fleet customers will also get Chevrolet’s new MyLink infotainment system. It’s a derivative of Opel’s IntelliLink setup also found in the Adam and new Insignia, and capable of streaming apps and music from smartphones onto its high-resolution display.

Also unique is the Trax’s chassis setup. The platform itself derived from an extended version of the Aveo, and European versions feature bespoke suspension and steering settings, different even to the Mokka. The result is a convincing compromise between supermini-like agility and ride quality close to a C-segment car.

There’s also plenty of space for four adults inside, though road and wind noise at higher speeds give away its small car DNA. Customers downsizing from a Cruze hatchback will notice a drop in boot space, but the load area extends from 356 to 785 litres with the seats folded flat.

Powertrains are similar to the Cruze, and the familiar 128hp 1.7-litre diesel engine is likely to be the biggest seller in Europe. This offers plentiful power for the compact Trax, but it’s also exceptionally noisy especially under load. Given the choice, the 1.4 Turbo petrol is a nicer drive, and far quieter, but 139g/km CO2 emissions compared to the diesel’s 120g/km will limit its corporate appeal.

The line-up also includes a 1.6-litre petrol, but it’s primarily a retail option and unlike the more powerful engines it isn’t available with four-wheel drive or an automatic gearbox.

Chevrolet’s big problem could be value for money against its sibling. Vauxhall already offers a highly equipped Mokka Tech Line, designed for fleets, in the UK and as Chevrolet has no direct alternative this makes an equivalent Trax more expensive at the front end. Opel is already rolling out Business Edition models in some markets, and from a corporate standpoint it does make the Chevrolet harder to justify.

Verdict:

A well-rounded proposition, but this is a competitive segment with abundant high value, which is likely to keep the Trax a retail-focused model compared to the Mokka.