THE trend for SUV-style motoring with all the advantages of a hatchback is driving forward some excellent designs.

Vehicles like the Skoda Yeti and Nissan Juke have proved the point without question and there is now a new kid on the block that takes the game a step further.

The Chevrolet Trax is available in three engine options with the choice of-all-wheel-drive or front- wheel-drive models.

Aimed at the family motorist who wants to put a trendy new spin on everyday motoring, the Trax is a breath of fresh air because is offers a lot for a very reasonable price.

It comes in two trim levels and features a high driving position with plenty of room for five and their luggage.

As a General Motors product it is hardly surprising that it has a Vauxhall relative in the UK and that is the Mokka, but the Trax has a distinctively different look featuring the famous Chevy family grille.

The frontal treatment imparts an almost funky look and this combined with its tall stance can generate admiring glances.

The engine range includes a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol, a 1.6-litre petrol plus a 1.7-litre turbodiesel.

I drove the most economical option, the 1.7 turbo diesel in front-wheel-drive form, equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox.

This gives a combined mpg figure of 62.7 which is excellent for a vehicle of this type. A CO2 emissions figure of 120g/km is also well within expectations.

The model is exceptionally well equipped for its price of £18,945 and the list of goodies even extends to a rear socket to plug in a laptop or other devices.

This is really an urban SUV. If you want all-wheel-drive it will cost around £1,500 extra, but really, this version of the Trax gets along quite well without it.

The more upmarket LT trim brings a colour touch screen, 18-inch alloys, rear parking camera and much more.

On the road the Trax is competent enough and corners well for a tallish vehicle. But the ride was too hard for my taste, but never fell short of acceptable.

In 1935, Chevrolet invented the SUV with the introduction of the Carryall Suburban. At the time, few people would have guessed that the Chevrolet Suburban would eventually hold the record for being the longest-running vehicle nameplate in the world.

Today, some 78 years later, Chevrolet is back in the field again with the Trax being its first entry to the small SUV segment.