WITH its eye-catching design, feature-rich technology and attractive price-tag, it's clear to see why the snazzy Chevrolet Trax is generating so much attention.

The market is awash with small SUVs at the moment and the numbers are increasing constantly. So it means a vehicle really has to stand out in such a fiercely competitive arena.

Chevrolet lays claim to inventing the SUV nearly 80 years ago, so you would expect the GM company to be teeming with expertise by now, and in fairness, the Trax doesn't disappoint.

With its 18-inch alloys, roof rails, chrome-effect grille surround, the traditional Chevrolet bow-tie emblem, tinted windows, body-coloured door mirrors, daytime running lights, chrome effect door handles and large rear bumper the Trax certainly looks great from every angle.

There are plenty of built-in techno treats that are all supplied as standard and these include MyLink with seven-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking camera and sensors, automatic headlights and a six-speaker sound system.

Inside, there is ample room within the Trax for four adults to stretch out in style and the generously-sized boot can be extended further thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

Elsewhere, there is a number of handy storage options scattered throughout the cabin, including an under-floor section in the boot, cup holders, a double glove-box along with small compartments below the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard.

The Chevrolet Trax looks the business and has lots of technical wizardry too and it performs well too.

The high-seated driving position means the driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility and the 1.7-litre diesel engine delivers plenty of oomph as the Trax accelerates through a six-speed manual gearbox.

The road-holding is excellent even into tight bends with very little body roll and there is little road surface or engine noise to speak of.

I did find the suspension was very hard and over a long journey the bumps and dips can be quite uncomfortable - mainly for back seat passengers.

But that aside, the Trax proved most enjoyable. It was nice and nippy sprinting to 62mph from a standing start in just 9.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 116mph.

According to Chevrolet, the economy is impressive too with combined fuel efficiency of 62.7mpg and carbon emissions of 120g/km.

As one would expect these days, the Trax boasts a comprehensive range of safety features, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, hill descent control, roll-over mitigation, hill start assist, six airbags and lots more.

All in all, The Trax is a welcome arrival to the compact SUV market and with the option of two or four-wheel-drive along with a choice of engines and trim levels buyers have plenty of options to select from.