This week I am taking a look the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax, a compact SUV that slots behind the popular Trailblazer and is the least expensive SUV in the Chevy lineup. Chevrolet skipped the 2023 model year altogether to do a complete redesign of the Trax. The end result was a larger, much nicer compact SUV that is also less expensive. Size-wise, it is very close to the size of the other popular compact SUVs, although it visually appears to be larger than it is.
This is a very attractive SUV, it has sharp lines, the frontal view is reminiscent of the Blazer and Trailblazer, it has boomerang style rear taillights, roof rails, a rear spoiler, and the 19” machined wheels really set it off.
Under the hood sits a 1.2-liter inline 3-cylinder engine that is turbocharged, putting out 137-horses, which sounds low, but the Trax is pretty light. With the turbo you’ll get 162-pound feet of torque which gets the little SUV moving with ease. I must remark that the engine is incredibly smooth and quiet, not something you can say often with the very small engines. It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, that I wish was a 9-speed transmission, but oh well.
My tester is the 2RS package which is the top-of-the-line trim package. As you enter the driver’s seat, you notice a well laid out interior. This one is black inside with red accents all around and rich black gloss trim across the dash and on the center console. At this price point you wouldn’t expect the interior to be this attractive. It features Evotex seating materials, which looks like leather and is soft to the touch and easy to clean. The seats are comfortable, and they are heated, but do not have any power adjustments.
There is an 8” color driver information screen that is easy to read. You can configure the information from the flat-bottomed steering wheel. Center dash is an 11” touchscreen that houses the rear camera, runs the wireless Apple Carplay and wireless Android Auto, the 6-speaker sound system, the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM. Below that are your air-conditioning controls. Continuing down to the center console, you get the gear shifter, wireless cell charger, a couple of cupholders, a switch to turn off the start/stop system, and a switch to turn off the traction control.
A huge surprise for me was the back seat leg and headroom. You could seat three adults if needed, but two would be very comfortable. In the redesign of the Trax, it picked up 3-inches of legroom over the last generation Trax. Backseat passengers get two USB-C ports, but there are no air vents or fold down armrest.
Cargo area is good with 26-cubic feet of cargo that is covered and the cover raises when you lift the tailgate. You can lower the back seat and increase the cargo area to 54-cubic feet of storage.
Safety
On the safety front, you get forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and lane departure warning. This Trax has the $750 Driver Confidence package which gives you rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert with blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise. It also has the $895 Sunroof package, and it is a power sliding roof with a cloth cover. There is also a $395 charge for the paint.
Standard Equipment
Everything else you see comes as standard equipment and includes keyless entry, remote start, heated front seats, power windows, power locks, and power outside mirrors, the 19” wheels, LED headlights and running lamps, and a rear spoiler.
Ride and Drive
The Trax drives and rides really well, is surprisingly quiet, the handling is good. Acceleration is ample, even for my heavy foot. Fuel economy is rated at 28 city, 32 highway, and 30 overall which is why I wish it had a 9-speed transmission for better mileage especially on the highway.
I saved the best for last which is the price. The Trax starts just over $20,000 and this top-of-the-line version, very well equipped is $27,080. By today’s standards, this is just an incredible value and the 2024 Trax has been a huge hit for Chevy and its Dealers. It’s easy to see why.
What I Liked Most: The interior and exterior appearance, and overall value.
What I would change: The infotainment system seems antiquated to me.
MSRP: Base Price $23,900 Total MSRP $27,080 with transportation.
Fuel Economy: Rated at 22 city/28 highway/25 combined.
Weight: 3,030 pounds/4,145 pound GVWR.
Fuel Tank Capacity: 14 gallons with the filler on the driver's side.
2024 Chevy Trax in a few words: In a sea of SUVs, the Trax stands out as an attractive, yet very affordable SUV.
Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty with roadside assistance, courtesy transportation, and free first maintenance visit.