Aside from its establish, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax has nothing in widespread with its first-generation predecessor – and that’s issue on account of it’s a predominant leap forward for the bowtie mannequin’s entry-level model. Totally redesigned out and in for 2024, the second-generation Trax is a way more premium automobile with segment-leading potential. We’re important about that assertion; rivals similar to the Hyundai Venue are undoubtedly on uncover. Nevertheless the model new Trax just isn’t wonderful – there are just a few areas we predict Chevy ignored, nevertheless these will probably be forgiven for the reality that every one trims start below the $25k mark. Good price always points, notably with proper now’s inflation expenses being what they’re.
On the media drive in Asheville, North Carolina, Chevy harassed the continued need for the Trax and its platform-mate, the Trailblazer. Each one appeals to utterly totally different patrons: The pricier Trailblazer is for the adventure-seeker with its additional rugged styling and optionally out there all-wheel drive, whereas the front-wheel-drive-only Trax is aimed immediately at youthful drivers and even empty-nesters who want one factor with a peppy turbo engine, an exquisite inside, and a significantly sporty driving experience. There’s moreover a necessity to concentrate on small sedan householders, a number of whom will probably be shopping for and promoting of their rising previous Chevy Cruze inside the near future. The Trax is perhaps prepared for them, and we predict they are going to be impressed.
Exterior Styling: Enormous Enhancements From Every Angle
The outgoing Trax’s Micro Machine-like seems have been modified by a design that’s additional mature and stylish due to a model new platform. Measurement has elevated significantly – by better than 11 inches – and it’s marginally wider than sooner than. Peak has moreover been lowered by spherical 4 inches. Together with the sleeker profile and hints of coupe-like styling, this helps improve aero motion. The designers of the model new Trax have created a far more fascinating subcompact crossover with an aesthetic that may be a far cry from the sooner Trax’s stubby, considerably generic look.
Up entrance, horizontal traces comprise the grille on which the bowtie badge is prominently displayed. Chevy distinguished each of the 5 trims with some distinctive styling traits, such as a result of the titanium chrome accents and a rear skid plate featured on the Activ. RS fashions operate a chrome bar over the standard color-keyed piece on the nostril and a sportier-looking grille with that ‘RS’ badge on the proper aspect, displaying off some Blazer have an effect on. There are moreover customary Blazer-inspired LED headlights, and solely the underside LS trim lacks LED daytime working lights.
The sculpted haunches give a additional muscular and athletic look than sooner than, and the rear spoiler’s presence underscores that sporty vibe. A set of 17-inch steel wheels are customary on the entry-level LS; all totally different trims embody 17- to 19-inch alloys. With out question, the top-of-the-line 2RS has the best-looking wheel design of the bunch.
The angled taillights are nothing new in automotive design as a complete, nevertheless them particularly particular person reveals consideration to factor normally found on additional premium, expensive fashions. The Trax’s lead designer confirmed us just a few of the primary hand-drawn sketches, and we’ve been impressed by how a variety of the early imaginative and prescient made it to manufacturing. That’s usually pretty unusual. Kudos, Chevy.
Inside: Driver-Focused Pleasurable
The very very first thing we noticed when stepping contained in the model new Trax is the driver-focused construction. Taking an online web page from BMW, your whole unit encasing the 11-inch infotainment show (an eight-inch unit is customary on the LS and 1RS) is angled in route of the driving power. Higher of all, gone are a funds plastics that adorned earlier Chevys, and this is not restricted to elevated trims; the underside LS is included too. We should always level out, however, that this writer’s brand-new Pixel 6a did not hook up with Bluetooth, nevertheless there was no issue when switching to an iPhone. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto efficiency are all customary.
Shifting up the trim ladder eliminates points similar to the vinyl-wrapped steering wheel, which is swapped out for a flat-bottom, leather-covered unit inside the RS solely. An eight-inch driver’s digital gauge cluster is customary on the LT, 2RS, Activ, and RS. We solely briefly sat inside the LS, which is able to get materials seats, nevertheless even these have a high-quality actually really feel. Furthermore, the faux chrome (study: additional plastic) didn’t actually really feel low price. The RS, within the meantime, has leather-based upholstery, additional dash padding, and textured surfacing that covers the dash panels. The 2RS we examined had pink inside accents, whereas the Activ sports activities actions Evotex seats with yellow accents. Each trim, mainly, will get its private distinctive look.
Inside home is plentiful, and passengers get three inches additional rear legroom than sooner than – just a few of essentially the most spectacular legroom figures inside the part. Cargo home has moreover elevated by nearly 12%: a strong 25.6 cubic toes is on the market behind the second row, compared with 18.7 cubes inside the outgoing model. Folding the seats flat generates a whole of 54.1 cubes, up from 48.4 cu. ft. Thank the model new and longer platform for a great deal of inside home for these Costco runs and canine park journeys. We had no factors packing just a few suitcases, digicam and video gear, and totally different miscellaneous objects into the trunk with out having to fold the rear seats.
Chevy always recognized that the Trax is value-packed with customary choices like heated entrance seats for the 1RS, 2RS, and Activ, energetic noise cancellation, Teen Driver, and an HD rearview digicam. Cruise administration is customary all through the board, too, and you may go for adaptive cruise administration on elevated trims, which is a major for the Trax.
Driving Impressions: Nice Nevertheless Not Partaking
The front-wheel-drive-only Trax actually has a driving persona now, though it is not basically an thrilling experience. The very very first thing we noticed was the peppy turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, which delivers 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. That may be a sturdy enchancment over the Hyundai Venue and its 121 hp and 113 lb-ft, nevertheless not pretty as a lot as par with the Mazda CX-30’s 191-hp base engine. Even the underside Hyundai Kona makes 147 horses.
Acceleration is fairly brisk as a result of the six-speed computerized transmission helps ship power on the lower end of the rev differ, nevertheless we felt it had a tricky time sustaining as we continued in route of the 65 mph freeway velocity. We predict an extra couple of gears could restore that.
All Trax trims have the an identical engine and gearbox, so the lineup additional truthfully consists of look packages considerably than fashions with utterly totally different powertrains, not like its CX-30 rival, the place you get the selection of a turbocharged mill. Specializing in price requires shortcuts, however. Gasoline monetary system, in step with Chevy, is rated at 28/32/30 mpg metropolis/freeway/blended. That may be a 16% and 10% obtain over the previous Trax for city and blended cycles, respectively. The 0-60 mph will also be improved, nevertheless we weren’t provided with numbers.
Chevy was anxious for us to drive the fully-loaded RS out on twisty roads spherical Asheville, and we luckily obliged. The 2RS we sampled proved to be pretty fulfilling attributable to a barely tighter steering actually really feel. Is it sports activities actions car-like? In all probability not. Nevertheless, it nonetheless exceeded our expectations of a typical entry-level model.
All-wheel drive just isn’t extra more likely to ever operate on the Trax on account of that can intervene in Trailblazer territory – truthful ample. We didn’t uncover any vital wind noise or predominant physique roll, and the journey top quality whole was very good. The Trax is not any autocross toy, nevertheless as basic transportation with some perspective, it’s better than sufficient.
Braking proved to be quick and responsive when a DHL truck in entrance of us instantly slammed on its brakes. A wild turkey moreover crossed the freeway with out warning shortly afterward, and it didn’t end up as roadkill. Fortuitously, the Trax comes with a bunch of regular safety gear like computerized emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist, and a following distance indicator. Lane change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking assist are selections.
Pricing: Value Everywhere
The 2024 Trax carries a starting ticket of merely $20,400 for the underside LS, sooner than together with the $1,095 trip spot price. That’s unbelievable price, considering the large leap forward that this period represents over its predecessor. Chevy even instructed us it was as quickly as considering altering the Trax establish as a result of enormous variations nevertheless lastly decided in the direction of it.
All trims begin at decrease than $25k, and Chevy predicts that the majority of patrons will go for the mid-range LT, which begins at $22,300. The 1RS is priced at $22,100, whereas the 2RS and Full of life worth $23,900. The Hyundai Venue, however, costs even a lot much less nonetheless at merely $19,650 as a starting point and caps off at barely under $23k completely loaded. The quite a bit better-equipped Kona goes for upwards of $23,950, nevertheless you even have the selection of together with a stronger engine elevated up inside the differ. The Trax dominates essentially the most price efficient Hyundai compact SUV in key lessons like power and inside home, nevertheless spending considerably additional, on this part, means some huge options over what the Trax provides.
Verdict: Potential Class Chief
It’s clear Chevrolet has carried out its homework with the second-generation Trax. Trendy and sporty out and in, the Trax won’t be solely better than its predecessor, however it moreover feels and drives like a far more sturdy automobile within the subsequent worth class. And that’s what points most proper right here: Value with out being low price. Traces of the “outdated GM” is prolonged gone when low price provides barely a step above cardboard have been accepted. That won’t scale back it proper now when rivals similar to the CX-30, all-new Toyota Corolla Cross, and Hyundai Kona are in the marketplace.
As Chevy and GM as a complete, for that matter, proceed to abandon the sedan and hatchback segments, subcompact crossovers similar to the Trax have to step up their sport in an effort to convey new patrons into the GM fold and, equally important, lure away those who left the automaker for quite a few causes over time. The place the outdated model was left inside the mud by rivals, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax has what it takes to offer some rivals a run for his or her money.