The Chevrolet Trax has been a strong performer for the Bow Tie brand and for parent firm, General Motors Company. In fact, the Bow Tie brand’s subcompact crossover has consistently placed in the top three best-selling spots in its segment from a sales volume standpoint, despite being one of the oldest models in the space.
Since then, GM has introduced the Chevrolet Trailblazer as another subcompact crossover. But contrary to initial reports, the Trailblazer will not replace, but rather complement, the Trax. In doing so, Chevy is simplifying the Trax lineup in order to secure a lower price point and make room at the factory for the Trailblazer. And for those reasons, the 2021 Chevy Trax gets only a few rather minor changes. So, here’s what’s new and different about the 2021 Trax.
Model Line
For the 2021 model year, the Premium trim level has been deleted, which included the following models:
- Premium (1JW76/1JT76) – Front-Wheel and All-Wheel-Drive
That leaves two trim levels as part of the 2021 model year lineup:
- LS (1JU76/1JR76) – Front-Wheel and All-Wheel-Drive
- LT (1JV76/1JS76) – Front-Wheel and All-Wheel-Drive
Exterior
On the outside, the 2021 Chevy Trax sees the deletion of five exterior colors and the addition of four new exterior colors:
New hues:
- Midnight Blue Metallic
- Crimson Metallic
- Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
- Shadow Gray Metallic
Deleted colors:
- Nightfall Gray Metallic
- Satin Steel Metallic
- Red Hot
- Cajun Red Tintcoat
- Pacific Blue Metallic
In total, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax offers nine exterior colors:
- Midnight Blue Metallic
- Silver Ice Metallic
- Summit White
- Mosaic Black Metallic
- Crimson Metallic
- Black Cherry Metallic
- Stone Gray Metallic
- Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
- Shadow Gray Metallic
In addition the Trax sees the deletion of body-color door handles with chrome accent. For the 2020 model year, these were included for the Midnight Edition and Redline Edition models.
There’s also the deletion of the 18-inch Midnight Silver aluminum wheels (RPO code RRT). These rollers were included in the Midnight Edition.
Interior
On the inside, the 2021 Chevy Trax sees the deletion of the Jet Black with Brandy interior color combination option. Additionally, the standard seat on LT models is now Deluxe Cloth with Leatherette, while Full Leatherette seats are available via the new-for-2021 Premium Seat Package. For the 2020 model year, LT models came standard with (regular) cloth seats.
The subcompact CUV also sees the addition of the Outside Temperature Sensor as standard on all models. Meanwhile, SiriusXM Radio is now standard on the LS model. For the 2020 model year, it was standard only on LT and Premier models.
The power sunroof option and Bose premium seven-speaker system have also been deleted for the 2021 model year.
Packages
The 2021 Chevy Trax also sees the deletion of the Sun and Sound Package, which included a Bose premium 7-speaker system and power sunroof. Both features are no longer available for the 2021 model year.
Meanwhile, the Trax also sees the addition of the aforementioned Premium Seat Package, which includes heated driver and front passengers seats in Leatherette trim. This package is only available on LT models.
A few other packages were added for the 2021 year, such as:
- Lifestyle Package (LPO-level item), which includes:
- Cargo tray
- Trailer hitch carrier mount (110 pounds max)
- Road Trip Package (LPO-level item), which includes:
- All-weather floor mats
- Roof rack cross rails
Meanwhile, the LT Convenience Package was updated to now include Deluxe Cloth/Leatherette seat trim and body-color door handles with chrome accents. It no longer includes body-color door handles with chrome accents when ordered with Redline Edition or Midnight Edition models, since the body-color door handles were deleted for the 2021 model year. This package already contained the following features:
- Keyless Open
- Keyless Start
- Key System
- Driver 6-way power seat adjuster
- Leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel
Powertrain
The 2021 Chevy Trax initially offered the same turbocharged 1.4L LUV I4 as the 2020 model. However, the unit was replaced mid-year by the newer 1.4 LE2 I4, which is also turbocharged. Available with an engine block heater, the LE2 is rated at 155 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque compared to the LUV’s 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque.
The new powerplant is still paired with GM’s six-speed automatic transmission, with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations.
2021 Chevy Trax Availability
Production of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax began during the third quarter of 2020. The Trax compact crossover is assembled at the following two factories for global markets:
- GM Bupyeong factory operated by GM Korea
- GM San Luis Potosi factory operated by GM Mexico
We expect the first-generation Trax to live on at least for the 2021 and 2022 model years in North America.
At some point in the future, the current, first-gen Trax will be replaced by an all-new model, likely the GEM-based Tracker currently offered in China.
Not many are locally built. No other incentives offered on GM's segment-leading utility. Trax News
Where GM Mexico’s Best-Selling Cars Are Built May Surprise You
Chevy Trax Deals In February 2025: Select Market Leases
Comments
Love my 2013 Trax
Trax didn’t come to the U.S. until like 2015. Where you from? North of the Border?
I loved this car everyone rolls I fell in love the minute I saw it
I purchased my Chevy Trax in 2018 new. Mine is from Mexico, still to this day I’m paying over $100.00 in front front brakes, and the rear brakes are $98.00 I have had many many issues with this ride… My opinion it’s the far most worst vehicle I’ve ever owned..
I have a 2016 Chevy Trax and it has been in the shop 7 times already and the vehichle only has 70,000 miles on it. I have had nothing but problems with it since the day I purchased it. Worst mistake I ever made…even the mechanic told me I should get rid of this vehicle!!!
I love my 2018 Trax! I love the price, the look, the comfort, the ride, the space. It looks good, holds all my stuff and is easy to get into the parking space in the work parking garage. It gets great mileage, does amazingly well on Idahos ice and snow. I have almost 70,000 miles and thinking I will get another Trax soon!
Love Chevy, just disappointed as I thought I was supporting the US! Chevy, let’s bring all of the work back to the USA! Let’s support our own economy!