The popular Chevrolet Trax small crossover has made waves all over the world, but has so far avoided the U.S. market, though manages to flank the region with availability in both Canada and Mexico. Why it has yet to enter the ‘Merican market is a head scratcher, especially when considering its sibling — the Buick Encore — currently sells here, and sells well.
There is also no Chevrolet small crossover in the U.S. market, with the mid-sized, long-in-tooth Equinox being the smallest CUV customers can find under the Bowtie banner. Indeed, it’s easy to see the appeal of a more affordable CUV in the brand’s lineup, but we’ve heard before that the Trax just “won’t work” in America for reasons ranging from tooling and financial reasons to simply protecting Equinox sales. That said, we stand by the thought that Chevrolet would only see an uptick in sales by offering a new crossover. If you agree with us, or not, let us know in our latest poll.
Comments
Did GM not say the next nox would be smaller? maybe there is no need!
Trax is a subcompact. So even if the ‘Nox drops a segment, the Trax is still smaller.
I don’t see why not?? Honda is bringing HR-V to the states and slots below the CR-V. I’ll bet you a lot of people are gonna buy the HR-V and it’s gonna sell like hotcakes
While the next gen Equinox will be a little smaller as it will be based on the new D2 platform. The Gamma II based Trax is still smaller yet.
I say bring it to the US. I’m in Canada and have seen a number floating around here already.
I also live in canada and I see them all the time. Chevy could use a subcompact like the trax in the states to slot under the equinox. The buick encore is selling well, so something like the trax could potentially sell huge numbers, even rivaling the equinox for sales eventually. It’s a great little 4×4 for people who need 5 seats but want something small and versatile, the nox is one of the biggest 5 seaters on the market. I personally think that the two vehicles wouldn’t take sales from one another, but I guess gm knows what they’re doing.
Dumb polling question. The voting on whether GM should bring it to the US is note related to a voter wanting to buy it.
Two issues here in America.
#1 How do you price it so It does not hurt Encore sales? The Encore is much more progfitable to sell with higher option content.
#2 How do you get away with out getting hit for Badge engineering again since the shapes are so close?
It is easy to say yes sell it but there are many other factors you have to consider and some of them we have not seen them yet.
I would rather wait till they can do a new version that is set farther apart from the Encore is styling to attract different buyers. You can still use the Gamma platform but at least change the body. The Nox and Terrain are good examples where the same vehicles do not clash with each other as people either like one or the other as the styling sets them apart.
When you sell cars you need to be smart and look at all aspects not just the ones on the surface.
If you are going to do it do it right. I think GM has learned not to over lap much anymore as each year they there is more space even on the shared platforms.
Does anyone else suspect that the states might eventually see a 2nd gen chevy orlando to go with the next gen cruze? 7 seats, 5 star safety. The main reason that it’s not selling great in canada is because it doesn’t have a 4×4 option, which is a big deal in canada. Would that step on the feet of any gm vehicles?
As a Captiva fan, I’m beginning to let go of the dream of owning a Captiva, and looking forward to slightly smaller Nox and Terrain models next year. The Buick Encore is a surprise hit, but a Chevy version would be entering a crowded small crossover market (I hear there will be a Cadillac version of the same platform?). The Jeep Renegade is a real test for this market and we’ll see how the US responds to a very European sized vehicle.
Here’s what I think, the new equinox and traverse need to get here as soon as possible. We know the equinox will be a bit smaller, which is ok. Keep the traverse the same size (and less minivan looking). Then in between them I see room for a Colorado based small SUV. Whether it’s the trailblazer or not, people love the Tahoe and the truck feel but have an issue with the price and size. So why not offer a small truck based SUV? The Colorado will be here next year and it wouldn’t be hard to give it an SUV brother. A direct competitor to the Grand Cherokee, give it lie luxury of the Tahoe and the off road ability of a jeep and it would be perfect. Just my opinion.
I have still not heard a valid reason why GM does not offer Trax, and Orlando for that matter, in the US while offering them in Canada and Mexico. This makes no sense to me. We have a 2008 Chevrolet HHR that will need replacing soon and the Trax with manual trans and all-wheel-drive would be perfect.
Enough with redundancy ! This got GM in trouble before and it has to stop . Look at Equinox and Terrain .Sales of the Terrain are abysmal , GM should be putting the money into refining the Equinox , chassis and engine issues . This is the hot product . Leave the Encore for Buick to refine , instead pick a sleeker , hot looking and slightly longer balanced design . It must offer AWD and the engines and trannies must be second to none and offer at least one upscale model pocket rocket type to attract the young at heart . Get rid of the bar across the grill , it is old hat already , it dates the front like the Malibu , yuk ! This site ran a picture of a 69 Chevelle two door hardtop a month or so ago , it was an outstanding design , the best of the best . What has happened to the designers of today , are they carrying numbskull managers on their backs ? Then set them free !!!
The fact is GM had looked at offering the Orlando here but changed their mind as they just did not it would do well as it was. The reaction to it was mixed at best. People either loved it or hated it but no in between. It was rejected by about 2/3 of the HHR fans on the Forum I visit.
I have seen many HHR people have gone to the Terrain and Nox as you could get a decent Nox for about the same price as the Orlando and the Nox was a better vehicle.
GM is in the midst of a reshuffle for the line up. With the new Nox being a little smaller and a new Terrain to follow I expect it to change in size too. GM has to cut weight in both as they both are the heaviest in class. GM needs the MPG so I expect both to shrink.
Now I could see a second Gen here of the Orlando and Trax if they can make the Olando more appealing to the American market and the Trax more different than the Encore.
I own a HHR and Terrain and know the good and bad of each. The HHR would have been a hard act to follow with the Orlando. I feel the Orlando would have suffered sales similar to the Dodge Caliber while not a disaster it was far from a success. The HHR sold easily in 6 figures most of the years it was on the market. But Retro is a hard thing to replace.
The fact too that GM sells near 300,000 Nox and Terrains a year make it difficult to offer another similar vehicle. The Captiva is only here to protect resale on the Nox and Terrain from fleet sales. It has worked well.
In short I do not know the exact moves but there will be a reshuffle here and we should see it in the next 4 years.
Lets face it GM is not telling much today and I expect some surprises in the next couple years.
Keep in mind the Orland was also a left over pre Bail out model that they just finished later. It is far from the kind of product they are wanting to do today.
Yeah, some genius says sell the U.S. the old bulky Equinox and if they don’t like that, go buy a used Captiva. Dumb, dumb, dumb!
Ok how is selling 200,000 Nox to the public that loves it and then selling the old outdated Captiva to fleets preserving the resale value of the Nox dumb?
Check out the sales of the Nox since the present body style and it has been one of Chevy’s best sellers and most profitable models.
If that is dumb then I think they could use a lot more of it.
Having the third largest sale number (after the Silverado and the Cruze) , the Equinox is Chevy’s and GM’s best SUV, and those buyers are not dumb. I have an Equinox and I am not dumb! Bring in the Trax to compete with the small SUVs from Europe and Asia!
Yes, they should.
Put the new 1.6 turbo motor in it (and the Encore) and start selling it here. Price it about $5K less than a comparably equipped Buick.
My mother would love an Encore but it’s out of her price range.
Something just like it at a lower price point would be right up her alley.
Anyone have the Trax price in Canada in US funds? What is the high and low sticker price. This way we could compare it to the Encore and see if there really any room to price it as a Chevy here.
Also what about the badge engineering issue. GM has already played this game and lost with many other models. If it is too much like the Buick then you will rob Buick sales and end up with two vehicles splitting the take.
With almost 71% of the vote saying yes, so much for the naysayers. I’d much rather have a Trax than the Encore. Something else, what is the sales breakdown for the Encore female vs. male buyers? Reason being is that I find the Trax to be much more masculine in appearance over the Encore.
It takes more than popular opinion to make a good decision. It all comes down to marketing and money.
If you have to under cut the Encore where do you save money with out it coming across with things like a Cheap interior or lack of options?
Most CUV models are female buyers even the terrain.
But if it does sell here, it MUST have a better material though
New Jeep Renegade will clean up the small CUV market unless GM gives it some serious competition. Will start at under $19000 compared to Encore’s near$ 25000 starting price. And although not as plush as the Encore, the Renegade has a very up scale interior with more tech options and far more horsepower than the Encore. Even has a very usable full center console/armrest while the Encore has a small one and only a driver armrest.
GM needs an upgraded Trax (more tech, more soft touch in interior, a real console replacement for the one armrest and a decent size engine) starting at around $19000 to be competitive. The Renegade is good enough to take big chunk out of Encore sales and win over HHR and Vibe owners.
Come on GM, you need to stay AHEAD of the competition and give your past customers the vehicles that will keep them In GM and not have to change brands to get what they want!
The trax would nicely fill the void of the pontiac vibe. A great little car that was great on gas and trouble free for the 10years I had it and now living with my niece. Not everyone wants a big SUV but still the look and feel of one.
This is one HHR owner that will not buy a Renegade,
Even if I liked the styling Jeep quality is enough to keep me away.
I agree with the many comments on making the Trax with a better this and that but what would it do to the present price.
Besides where is someone from Australia to complain about it being a Korean car?
At this point I would wait for the next gen.
The styling is too much like Encore, and should be reworked. Maybe the India specific Adria would work be a better option.
Encore is a big hit for Buick. It will never achieve volume but is a good branding took. Trax got in the way of Mokka in Europe, will do the same here.
Trax is an unattractive vehicle compared to other autos in the segment. Tues was right about design language.