Topic: First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Trax

[Autos_Editor]

The Chevy Trax has the look and confident road manners of an SUV, but with the fuel consumption of a compact car.

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[chamadarla]

Good looking little unit.

[Adam D]

I think you might have made an error on cargo space. It was suggested that the Trax has more cargo space, but the stated numbers say otherwise. On another note, I can't imagine why any car manufacturer would produce a vehicle without air conditioning. I can see it perhaps in their ultra small econo box, but this isn't an econo box.

[Mike]

I think you might have made an error on cargo space. It was suggested that the Trax has more cargo space, but the stated numbers say otherwise. On another note, I can't imagine why any car manufacturer would produce a vehicle without air conditioning. I can see it perhaps in their ultra small econo box, but this isn't an econo box.

Quebec, that is why.

EVERY manufacturer HAS to have at least one vehicle in Canada for Quebec without air conditioning.  People is more northern Quebec love compact vehicles with manual transmissions and no air conditioning.  It is why the Rio has a no A/C option, why the new Sentra can be had without A/C, etc.

[Adam D]

I think you might have made an error on cargo space. It was suggested that the Trax has more cargo space, but the stated numbers say otherwise. On another note, I can't imagine why any car manufacturer would produce a vehicle without air conditioning. I can see it perhaps in their ultra small econo box, but this isn't an econo box.

Quebec, that is why.

EVERY manufacturer HAS to have at least one vehicle in Canada for Quebec without air conditioning.  People is more northern Quebec love compact vehicles with manual transmissions and no air conditioning.  It is why the Rio has a no A/C option, why the new Sentra can be had without A/C, etc.

I would have never guessed that. Thanks!

[Mike]

I think you might have made an error on cargo space. It was suggested that the Trax has more cargo space, but the stated numbers say otherwise. On another note, I can't imagine why any car manufacturer would produce a vehicle without air conditioning. I can see it perhaps in their ultra small econo box, but this isn't an econo box.

Quebec, that is why.

EVERY manufacturer HAS to have at least one vehicle in Canada for Quebec without air conditioning.  People is more northern Quebec love compact vehicles with manual transmissions and no air conditioning.  It is why the Rio has a no A/C option, why the new Sentra can be had without A/C, etc.

I would have never guessed that. Thanks!

Yeah, many manufacturers at new model releases will tell us how they had to 'fight the USA marketers to allow a no A/C, manual transmission trim option be allowed in Canada even though there isn't one in the USA'.  They especially make this point if there are Quebec journalists in attendance

[hemusbull]

This cutie is OK for my wife. But I don't believe it's a normal vehicle when designated for Quebec and not on sale in US.

[me_2]

I haven't check that yet but are dimensions close to the Kia Soul ? But from pricing point of view, it doesn't seem to be...
The manual tranny, w/o A/C help to lower the base price too 

[Alex MacLean]

Why would anyone want a vehicle these days without ac? Even if you don't use it very often, why would you not want it for those gross days when it's 33 degrees and 100% humidity?

I could never see spending even the $20,000 on a car without AC. Crazy.

[Mike]

Why would anyone want a vehicle these days without ac? Even if you don't use it very often, why would you not want it for those gross days when it's 33 degrees and 100% humidity?

I could never see spending even the $20,000 on a car without AC. Crazy.

A lot of Canada never reaches 33 degrees, or has gross humidity

[tpl]

Most of the people in Canada  do live in such a place and another whole pile live in  places where you need to keep the windows shut to keep the mosquitoes out.
And in some places it rains and AC is useful to keep the interior from fogging up.
Sooooooooooooo the few thousand people in Nunavut will buy these I guess.

[Seafoam]

 So far many complaints about no A/C in the base model. At least GM is now selling a smaller Suv in Canada.Haven't seen one from them since they sold the Tracker[suzuki].

[Ace]

Cool little SUV, won't be long before it's for sale in Canada.
Amazing how anyone could drive a vehicle without- AC, auto trans, electric windows and doors, etc etc.
Wait a minute! my favorite little 92' Miata had none of the above 

[northsparrow]

If GM can sell this Chevrolet Trax as a designated Canadian model why did they not just re-badge the
very popular Pontiac Vibe as a Chevy  and keep it on sale in the Great White North?

[ChaosphereIX]

we have one of these at the dealership here at Jack May. Great little truckette. Tracks well in the snow and elevated riding position is great for visibility. Kia Soul and Scion XB is what I think shoppers will be cross-shopping this car with. But this has available AWD and a turbo engine. Feels meaty around town and getting going, but yes it does run out of puff in the high rpm range.

Take one for a test drive, you may be surprised. The Encore is also great, same vehicle but oodles of luxury packed into the tiny little package. And the premium for that luxury is not much at all actually.

[ChaosphereIX]

If GM can sell this Chevrolet Trax as a designated Canadian model why did they not just re-badge the
very popular Pontiac Vibe as a Chevy  and keep it on sale in the Great White North?

because it is a Toyota, not a Pontiac? Perhaps corporate issues there?

[Adam D]

If GM can sell this Chevrolet Trax as a designated Canadian model why did they not just re-badge the
very popular Pontiac Vibe as a Chevy  and keep it on sale in the Great White North?

because it is a Toyota, not a Pontiac? Perhaps corporate issues there?

Or because Chev/GM don't seem to be able to work with existing lines at improving them. They would rather flood the market with more of the same. I wish that they would work on brand development...instead of flashy new names for more of the same, why not keep what they have and improve upon it. Other manufacturers seem to have no issue keeping names like Civic, Elantra, Corolla, Taurus, CRV, Escape, outback...

[D70]

Cool little SUV, won't be long before it's for sale in Canada.
Amazing how anyone could drive a vehicle without- AC, auto trans, electric windows and doors, etc etc.
Wait a minute! my favorite little 92' Miata had none of the above 

ditto for my 1990 Miata

Many non AC cars sold in the lower Mainland but they are hard to find in new cars

[chamadarla]

If GM can sell this Chevrolet Trax as a designated Canadian model why did they not just re-badge the
very popular Pontiac Vibe as a Chevy  and keep it on sale in the Great White North?

because it is a Toyota, not a Pontiac? Perhaps corporate issues there?

and NUMMI shuttered in 2010 is now a Tesla plant.

[ChaosphereIX]

If GM can sell this Chevrolet Trax as a designated Canadian model why did they not just re-badge the
very popular Pontiac Vibe as a Chevy  and keep it on sale in the Great White North?

because it is a Toyota, not a Pontiac? Perhaps corporate issues there?

Or because Chev/GM don't seem to be able to work with existing lines at improving them. They would rather flood the market with more of the same. I wish that they would work on brand development...instead of flashy new names for more of the same, why not keep what they have and improve upon it. Other manufacturers seem to have no issue keeping names like Civic, Elantra, Corolla, Taurus, CRV, Escape, outback...

not so sure about that. The Trax and the Vibe have absolutely nothing to do with one another. And I think GM cant make the Vibe [I am guessing they never did - just re-plastered fascias and badges on a Toyota Matrix] anymore. I have a feeling that GM cant do that anymore now that times have changed and Pontiac is long gone, I can ask up that chan if you would like.