2024 Chevrolet Trax

Overview

The new Chevy Trax has gained space and size and delivers even better value than before. Its dazzling redesign and enhanced safety features sweeten a once dreary subcompact. Every Trax is front-wheel drive and powered by a 137-hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. It borrows that powertrain from the smaller Trailblazer; its style inspiration comes from the mid-size Blazer. The new-gen Trax has more rear legroom and cargo space than before, and its starting price is—unusually—lower than the model it replaces. One of the most affordable crossovers sold today, behind the subcompact Kia Soul and Hyundai Venue, the Trax is a wise choice for those looking to stretch the most out of their new car purchase, and its value-oriented packaging helped it earn a 10Best award for 2024 as well as a spot on our Editors' Choice list.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#1 in Best Subcompact SUVs

1

Chevrolet Trax

STARTING AT: $21,495

2

Mazda CX-30

STARTING AT: $26,415

3

Buick Envista

STARTING AT: $23,495

4

Volkswagen Taos

STARTING AT: $25,420

5

Kia Niro Hybrid

STARTING AT: $28,315

6

Subaru Crosstrek

STARTING AT: $26,540

What's New for 2024?

After a brief hiatus, the Chevy Trax is back with more standard features than before. New inside and out, the Trax has a longer wheelbase with more rear legroom and increased cargo capacity. The Trax is now offered in five trim levels rather than just two. Chevy uses the 137-hp turbocharged three-cylinder from the Trailblazer this time around, giving the Trax 18 fewer horsepower than the previous model—a significant reduction when you have only 155 ponies to start with.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Chevy Trax offers some promising extras without breaking the bank. The LT is the sweet spot between affordability and features. The LT comes with a big 11.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and remote start, and we'd spend the extra cash for the optional heated front seats and steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard on LT and up, which makes navigation and playing music from your smartphone a breeze.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Every Chevrolet Trax is powered by a 137-hp turbocharged 1.2-liter inline-three engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The Trax is offered with front-wheel drive only. While the Trax is somewhat larger than the all-wheel-drive Trailblazer it shares its powertrain with, it does move quicker to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. Torque comes on low in the rev range, which means the Trax has enough power to get off the line with some vitality but is somewhat limited by its sluggish transmission. Handling is decidedly carlike, and the Trax feels more agile than many of its rivals. Its brake pedal feels reassuringly firm underfoot, and the steering is predictable and relatively communicative given its basic transportation mission. Trax buyers are getting a lot for the money, making it as good a deal as our other favorite affordable new vehicle, the Ford Maverick compact pickup.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The 2024 Chevy Trax earned an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Those achievements are about the same as the nonturbo Mazda CX-30 (although the CX-30 has all-wheel drive and the Trax is front-wheel drive only); the Trax gets better fuel economy around the city than the Hyundai Kona. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, the Trax returned 30 mpg. For more information about the Trax's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The new Chevy Trax has a completely redesigned interior. Its driver-facing infotainment screen and climate controls are neatly placed, and the rest of the interior is made up of the unexceptional materials expected in this affordable segment. The new Trax has a longer wheelbase than before, which has resulted in about three inches of additional rear legroom and more cargo space. Its driving position also feels much lower this time around and more carlike, which we consider a huge plus. While tech luxuries such as remote start, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a sunroof are trim-dependent, these features help liven up an otherwise corporate interior.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Chevy gives the Trax LS and 1RS trims an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard equipment, which is already a larger unit than what was previously offered on the fanciest version of the previous generation. An 11.0-inch infotainment touchscreen comes on trims LT and up and includes an 8.0-inch gauge cluster. This driver command center controls much of the new Trax tech such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available wireless phone charger, and Wi-Fi hotspot.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Every Trax comes standard with the Chevy Safety Assist driver-assistance suite. For more information about the Trax's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Chevy's basic warranty package is just that—basic—but so is the coverage of its competitors. The Kia Soul and its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Kona, both offer longer protection plans. Chevy also provides one free dealer maintenance visit within the first year of ownership, which is a nice perk.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit

Specifications

Specifications

2024 Chevrolet Trax
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $21,495/$26,685
Options: Activ trim (keyless entry, push-button start, heated steering wheel, body-color grille insert, black mirror caps, 18-inch wheels, 11.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, six-speaker stereo, 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, eight-way power driver’s seat), $3500; Sunroof package (power sliding sunroof and inductive phone charging), $895; Driver Confidence package (rear cross traffic, lane-change and blind-sport alert, adaptive cruise control), $795

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 12-valve inline-3, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 73 in³, 1193 cm³
Power: 137 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 162 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/torsion beam
Brakes, F/R: 11.8-in vented disc/10.6-in disc
Tires: Goodyear Assurance Finesse
225/55R-18 98H M+S TPC 3179MS

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 178.6 in
Width: 71.8 in
Height: 61.4 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 54/44 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 54/26 ft³
Curb Weight: 3069 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.8 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.8 sec @ 81 mph
100 mph: 30.5 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 9.5 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.4 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 115 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 180 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.84 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 25 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 30 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 390 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 30/28/32 mpg 

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs