Holden Trax v Peugeot 2008 2013 Comparison

It wasn’t that long ago that the SUV acronym drew the same kinds of blank expressions and consumer ambiguity now allied with the world of IT. But like many things we’ve grown accustom to, the SUV moniker is now a common part of our everyday vernacular.

Manufacturers dish-up multiple sized SUV offerings across a spread of categories, catering to a variety of price points and lifestyle needs. Most recent of these is the Light SUV category in which our two rivals compete.

The Holden Trax and Peugeot 2008 are the first of a number of new models in what is set to become a very popular segment, and like many of these, share platforms with their Light hatch siblings. For Trax and 2008, that means Barina and 208 respectively.

To this end, the pair maintains the appeal of a city car in terms of their ease of handling and fuel efficiency. But add the allure of a high-riding stance and SUV-like practicality, albeit with absolutely no offroad ability.

Mechanically, these eager rivals bring different packages to the road. As tested, the Korean-built Holden Trax LS uses a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and our test car was optioned with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The French-built 2008, on the other hand, is powered by a smaller 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a dated four-speed automatic transmission. And so the differences begin to present themselves...

Not surprisingly, the Trax produces superior levels of power – 103kW at 6300rpm and 175Nm at 3800rpm. By contrast, the smaller capacity 2008 delivers 88kW at 6000rpm and 160Nm at 4250rpm.

The larger-engined Trax claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.6L/100km and uses regular RON unleaded petrol. And while the Peugeot 2008 claims to sip less, with a claimed consumption of 6.5, it’s worth keeping in mind that it only drinks 95 RON (or higher) premium unleaded petrol.

Both vehicles are front-wheel drive and ride on 16-inch alloys as standard, and share the combination of Macpherson strut and torsion beam suspension.

So while it may seem that these vehicles offer a similar recipe, it fast became obvious on our comparison test that the ingredients mix results in two very different flavours.

Equipped with a little more power and torque, and a more sophisticated transmission, the Trax was tipped to surpass the 2008 in performance testing. And it did, though not by the pronounced margin we expected.

From standstill, the Trax reached 60km/h in 4.6 seconds, compared to 5.1 for the 2008. And the slight gap remained through to 100km/h, with the Trax recording 11.4 seconds and the Peugeot 11.9.

And while it might seem that the Trax has the unfair advantage over the 2008, in real-world driving conditions these differences proved to be less significant, with both vehicles revealing highs and lows.

Where the six-speed transmission of the Trax delivered a more decisive and smoother transition through the gears, it wasn’t a convincing show, proving a little noisy and thrashy under hard acceleration.

The four-speed Peugeot on the other hand, found itself hunting for the right gear more often, and as a result of fewer gears to select, it would linger longer – particularly in second gear.

To its credit though, the 2008 delivered a very smooth switch through the gears, combined with a more refined engine note with the throttle opened up. But it almost goes without saying, the four-speed is no match for six – more so on the open roads.

The ride and dynanics of the 2008 saw it begin to build a case against the Trax, closing the gap formed in performance testing. While the differences in dimensions between the two are negligible – on-road presence and seating positions feel worlds apart.

Despite the Trax weighing in slightly heavier and broader all round, it’s the Peugeot 2008 that feels more planted on the road. Its front-end felt a tad more grippy while the rear-end composure was undeniably superior. The Trax was prone to jump and skip a little through corners, while the Peugeot held tight.

The higher ride and tip-toe feel of the Trax amplified body roll through the corners, while the 2008 offered greater sense of stability, translating to more cornering confidence.

Interestingly, brake testing saw the Peugeot pull up almost a metre shorter than the Trax. Engaging the anti-lock brakes felt significantly different across both cars. The Trax was unobtrusive and seamless in its application, while the 2008 felt more abrasive and harsh underfoot.

As tested, the Peugeot 2008 Allure was priced from $29,990 (plus on-road costs) with $2000 leather upholstery optioned. The Trax LS auto retailed for $25,690 (manual is priced from $23,490). The price gap showed in the Peugeot’s superior fit and finish, ditto its more elegant styling.

Entering the Trax LS draws no fanfare. It’s neither impressive nor offensive – and as such, warrants no emotion. Open the door of the 2008, however, and you’re faced with an inviting cabin of beautifully reflective surfaces and sculpted leather seats.

As you ease into the contoured leather seats of the 2008, you feel a little bit spoilt. Surrounded by a thoughtful blend of materials, the Peugeot achieves styling aesthetics its rivals continue to chase.

Multiple storage compartments, cupholders and good ergonomics boost the overall happy factor inside the 2008. And second-row passengers are afforded a similar level of love. Equally comfortable seats, good vision and a panoramic sunroof leave them feeling suitably special.

In-cabin lighting was good in the Peugeot, featuring dual illuminated vanity mirrors, front and second-row independent lighting as well as LED strip lights around the glass roof.

Moving along to the Trax, someone needs to tell Holden that the benchmark has moved on – and up. The Trax LS interior lacks flow and finesse. Yes, it’s perfectly practical and ergonomically valid, but there’s no style and it invokes zero emotional buy-in. It did, however, score well for its functional form, with multiple covered storage compartments (albeit it an untidy arrangement), cupholders and a spacious and comfortable cabin.

Despite the 2008 annihilating the Trax in the beauty stakes, it was good to note that both SUVs offered a good level of kit as standard. This included items such as Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming and telephony, cruise control, touchscreen infotainment and a reversing camera.

But again, the Peugeot trumps the Holden in the technology stakes, featuring satellite navigation as standard (sat nav is available in Trax via a plug-in addition to the MyLink system).

Behind the wheel of the Trax, you feel propped in position, with a commanding view of the road. Whereas in the 2008, you feel slightly more cocooned, but with an equally good view.

Steering across both vehicles was of a similar feel: light and precise. Each is well-suited to the urban environment. The Peugeot 2008 offered more feedback to deliver a slightly more engaging steer, though its suspension was no match for the softer, more comfortable ride experienced in the Trax.

Given their small footprint, both Holden and Peugeot have created a surprisingly spacious and unquestionably comfortable five-seat SUV. Common-day practical features include 60:40 split-fold rear seats that offer decent load capacity: 356 litres in the Trax and 410 in the 2008.

Each vehicle offers a warranty of 36 months or 100,000kms, whichever comes first. Service intervals vary slightly, with the Trax taking 12-month or 15,000km intervals and the Peugeot 12-month or 20,000km intervals. Capped price is available on each.

So which of these compact SUVs rated consistently better to emerge victorious?

Despite the Trax edging ahead with its more powerful engine and more sophisticated six-speed transmission, it wasn’t enough to combat the consistently high-scoring Peugeot 2008.

The euro-styling and excellent fit and finish of the 2008, combined with superior handling, saw it achieve a higher aggregate score.

With all due respect to the entry-level Trax, the character and package of these vehicles remains worlds apart and sees the Peugeot 2008 Allure a deserved winner.