IT'S getting mighty crowded on the compact crossover scene these days but among the most attractive - both in what it offers and what it costs - is the Chevrolet Trax.

Stylish looking and boasting plenty of kit, this car is the latest incarnation of a model type that harks back some 79 years.

In 1935 the American brand's Carryall Suburban became the first sports utility vehicle, going on to claim the record for the longest-running vehicle nameplate in the world.

Now the Trax has taken up the mantle, rivalling models like the established Nissan Juke and upcoming Ford EcoSport, and boasting room for five with generous cargo space plus toughness and capability in a small package.

The Trax engine line-up comprises a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit, a 1.6-litre petrol powerplant plus a 1.7-litre turbodiesel and all manual transmission variants come with Stop/Start.

Both the 1.4 turbo petrol and the diesel are available with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Most frugal of the trio is the turbodiesel, which has the potential for 62.7mpg, but you still get a decent 44.1mpg return from the tested 1.4 turbo manual.

While this latter version also has the option of all-wheel drive, there's a hefty premium of £1,540 to pay for that privilege.

Either way, the Trax is a car that's positive, enjoyable and easy to drive - even the centre rear passenger travels in comfort.

Inside, the rear seat row incorporates a 230-volt socket for recharging electronic devices while storage compartments include an under-seat tray and two gloveboxes, one of which has outlets for USB and auxiliary devices. 

And if a load space of 1,370 litres - with further space available under the cargo floor - isn't sufficient then the Trax has roof rails as standard and can tow trailers weighing up to 1,200kg.

With the Chevrolet MyLink connected radio, a standard feature on the higher grade LT trim, drivers have a system that allows them to access media like specialist apps and have access to phone books, personal playlists, photo galleries and videos.

Safety kit includes stuff like Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control plus there are six airbags, three-point seatbelts in all five seating positions and ISOFIX child seat anchoring systems.

Prices are from £15,495 for the 1.6-litre LS petrol model.