GENERAL Motors did not muck around getting into the small SUV segment, quickly making tracks back in 2013 with the Holden Trax.

As the original compact SUV cohort – now renamed medium SUV – of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 grew up and the Holden Captiva 5 grew old, models such as the Trax came and conquered new buyers who were downsizing from larger vehicles, or simply shopping for a small hatchback.

In 2014 – its first full year on sale – it found 5979 homes, while in 2016 the sales figure soared to 7976 units despite the addition of several new rivals that did not exist two years’ prior, such as the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and most recently now the Toyota CH-R.

This facelifted Trax is designed to help the Lion-branded vehicle claw back market share from newer rivals with a 1.4-litre turbo replacing the prehistoric 1.8-litre non-turbo in the entry automatic tested here, and fresh exterior and interior styling complete with an upgraded infotainment system.

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