Ever since the Chevrolet Trax nameplate first hit the U.S. market for the 2015 model year, buyers have had only one engine option to choose from, namely the turbocharged 1.4L I4 LUV gas unit. Now, however, the latest 2021 Chevy Trax has unexpectedly adopted a new, more-powerful and more modern engine to replace the LUV.
As it turns out, the U.S-spec 2021 Chevy Trax will ditch the turbo 1.4L I4 LUV offered on outgoing models in favor of the turbocharged 1.4L I4 LE2 gas unit. The change is taking place roughly a third of the way through the 2021 model year.
Although the arrival of a new engine with the 2021 Chevy Trax comes as a bit of a surprise, it is certainly not unwelcome. As it is, the 1.4L LUV equipped for the 2020 model year and earlier is an adequate four-cylinder gas engine for the application, the port-injected mill is also a bit long in the tooth, hailing from the Gen 1 Ecotec engine family.
The turbocharged 1.4L I4 LE2 gas engine
By contrast, the turbocharged 1.4L I4 LE2 now equipped by the 2021 Chevy Trax is much newer and features direct injection. It was first introduced in the 2016 Chevy Cruze. What’s more, the LE2 is more powerful than the LUV, producing 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, as compared to the 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque produced by the 1.4L LUV.
Under the hood of the Chevy Cruze, the 1.4L I4 LE2 was outfitted with an automatic engine start/stop feature. It’s currently unclear whether or not the LE2 will offer automatic start/stop with the 2021 Chevy Trax, but for the moment, we do not believe so.
As for the reasoning and justification behind this unexpected change with regard to the 2021 Chevy Trax engine spec, GM Authority has reached out to Chevrolet for comment, but has yet to receive a response. Once we hear back, rest assured we’ll share what we learn.
Stay tuned, as we’ll have more on the 2021 Chevy Trax and its new, more-powerful engine posted very soon. In the meantime, subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Trax news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Very smart move. That engine was a option in the buick encore then dropped. Its a much better engine for the Trax as the old 1.4 was a dog unless you got a tune for it. It also probably be added because of emissions.
Looks like the Buick encore is getting it too as the website says in a direct injection engine now.
Excellent engine.Good move! Long overdue…
So that’s great and all, but will they ever actually build something like the HHR SS or go after the GTI. It’s just a struggle to want to buy Chevy when they won’t put a decent engine in something that’s smaller than a boat.
Why did they not get one of the new I3 engines? Isn’t the Trailblazer bigger, yet has the smaller engines? Also, why even invest money in the Trax when they should bring the Tracker here to replace it?
In a way I agree, the Trax will be phased out at some point. So why not give it the CVT 1.3, grab whatever money they can from it from the people who don’t care about performance or having a more spunky, aesthetic ride. Then drop a 2.0 IN THE TRAILBLAZER. LIKE ITS NOT THE DIFFICULT. I PROMISE. My HHR SS had a 2.0 in a tiny bay.
Not sure about the Trax and Trailblazer, but the Buick 1.3 gets a nine speed auto. From what I’ve read, it performs pretty well. I currently drive a 2017 Encore, though it’s certainly not quick, it gets me around fine. Granted, I never have more than my wife and our beagle in it, so that probably helps. Four adults would bog it down.
Do you ever let the beagle drive? 😉
Hahahah, I did once and she put the AWD to good use chasing rabbits.
Tracker would not pass usa safety.
If GM relocated engine equipment in Gunsan to Bupyeong, they can reduced cost very reasonably. Too bad too late but good change.
Joseph above in the first comment may have already answered this, but my first thought was if the Buick Encore was following suit? When I got my 2018, I certainly didn’t want any start/stop feature on my car, so I went with the standard LUV 1.4L. It was more than fine for me, but I did think the car could have used just a tiny bit more power. But the trade off of less power to not have the start/stop was worth it for me.
So now if both the Encore and Trax are offering the bigger 1.4L AND without the start/stop, then that will be fantastic. Now, I wonder if I could shoehorn that same engine into my new Spark??? haha. Now that would be one heck of a sleeper.
I kind of prefer the Trax over the new trail blazer. The new engine will be a nice addition. Just wish the Trax had led headlights.
The only way I would want LED headlights is if they offered equal or superior performance to what is already on the car as standard equipment.
I’m a retired lighting engineer, and let me assure you: a halogen headlight with good photometrics beats an LED or HID headlight with poor photometrics every time. In short: first look at performance, not the technology.
Soon the engine’s will be small that the turbo and the ac compressor will be bigger.
Aqui no Brasil chegou a nova geração do Chevrolet Tracker deixamos de importar do México está sendo fabricado em São Paulo o nome aqui é Tracker
Good move and it makes me wonder if then this thing will be going away as soon as some have said or predicted.
Why is it that Chevy can do a new Engine the same size as the old Engine and add power and Cadillac do a new Engine the same size as the old Engine and reduce power?
Good news. Maybe this means it is sticking around for a while longer than was expected.
I had a Trax for a rental recently and it was beyond gutless. Pulling out onto the interstate was more of an issue than it should’ve been. I own a BNR tuned awd Equinox and the Trax was horrible in comparison.
I had a dealer loaner for a few days and was not impressed by it or its weak sauce powertrain. Getting out into interstate traffic was a real PITA if anyone was in front of me on the onramp which prevented me from starting my speed build up before trying to merge.
I also noticed that from a dead stop the engine has a severe dead spot when trying to get moving then it picks back up. Just as I started to move the power went away as in zero power for a second or two then it would start moving forward again and I felt like I was going to get rear ended because of it and it isn’t safe. That unit was so new that it still had plastic wrap on the floor and factory signage on the controls.
Personally I own a BNR tuned ’18 Equinox AWD 1.5t that gets up when I need it to and I’m still not happy with the output. I’m really eyeballing an AWD Blazer with the 3.6L V6 which has good factory power.
Who cares. Another uncool plastic piece of junk that doesnt make you proud to own a Chevrolet.
Great Move👊🏻Outstanding Engne(Definitely a better Engine👍🏻)