Pathological test drives a small Chevy Crossover

The Chevy Trax has a lot to prove with heavy hitters like the Honda CR-V and Subaru XV.

The sole engine option is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 138hp. You’d think that with the turbo that there is a bit more flexibility thanks to the high torque at low revs, but it still feels sluggish. Our guess is that our tester car came equipped with all-wheel-drive and that may have hampered acceleration slightly, we haven’t had the opportunity to test drive a front-wheel-drive version. The engine isn’t all bad though, running costs are low which does help make it appealing; while driving around town at normal speeds really does show how smooth and relaxed the engine can be when not rushed in the way we drove down the expressway. There’s something about a turbo engine car that we have to flat out flog it at least once to see what it can really do. It’s not a bad engine but just a little short on puff where some will find it a deal breaker and others won’t care at all.

Driving the Trax around town is actually fairly easy. Steering is light and offers decent feedback where it matters most when just darting through traffic or squeezing in and out of tight parking spaces. We just wish that the steering offered more feedback when on faster paced roads because it does feel a little disconnected at times. The ride comfort in our tester car was a little more on the firm side which is partially due to the 18-inch alloys that it came equipped with and well that didn’t translate well in road noise either because it did feel a little bit noisier than we’d like. Driving on the highway is also comfortable at relaxed speeds, we do feel that the tall and narrow body gets blown about a bit more than some of its rivals but it’s not a deal breaker in our books.

The infotainment screen is fairly easy to navigate, even though we do find that many of the menus can be distracting while on the go. The front seats offer plenty of adjustment and support while those in the rear may feel a little short changed on the space, it’s not bad but it’s not particularly roomy as well. The boot space is a little disappointing; some rivals of similar size have way more space to spare. Visibility is good all round.

Standard LS trim comes with rearview parking camera, remote keyless entry, auto headlights and Bluetooth audio streaming for your mobile device. LT trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, integrated roof rails and remote start. Top of the range Premier trim (our tester car) came equipped with leatherette seating, 18-inch alloy wheels, Bose premium audio system and keyless entry and push button start.

The Chevy Trax is an okay option among the crowded compact crossover options. It’s not as versatile as the Honda HR-V and it certainly isn’t as fun to drive as a Nissan Juke. We do wish that Chevy used the turbo engine from the Cruze and we also wish that Chevy could’ve put alloy wheels on the standard LS trim because steel capped wheels on a car $20k or higher is just unacceptable in our books.

Likes: Low running costs. Exterior and interior looks have been improved. It’s quite easy to navigate around town and headroom is actually quite good.

Dislikes: The turbo engine is not as flexible as we’d like. The interior feels narrow and the boot space is disappointingly small.

Our pick: We’d go right for LT trim which adds alloy wheels, remote start and LED tail lamps. It may not have the fancy gadgets of the Premier trim but it’s cheaper and makes the most sense.

Pathological gets to drive a Porsche for the day

The Boxster is no more and the 718 Boxster is its replacement. Does this mean radical change? Well it does come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that has many purists crying foul. It may be the most controversial Porsche yet.

The 718 comes with two engine options. The Boxster comes with a  2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out 300hp while the top of the range Boxster S comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 350hp. We were only able to test drive the Boxster trim and well we found it to be fantastic. It may not have that rev happy six-cylinder of the old Boxster, but the turbo four really does sound good under heavy acceleration. You can choose between a slick seven-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed auto gearbox. Our tester car came with the auto gearbox and it is one fine transmission if we say so ourselves. Steering feedback is communicative and the overall driving experience is one we will never forget. We had the opportunity to drive it with the top down and well that just increased our liking to this vehicle, the open air driving experience is contagious and it really does hold its own well. The only problem with the 718 Boxster is that everyone everywhere wants to look at you and even at the gas station when we had to fill up, we were asked which Porsche is it and what engine is under the bonnet? This certianly isn't the vehicle for anyone who is shy when it comes to attention.

We could only drive the Porsche Boxster on the expressway and within the limits of the speed limit. We did get the chance to toss it into some corners and bends and the Boxster really did stick to each bend like glue. It's almost as if the car is riding on rails. Top up or down, wind noise isn't an issue at all and well road noise isn't really much to complain of.

The 718 Roadster only seats two people and well both passengers won't be short changed on space, even with the top up the space is generous. The seats offer plenty of support and adjust ability while the infotainment system is easy to use. We do highly suggest getting used to the various menus as it does get distracting while on the go. But why would anyone want to busy themselves with the infotainment when the real joy is behind the steering wheel? The boot is in the front and the rear and there's plenty of space for a few bags. This isn't a car for those who are looking for hot hatch space, it's a vehicle for those who want to drive and feel the road beneath them. Visibiity is outstanding for a roadster and we have nothing to complain of.

The 718 Boxster we had came equipped with 20-inch alloys, Bi-xenon headlights, Bose audio system, Lane Change Assist and navigation system. While on top of those optional features that were ticked you also get a sport exhaust system, leather package and vehicle launch system. Porsche is very notorious for making features that should be standard optional and charge and arm and leg for them. Our tester car had nearly $22k worth of added features which pushed the price into the sticker shock category, you really do get what you pay for here.

The 718 Boxster seems like a very formidable replacement for the Boxster itself. Steering is very communicative and the turbo engine is very smooth and responsive, we really did enjoy our time with the Boxster and wished that we didn't have to return it.

Likes: The chassis, steering and handling is fantastic! The turbo engine sings in your ears while you're greeted with a top-notch interior.

Dislikes: This isn't a vehicle for someone shy of attention. You won't see a mildly equipped Porsche on dealer lots.

Cheapest BMW, shortchanged on BMW experience?

The X1 was a bit of an oddball when it was first launched. It wasn’t that much cheaper than an X3 and the interior didn’t even live up to the standards that BMW had set. Fast forward to the newest generation of the X1 and you will either love it or loathe it. In simpler times it’s no longer rear wheel drive. Has BMW sold its soul?

The sole 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine offers plenty of flexibility thanks to high torque at low revs. You won’t feel short changed on power either, but those seeking more power will have to venture to the Mercedes GLA AMG. We feel that this engine is enough for this car. It doesn’t feel underpowered and it certainly is quick on its toes when you need it to be. We love how the combination of comfort and sport translates well around town and on the highway. You will love driving the X1 in tight corners and bends, as it handles them well. You’ll almost forget that the X1 uses a front wheel drive Mini Platform. The engine is also used in the JCW tuned Minis. Steering feedback is generally responsive and well sorted and the ride comfort on some surfaces is a little firm, this highly depends if you stick with the standard alloys and don’t option for the larger 19-inch alloys like our tester car has.

The front seats offer plenty of support and adjustment while there’s plenty of headroom and legroom. Those in the rear seat will also find that comfort and space is generous. The boot space is actually quite good considering that the X1 size. The infotainment screen is easy to navigate through, with all the controls and dials within reach of the driver’s hand. We love the minimalistic approach the interior but some could easily say that it’s a bit boring looking compared to rivals from Audi and Mercedes. We can say that it is easier to navigate through and the materials do feel just as classy.

Our tester car came kitted with electronic stability control, dual zone climate control, rain sensing windshield wipers and split folding rear seat. Optional extras included a business navigation system, cold weather package along with driving assistance package. We wish that our tester car came with the optional LED headlights because the standard halogen headlamps are weak in comparison and are not up to BMW Standards.

You won’t feel shortchanged with the X1 until you look at indirect rivals for similar money. Badge snobs won’t care because it’s a BMW and that’s all that matters.

Likes: It’s the cheapest of the BMW crossover range. The turbo engine is smooth and has low running costs. We love this one more than the previous generation X1.

Dislikes: Front-wheel-drive platform may scare off BMW Purists. We would love to see an M-tuned version.