Holden Trax 2013 Video Review

This one comes to us courtesy of Opel, the German division of General Motors. But we will see it in Australia first as the Holden Trax later this year, and then as the Opel Mokka early next year.

It’s all part of General Motors becoming one big, happy, global family. Although the Opel Mokka and Holden Trax are made in Korea in a former Daewoo factory, the twins were designed and engineered in Germany, with some Australian testing thrown in for good measure.

Value

The starting price of these vehicles will likely be close to $25,000 -- but we won’t know for sure until closer to their respective on-sale dates.

This car will put Opel and Holden in head-to-head competition for the first time. They currently compete in the small-car class with the Holden Cruze and Opel Astra -- which are the same cars underneath but have different bodies.

The Opel Mokka and Holden Trax, however, are mostly identical but for the design of the grille and the dashboard. This is why Opel and Holden sales and marketing teams are currently in a huddle to find out how to make these cars seem different in customers’ eyes.

For both companies this new compact soft-roader can’t come soon enough. Holden just recorded its lowest sales in 19 years and Opel is trying to gain a foothold in Australia, having set up in the world’s most competitive new-car market late last year.

An affordable contender in the booming SUV class is crucial to the success of both brands. The trouble is, this car is going gangbusters overseas so Australia’s initial allocations will be limited. That sigh you can hear is from Holden and Opel dealers.

Design

Read the full Holden Trax Opel Mokka 2013 review .