2024 Chevy Trax Transforms right into a Funds Crossover with Actual Worth

The 2024 Chevy Trax is among the few new vehicles in latest reminiscence that’s considerably cheaper than the mannequin it replaces. Beginning at $21,495, the brand new Trax prices $1400 lower than the outgoing 2022 mannequin and now serves as Chevy’s entry-level automobile. In truth, it is the most cost effective automobile Normal Motors sells within the U.S. Even absolutely loaded, the brand new Trax is available in beneath $27,000. We hate to say it, however that is low cost by in the present day’s new-car requirements.

This reimagining of the Trax from a middling subcompact crossover right into a value-focused worth chief is much like what Nissan did a couple of years in the past when it changed the Juke with the Kicks. This class of cheapo-utes, which additionally consists of the Kia Soul and Hyundai Venue, prioritizes inside house and have content material over typical SUV traits reminiscent of elective all-wheel drive and rugged styling (if you would like these issues, Chevy will fortunately promote you a Trailblazer). All of them begin within the low-$20,000 vary and are available commonplace with front-wheel drive and Apple CarPlay. That is the brand new face of fundamental transportation.

Higher Inside and Out

Measured by that yardstick, the brand new Trax appears to be like like a hit. Considerably longer, decrease, and wider than the previous, awkwardly tall Trax, the properly proportioned new mannequin has an nearly wagonoid look about it. The bottom LS mannequin appears to be like pedestrian with its hubcaps and lack of vibrant trim, however the LT, RS, and Activ trim ranges are comparatively fashionable because of good wheels, apparently formed headlights and taillights, and distinctive grille trim up entrance. A number of vibrant paint colours can be found too.

The Trax’s stretched-out form additionally pays dividends inside, as rear legroom and cargo house are considerably elevated because of the drastically longer wheelbase and wider monitor. Chevrolet additionally managed to bundle a flat ground within the rear, making the center seat liveable for shorter journeys. This might be a well-liked selection for Uber drivers. Analog gauges and an 8.0-inch touchscreen are commonplace, however the elective digital gauge cluster and 11.0-inch central display screen give the Trax a very good quantity of show actual property for a automobile on this class.

We’re not too down on the Trax’s cheap-feeling inside supplies given the low worth level. The plastics are laborious and scratchy, however the essential areas—the dashtop, the door panels, and the upholstery—at the least have some attention-grabbing textures to maintain them from trying too bargain-basement. The driving place is low and carlike, a welcome change from the chairlike seating preparations in most of the Trax’s taller rivals, together with Chevy’s personal Trailblazer.

Driving Expertise Suits the Invoice

The 2024 Trax drives like an economic system automotive, too, which is not a foul factor. The experience and dealing with stability is tuned appropriately—softly sprung sufficient to be comfy on rougher roads whereas nonetheless providing sufficient damping to maintain physique roll in verify when pushed. The steering’s lack of on-center really feel is a letdown, although, and we might’ve most popular a faster ratio for a small, comparatively light-weight automobile (3000-ish kilos, in response to Chevy). For those who assume the RS trim gives any kind of dynamic improve, assume once more, because it’s mechanically similar to the others save for 18-inch (1RS) or 19-inch wheels (2RS).

The one powertrain is a turbocharged 1.2-liter inline-three with a six-speed computerized transmission. Its 137 horsepower is meager, however the 162 pound-feet of torque comes on low within the rev vary, and the Trax has sufficient energy to get out of its personal manner. The three-cylinder has a particular warble, and turbo lag is minimal. The one actual situation is the sluggish transmission, which does not downshift as promptly as we would like. That stated, we would nonetheless take it over a CVT any day. Gas economic system is rated at 30 mpg mixed, which is inferior to compact vehicles just like the Honda Civic however about on par for a crossover this dimension.

It appears like we’re getting much less and fewer for our hard-earned money recently, which makes a legitimately cheap new automotive an more and more interesting proposition. The Trax is not significantly partaking or refined, however its enticing pricing lowers expectations to the purpose the place we will respect what it does provide: a generously sized inside, spectacular function content material, and attractiveness. Chevy expects the Trax to develop into its third-bestselling mannequin behind the Silverado and Equinox, and we do not see any purpose to doubt that. With better-equipped trims coming in beneath $25,000, it is clear that the Trax’s low worth is its high promoting level—and practically everybody can agree that worth has common attraction.

Senior Editor

Regardless of being raised on a gentle weight loss plan of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or maybe due to it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive business all through his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He discovered a method to write about vehicles for the varsity newspaper throughout his faculty years at Rice College, which ultimately led him to maneuver to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first skilled auto-writing gig at Car Journal. He has been a part of the Automobile and Driver workforce since 2016 and now lives in New York Metropolis.