TEST DRIVE WITH Woman's Day

Editor-in-chief FIONA CONNOLLY hit the road in the new Holden Trax – here’s what she thought...

As a magazine editor, I’ve been asked to test many weird and wonderful products over the years, but nothing has been quite as adventurous as the past week I’ve spent running around Sydney test driving a car.

“Honestly, don’t worry if you have any mishaps,” the marketing manager told me as she handed me the keys to a brand new Holden Trax. Was she psychic? Or had she’d discovered just how bad my driving record actually is?!

My first “mishap” was literally two minutes later as I drove out of the work car park, bumping into one gutter after another as I made my way up the circular driveway. So this is what the Holden team meant by “zippy”!

Thankfully, the bumpy beginning was user-error and by the end of the 15-minute car trip home, I was absolutely LOVING “zipping” in Sydney’s traffic.

“Zippy” it turns out, means you can easily duck and weave in heavy traffic (I’m a massive lane-changer, sorry Sydney drivers!). It means quick acceleration, great visibility and easy steering.

I drive a medium-sized SUV and I’ve always enjoyed being high on the road without feeling like I’m driving a tractor around the city. I didn’t think I’d be able to get the height I wanted in a smaller model SUV, but where the Holden Trax might be on the small side, it is TALL! You won’t have to bend or twist to get into this car, and with a push-button engine start, it was a treat to not have to find the keys in my massive handbag as I juggled my morning cup of tea.

And as a total Luddite when it comes to technology, the connectivity of the Holden Trax was a cinch. While sat nav does not come standard with the car, a simple Bluetooth connection had my phone set up in seconds. For once in my life I didn’t have to call on my son to come and sort me out!

If you’re like me and you love rocking out to a bit of Barnsey on a Friday after work, you’ll ll be impressed with the stereo o in the Holden Trax, too.

And then came the big g test… was I going to fit my two boys (one seven-yeararold who likes to save all his arguments with his brother for the car, and the other, the longestlegged 13-year-old in Australia), plus their enormous school bags AND a week’s groceries?

TICK! Not only did we survive the trip without an all-in brawl, but I also fit in a carton of beer for my partner, returning home, , at least in my mind, a hero! !

The Holden Trax is zippy around town. The compact SUV is easy to park, too.

There’s plenty of space for the family and the shopping.