Watch: the best van you can buy today... based on extreme testing

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We test the UK's best-selling vans and put them to the test. A difficult test...
21 minutes 46 seconds
The UK is built by the van, but which is best? To find out, we took three of the best-selling, medium-sized ones and set them a series of vaguely relevant challenges to find out…
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Auto Blog

an hour ago

• Auto Blog

Cheapest Chevy Car For 2025: What You Get For $20k

And one of its main rivals is another Chevrolet Chevy recently released the Corvette ZRX1 and it's expected to cost way north of $200,000. But on the other end of the scale, this is still a brand for budget-conscious commuters. From small sedans to subcompact crossovers and cheap EVs, Chevy caters to those who need an uncomplicated car with low running costs. But what is the cheapest new Chevy car of all? Let's take a look at this model and how it compares to key rivals. The Cheapest New Chevrolet Is The Trax LS 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS — Source: Chevrolet For $20,500, the Chevy Trax LS is not only the cheapest Chevrolet, but it's also one of the cheapest new cars in America at the moment. This price excludes the destination charge of $1,395, but even with that included, it's less expensive than the cheapest new Toyota. Oddly, the Trax is larger than the Trailblazer in length, wheelbase, and height, yet it's priced below it. Nevertheless, the Trax's price places it in line with other subcompact crossovers like the Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Kicks, and Honda HR-V. A new generation of the Trax was introduced for the 2024 model year, so it still looks and feels fresh in 2025. Design: Basic But Contemporary 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS The latest Trax is a vast improvement over its predecessor, with a wider and sportier stance than before. The slim headlights follow the shape of the garnish that flows into the mesh grille, and the black wheel arch trim adds a touch of toughness that crossover shoppers seem to love so much. With steel wheels, black trim, and white paint, the Trax LS looks a little basic, but most of this can easily be remedied with one of the more interesting colors (such as Crimson Metallic) and the optional alloys. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The following exterior features are standard: 17-inch steel wheels with covers LED headlamps with auto on/off IntelliBeam (automatic on/off for high beams) Rear spoiler The $995 LS Convenience Package addresses many of the issues some would have with the basic standard spec, adding 17-inch alloys, body-color mirrors with heating, and a few more amenities to the interior. Interior: Sporty Design But Typical Budget Finishes 2025 Chevrolet Trax 2025 Chevrolet Trax After sitting behind the wheel of several more expensive cars with huge digital displays and fiddly controls, the Trax LS is quite refreshing with its conventional shift lever, legible analog gauges, and physical climate controls. It's not devoid of modern amenities, though, as even this base model gets a smartly integrated eight-inch touchscreen. Although the car feels solidly screwed together, the abundance of hard plastics give away its low price, and elements like the hard armrests bothered us when we reviewed it. If you want a classier subcompact crossover, consider the Mazda CX-30, but be prepared to spend more on that. A lower seating position and more rear legroom are improvements in this Trax compared to the previous-generation model, and cargo space is acceptable at 25.6 cubic feet behind the second row. You can free up 54.1 cubes by folding down the second row. The following interior features are standard: Cloth upholstery Six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat Tilt and telescopic steering column Single-zone manual climate control Eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Four-speaker sound system Wi-Fi hotspot The safety suite includes essentials like automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist with lane departure warning. The optional extras are reasonably priced, such as $395 for the Driver Confidence Package with its rear park assist, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. The LS Convenience Package we mentioned earlier also includes heated front seats. For the most part, the Trax LS gets the basics right and makes a decent level of customization possible, while still keeping the overall price low. Performance: Keep Your Expectations Low Source: Chevrolet The Chevy Trax LS has a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, and you can expect a 0-60 mph time of roughly nine seconds. From one traffic light to the next in congested cities, the Trax doesn't feel terribly slow, but when more is asked of it, the engine's low power and the transmission's slow shifts hold it back. Most rivals have more power, too. Gas mileage is good at 28/32/30 mpg city/highway/combined, good for a total range of almost 400 miles when the tank is full. The Trax can also run on E85 gas, but this drops combined consumption to 22 mpg. Ride and handling are competent, with the Trax LS feeling secure enough on the highway and responsive enough through turns. Comparison With The Base Trailblazer Source: Chevrolet If you're shopping for cheap Chevy cars, it makes sense to compare the base Trax with the cheapest Trailblazer, as they're so closely priced. The Trailblazer LS starts at $23,100, only $2,600 more than the Trax LS. It gets the same 1.2-liter engine with 137 hp, but a few additions over the Trax include a larger 11-inch touchscreen, standard alloy wheels, and a total of 10 airbags (the Trax LS has six). For under $400, you can also specify the Trailblazer with a more powerful 1.3-liter turbo engine developing 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. Another option is AWD, which the Trax doesn't offer. Transmissions are different, too, with the Trax restricted to a six-speed automatic. In the Trailblazer, you get a CVT, which is replaced by a nine-speed automatic when specified with the larger 1.3L engine and AWD. In terms of practicality, these two crossovers have almost identically sized trunks. However, the Trailblazer has a bit more space for passengers at the back. If you have around $25k to spend on one of these cheap Chevrolet cars, we'd rather get the more powerful Trailblazer. But if value for money trumps everything else, go for the Trax. Summary: Chevy's Cheapest Crossover Is Great Value Source: Chevrolet For a vehicle with such a low price, the Chevy Trax LS hardly misses a beat. The few criticisms we do have – such as a lack of power and some cheaper materials – are not dealbreakers. It's still a solid, efficient, and modern crossover that is perfect as a starter car. Unlike some other budget cars, we appreciate that the base Trax LS can be upgraded with a few extras without significantly increasing the overall price. It may not be the fastest or most premium subcompact crossover, but it's certainly worth a look. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile

BBC News

an hour ago

• BBC News

Man in his 20s dies after collision in Weston-super-Mare

A man in his 20s has died following a two-vehicle collision. Avon and Somerset Police said the crash happened at about 23:35 BST on 20 June in Uphill Road North in Weston-super-Mare. The force said a red Audi A3 was heading towards Uphill when it collided with a purple Mercedes C240 travelling in the opposite direction, near the junction for Moorland Audi driver sustained serious injuries and died in hospital on Saturday. Police said the Mercedes driver, aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or Road North was closed to allow for an investigation and recovery work but reopened on Saturday morning. Anybody who witnessed the collision is asked to contact the force.

The Guardian

2 hours ago

• The Guardian

Minibuses for rural routes are in production

It was interesting to read the letter (13 June) from Mike Parker regarding rural buses, making the argument that minibuses suitable for rural routes should be manufactured. And that such a business would be ideal for an entrepreneur. Ironically, it was only a few days before that letter, on 4 June, that Rachel Reeves made her transport funding announcement of £15.6bn from the premises of Mellor Bus in Rochdale, which, along with its sister company, Treka Bus in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, make a range of buses, including 16-seater ones suitable for rural routes. Mellor and Treka are both part of the Woodall Nicholson group. That group's business was acquired in 2023 by a Belgian entrepreneur, Guido Dumarey, to add to his portfolio. So there are suitable buses and there is an entrepreneur – let's hope he keeps those businesses manufacturing in the UK. It is a pity that the chassis used for the buses are of European origin (Mercedes and Iveco/Fiat) as there are no UK manufacturers of suitable chassis – now there's an opportunity. But, as both Ford and DAF stopped making that type of chassis in the UK years ago, I can't see any obvious candidate. Maybe Renault/Stellantis would or could make one available from their Ellesmere Port factory. Richard BramallSheffield Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.