What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Chevrolet Trax?
The Trax revives a small-car nameplate and gives it slippery SUV-like styling cues, but it’s a front-drive hatchback with no available all-wheel drive.
What does it compare to?
It compares with vehicles like Chevy’s own Equinox and Trailblazer, as well as the Kia Soul and Seltos and the Hyundai Kona.
Is the 2024 Chevrolet Trax a good car?
The attractive Trax has an attractively simple lineup, good fuel-economy estimates, and a high degree of technology standard. We give it a 6.0 out of 10, without the safety ratings still to come. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What’s new for the 2024 Chevrolet Trax?
It’s an entirely new vehicle, much larger than the Chevy Trax sold prior to 2022. Based on the compact Trailblazer, the 2024 Trax has a longer wheelbase and is bigger overall—it’s nearly the equal in size of the Chevrolet Equinox crossover.
The Trax returns with an outfit that looks expensive and athletic like a track suit. Clearly in the spirit of the upcoming Equinox EV without cloning that electric SUV’s looks, the 2024 Trax brandishes a mesh grille across its nose, with a lattice texture that frames its small Chevy bowtie. LED headlights spin off from its LED running lights for an interesting lighting signature. Down the sides, the Trax strikes a strong Blazer note, with its two-pack and wasp waist and with the sweeping upturn of its shoulder line at the rear. Stickpin taillights cap the rear quarters, pointing back toward the Trax’s ample haunches. We wish more economy cars had this much verve—and it carries on inside, where the Trax mingles angled control pods with round air vents and a big touchscreen, knitting it all together well above its pay grade.
The bracing style doesn’t get the backup it needs from the powertrain, but what’s here is pleasant enough. The prosaic 137 hp that issues from the Trax’s 1.2-liter turbo-3 gets joined by 167 lb-ft of torque, all of which emerges from the business end of a 6-speed automatic to turn the front wheels, and the front wheels alone. This is no SUV; it’s a spacious front-drive hatchback, regardless of what the TV ads tell you—and it’s good at that, parsing out its economy-car power in careful amounts, never upsetting itself with rash responses to rough roads, and readily engaging with the driver’s steering inputs. It’s a capable city runner with no pretense of mucking things up off-road—and that’s refreshing.
The Trax has grown considerably in its new generation; it’s now bigger than the Trailblazer, and almost the size of the gas-powered Equinox. Interior space is ample for four 6-foot passengers and its well-shaped seats wear a durable fabric, though the driver could use more lumbar support. Cargo space shines, at 25.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 51.4 cubic feet when they’re flipped down.
Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has crash-tested the new Trax, but all versions have automatic high beams, active lane control, and automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot monitors and rear parking sensors are offered on all versions, and adaptive cruise control can be fitted to the more expensive models.
How much does the 2024 Chevrolet Trax cost?
The Trax comes in five trims: LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS and Activ. All have LED headlights and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as cloth upholstery and cruise control. The $21,495 Trax LS delivers that infotainment on an 8.0-inch touchscreen; the $23,195 Trax 1RS ups the ante with heated front seats and 18-inch wheels. We like the $23,395 Trax LT and its 11.0-inch touchscreen and remote start; hold on the spendy (it’s all relative) $24,995 Trax 2RS and its 19-inch wheels, and even the $24,995 Trax Activ with its monochrome look and power driver seat.
Where is the 2024 Chevrolet Trax made?
In South Korea.
