The Chevrolet Trax used to be a tall and narrow subcompact crossover SUV. It was an inexpensive way to get around a bustling city. For 2024, the Chevrolet Trax is completely different. It’s wider and longer with a sleek new design that is trying to stand out in an overcrowded crossover market.
Performance
Engine – The 2024 Chevrolet Trax does away with the old 4-cylinder engine and replaces it with a smaller 1.2L turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. It produces 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque (98 kW & 220 Nm). With the 2024 Trax weighing 1,417 kg (3,124 lbs), it’s not a fast crossover SUV but it does have some pep in its step. Peak torque is reached quickly and it doesn’t feel as though it’s “huffing and puffing” to get up a steep hill at speed or accelerating onto a highway. But don’t be surprised if you see the rpm needle hit the 4,000 mark under those situations. In everyday city driving, you never really notice it. The engine may be small but it has enough punch for a city car like this.
Fuel Economy – This 2024 Chevrolet Trax is rated for 8.3 L/100km (28.3 MPG) in a city and 7.4 L/100km (31.8 MPG) on a highway. Those numbers are Ok but I was expecting them to be a bit better considering the size and weight of this little crossover. I managed to average 7.8 L/100km (30.1 MPG) during my time with the Trax which is not too bad. But to put things in a bit of context, I averaged around 8 L/100km (29.4 MPG) in the more powerful and heavier Hyundai Kona N-Line. So in my mind, I was hoping this Trax would achieve closer to 7 or 6.5 L/100km (33.5 – 36 MPG) but at least this turbocharged engine doesn’t require premium fuel.
Transmission – The 1.2L engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This is a smooth shifting transmission which is first and foremost, the most important aspect for a transmission in a vehicle such as this. The response to a stab of the throttle is adequate but it is noticeably faster than the 8-speed in the GMC Canyon which I test drove the previous week. You can take over controls of the shifting by using the buttons on the side of the gear selector but be a bit patient with them as they are not quick to react.
Braking – With its relatively light weight, the 2024 Chevy Trax stops very quickly. I also like the firm feeling brake pedal that inspires confidence whenever you push it. Thankfully the brakes don’t act as on/off switches and they’re quite easy to modulate as well for smooth stops.
Handling – With the wider stance of this new Trax compared to the old one, this crossover feels planted through corners. Steering is direct and feels quick enough for a vehicle of this type. It’s also very light at speed so don’t expect Chevy Camaro levels of enjoyment but for what it is, the Trax is surprisingly enjoyable around a few twists and turns.
But this new 2024 Chevrolet Trax does not come equipped with one feature that the previous one had. That is an all-wheel-drive system. Question is, do you really need a vehicle with AWD? Well, if you like in a part of the world that doesn’t see snow or very little of it and the city that you live in is competent enough to clear away any snow there may be on the ground, then you probably don’t need an AWD system. A good set of winter tires and smooth driving skills will easily get you through the white fluff. But if you live in a part of the world that sees a few feet of snow every few days and there are a lot of hills to go up on, then it would be prudent to look into a vehicle with an AWD system in addition to snow tires and smooth driving skills. The Kia Seltos Turbo or Hyundai Kona are good options.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The ride of the 2024 Chevrolet Trax is quite comfortable. Small to moderate sized bumps in the road are absorbed well by the suspension with only the deepest of potholes upsetting the ride quality. The seats provide good support for your back and there’s just enough padding for long-ish journeys. A little bit more would’ve been nice for those long family road trips.
Interior Space – With the new Chevy Trax being significantly longer than the previous model, it means that there is more passenger space. This is most evident in the back seats. In the previous Trax, I struggled to sit behind anyone that was taller than 5’8” or so. In this new Trax, I can comfortably sit behind my 6’4” driving position. Granted with the lower roofline, headroom isn’t as generous as before but I still have plenty of space.
In the front seats, it’s business as usual. There is a lot of legroom and headroom or the seats can be adjusted to accommodate shorter individuals. With the driver’s seat in the lowest position, this crossover feels a bit more like a sedan from behind the steering wheel. But getting in and out of it is a bit easier than in a sedan.
Behind all rows of seats, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax can accommodate 725 L (25.6 cu-ft) of space. With the 60/40 rear seats folded, that number increases to 1,532 L (54.1 cu-ft) which is more than the previous generation Kona but not as much as the Seltos or Corolla Cross Hybrid.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – For the most part, the 2024 Trax is a quiet crossover SUV. The engine is not too loud under normal driving conditions with it only being too “buzzy” when the car is going up a steep hill at speed or overtaking another vehicle. Wind noise is minimal on highways with some tire noise intruding into the cabin at those higher speeds. However, it’s not any worse than in other crossovers of this size and the Trax has active noise cancellation.
The auto start/stop system is decently smooth as well but it takes about a second or two after arriving at a complete stop for the engine to shut off. This system can be deactivated via a button on the dashboard.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The generous interior space is one of the lucrative factors in choosing this subcompact crossover SUV with the starting price being the other. The 2024 Chevrolet Trax LS starts at just $21,699 CAD ($20,400 USD) before fees & taxes. The only other car of this size on sale today for a similar price is the Nissan Kicks. This top range Activ trim costs $29,314 CAD ($25,980 USD) as equipped with extras and features.
Gadgets – For the low starting price, in Canada the 2024 Chevy Trax is equipped with an 8” touchscreen and Chevrolet’s Android Automotive based infotainment system which allows for wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity. It also comes equipped with heated front seats, 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and 4-way adjustable passenger seat, HD backup camera, wifi hotspot capability, power locks, power mirrors, and power windows.
Moving up to this Activ trim and adding the sunroof package will add a sunroof, a wireless phone charging pad, a larger 11” touchscreen with the same wireless phone connectivity, automatic single-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, an 8” driver display, 8-way power driver’s seat, keyless entry and push button start.
Interior Design – The 2024 Trax retains physical controls for all of the most commonly used functions such as climate or radio volume. The infotainment screen is slightly angled towards the driver with the infotainment system being very straightforward to navigate around. In this Trax, it doesn’t have as many functions as the infotainment in the GMC Canyon for example. The digital driver display shows the tachometer and other vital information but it’s not customizable. All you can do is add one widget, like fuel economy for example, that takes up half the screen. Additionally, there’s a lot of empty space around this digital driver display that could have been better utilized.
Finally, there are a lot of different materials used throughout this interior. There’s gloss black, which I hate due to how easy it is to scratch or get dirty, and there’s three or four different types of plastics all with different textures. The design of the dashboard doesn’t bother me too much and I do like the fluorescent highlights of this Activ trim but my fiance didn’t like all of the different materials used. One thing I am in agreement with her are the un-padded door armrests. My elbows were sore after just 10 minutes of driving.
Exterior Design – This new Chevrolet Trax takes a lot of its styling inspiration from the Chevy Blazer. It has a large grille with a nicely textured mesh, the thin daytime running lights are above the actual headlights and the taillights have somewhat of a boomerang effect as they wrap around the back ¾ panel. There are plastic wheel molds around the wheel wells but that’s a styling design that is found on nearly all crossover SUVs on sale today.
Safety – The 2024 Chevrolet Trax is well equipped in its base LS trim with safety features. It has 6 airbags, forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian detection & braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, Teen Driver (which limits some functions of the car and provides a report to the owner of the vehicle), and of course it has OnStar for emergency services. Additionally, features such as rear cross traffic alert, blind zone sensors, and rear parking sensors can be added on the base LS trim.
While driving the car, all of the advanced driver aids performed well but there were some unique instances where the forward collision alert system provided a false reading. It happened twice in the same situation where the road began to curve to the left and there was a parked vehicle just at the start of the curve. The system thought it was a stationary vehicle in front of me. But it thankfully didn’t apply the brakes in an emergency panic.
Warranty – The 2024 Chevrolet Trax is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle basic and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranties.
Conclusion – Overall, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax is a welcome relief in a world where vehicles are becoming more and more expensive. There are very crossovers, even compact cars, that start at around $22,000 CAD. That being said, if you plan on spending around $30,000 CAD for a subcompact crossover SUV such as this, the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Kona may be better options. But for less than that price threshold, this Chevy Trax is the best one on the market right now.
Thank you to Chevrolet Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Chevrolet.ca
2024 Chevrolet Trax Gallery
