All-New 2024 Chevy Trax First Drive Review: Legitimately Good
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The first thought that ran through my head upon seeing the all-new, 2024 Chevy Trax in person for the very first time was “wow, that looks good.” To my surprise, this new entry-level model drives as good as it looks. After two half days of driving, I would come to label it as “The Corvette of its segment.” Indeed, I’m well aware of the gravity these words carry.
Before I go on, a quick note: by popular demand, we have a video of our first drive review. So for those who prefer to watch rather than read, hit the red PLAY button on the video below and enjoy our first driving impressions video.
The Exterior
The 2024 Chevy Trax looks absolutely incredible. Great proportions, made possible by a sporty stance with a long wheelbase and a wide track, join forces with well executed details such attractive surface development, Chevy’s signature “high-eye” headlight treatment and a large front grille. No matter the trim, the new Trax has a sporty demeanor making it one of the most striking models in its segment, if not the most striking overall.
In a space occupied by such styling oddities as the Honda HR-V, Kia Soul and Hyundai Venue “hamster mobiles,” being – to use a a Zoolander reference – “really really good-looking” is not necessarily all that difficult. Luckily, Chevy designers went above and beyond when it comes to exterior styling, and it shows. The 2024 Chevy Trax is one of those affordable vehicles that make you look back at it, and that’s certainly not something that happens every day for a vehicle in this space or at this price point.
The Interior
Climb inside, and the 2024 Chevy Trax presents with a driver-focused cockpit, with the center stack screen angled just enough toward the driver. The redesigned center console has a stubby gear selector, fore-aft cupholders with an integrated phone holder between them, and an optional wireless charging pad at the junction between the center stack and center console. Unlike the last-generation Trax, which ran from the 2015 thru the 2022 model years, the new one has an actual center armrest integrated in the floor console, instead of an adjustable handle attached only to the driver’s seat. The overall look and feel is a lot more cockpit-like, a substantial departure from the last-generation model.
Though the 2024 Chevy Trax doesn’t have many soft-touch materials in the cabin, designers put in the effort to make the hard plastics look upscale. The dash, for instance, wears a unique diamond pattern, while little bouts of colorful stitching on the steering wheel, shifter, and seats add tasteful contrast to the Jet Black colorway. The accent color also decorates the inlay of the outboard AC vents in a tasteful pattern.
Those intricately familiar with Chevy vehicles will know full well that the Bow Tie has had some of the most cheap, flimsy feeling air conditioning vents in the industry. Any adjustment, however, minor and careful, has not exuded much confidence. For the 2024 Chevy Trax, designers finally gave the AC vents, both outboard and below the center screen, a more sturdy and precise feel.
The seats not only look good, but are also comfortable, at least for the roughly hour-long bouts of driving I was able to do. The chairs are lined in cloth on LS and 1RS models, a combination of cloth and Evotex (leatherette) on LT, and Evotex on 2RS and Activ. Keyless entry is available on LT and standard on 2RS and Activ, while push-button start is standard on LS, 2RS and Activ.
The only demerit about the interior that I noticed are the outboard armrests, which are lined in a material that’s (almost) as hard as a rock, no matter the trim level. Should Chevy choose to address this, then it will eliminate the only negative about this overwhelmingly positive product.
City / Highway Driving
In the city, the new Trax feels nimble and agile, with the suspension and tires doing a great job of keeping road imperfections at bay without feeling overly soft or floaty. All trims get four-wheel disc brakes and performance brake lining as standard, so braking performance and brake pedal feel is confidence-inspiring.
As for acceleration, GM’s turbocharged 1.2L LIH three-cylinder, improved for the 2024 model year, and six-speed automatic transmission pair up to do a solid job at propelling this small crossover in traffic and onto highway onramps, and beyond. The Trax won’t win any races, nor is it intended to. What it will do is deliver comfortable, practical and stylish transportation. For those wondering, the six-speed feels better, delivering direct shifts compared to the rubbery feel of the CVT paired with the LIH engine in the front-drive versions of the Trax’s corporate cousin, the Chevy Trailblazer.
To that end, I’ve heard all kinds of negative comments – most from those who have never driven this vehicle to begin with – that the three-cylinder engine in the Trax (and Trailblazer) is underpowered, making it unsafe to drive, merge into traffic, etc. To those, I will say this: at no point did I feel that the vehicle was underpowered, and at no point did I feel that the power available was insufficient or “unsafe.” Given that my daily driver is a C7 Grand Sport, I know what power feels like. Chevy pegs the 2024 Trax of being capable of doing the 0-60 mph sprint in 8.6 seconds, and I have no reason to doubt that claim. So if you feel “unsafe” driving the Trax, then you’re doing something wrong, and probably should not be driving any motorized vehicle to begin with.
On the highway, the Trax feels composed and refined. Road, wind and engine noise are kept to a minimum. There’s not much vibration or harshness. The vehicle drives in a way that’s more substantial than its price or segment positioning would suggest.
The Twisties
It’s in the twisties that the 2024 Chevy Trax surprised me the most. In two words, the handling prowess of the 2RS model I drove carved through the windy back country roads of Asheville, North Carolina is mind-boggling. With body roll somehow kept to a minimum, the Trax has stability and grip for days. Surprisingly, it also delivers some feedback coming through the steering. If nothing else, watch the part of our video (above), starting at the 8:20 mark for just how big a smile this thing put on my face in the canyons.
A few things help the 2024 Trax perform so well in this driving environment. The first is a solid foundation – the GM VSS-F / 9B unibody vehicle architecture. The second is a wider track, with engineers pushing the wheels apart – lengthwise and widthwise – as much as possible; this has benefits at the exterior, too. Third, the suspension: the 2024 Trax uses MacPherson struts at the front and Compound Crank at the rear, and the setup has been tuned to perfection here. Fourth, the decreased height: the new Trax is nearly 3.5 inches less tall than the last-gen model, resulting in a lower center gravity and better handling. And fifth, the tires: the 2RS model is equipped with a set of (very attractive) 19-inch Black-painted machined aluminum wheels wrapped in a set of Continental ProContact TX all-season rubber, which has very little sidewall. The Contis are also TPC-spec, meaning that the compound used in these tires is not a typical one found in off-the-shelf ProContacts. Instead, the compound was modified by GM/Chevy engineers specifically for the Trax. Put together, all of these things enable the 2024 Chevy Trax to zip around twisty asphalt in a way that I never expected a subcompact entry-level Chevy, all without sacrificing comfort during normal driving.
It was this that spurred me to call the new Trax the Corvette of its segment. No, it’s not because the Trax will win any races, but because it handles so amazingly well. In the twisties, catching up to vehicles with a lot more “performance chops” was a breeze, and no matter how hard I tried, I just could not get the Trax to really break its grip or lose its composure – qualities I enjoy daily in my C7 Corvette Grand Sport. I challenge anyone to find a more agile and dynamic $25K vehicle in this segment.
The Segment
With the introduction of the 2024 Trax, GM will continue to field two entries in the mainstream subcompact crossover space (B-segment crossover segment). The first is the Trax, while the second is the Chevy Trailblazer.
Despite being in the same general space and sharing a vehicle architecture, the Trailblazer looks much more rugged and has an upright aesthetic compared to the sleeker Trax. To that end, the Trax is also available exclusively with the turbo 1.2L engine and front-wheel-drive, while the Trailblazer can be had with a more powerful turbo 1.3L L3T engine and all-wheel drive. The powertrain and various content/feature-level differences between Trax and Trailblazer will result in the two models attracting different customers, thereby transacting roughly $5,000 apart. For its part, the Trailblazer received a midcycle refresh for the 2024 model year, making it even more competitive than it was before.
2024 Chevy Trailblazer on left and 2024 Chevy Trax on right
Success Story, Loading
All in, the 2024 Chevy Trax represents a Herculean improvement over the last-gen model in every single area. Compared to its predecessor, it’s bigger, looks better, has a more comfortable and modern interior, can be loaded with technology (depending on the trim level), and drives and handles like a dream. In fact, something about this car reminded me of the now-discontinued Chevy Cruze hatchback after the first day of driving. The following day, product planners explained that the new Trax was envisioned as a spiritual successor to the Cruze from the very beginning of its development. Makes sense.
Barring any unforeseen events, the new Trax will be a massive success story for General Motors and Chevrolet. It’s the right vehicle at the right price point and at the right time. I just wish GM would fix those hard door armrests.
Vitals
Trim level walk / starting MSRP
- LS / $21,495
- 1RS / $23,195
- LT / $23,395
- 2RS / $24,995
- Activ / $24,995
Powertrain
- Turbocharged 1.2L I-3 LIH gasoline engine
- 137 horsepower
- 162 pound-feet of torque
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Front-wheel drive
Assembly
- GM Changwon plant, South Korea
Platform
- GM VSS-F / 9B
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I saw a few comments that the in-dash system is a bit slow to respond.
1.) is that true that it is slow/less responsive than in other GM vehicles?
2.) Does it offer apps like other GM vehicles? (for example, the ability to download and install GM’s Maps plus instead of using your phone navigation?)
Thanks for the questions!
1. The system did “lag” on me twice, both times when I was pairing a device. Not sure if this is something that is related to pairing.
2. I believe that this is a “no.” It’s CarPlay and Android Auto, through and through. The concept is similar to Bring Your Own Media (BYOM) used on the first-gen Trax, Encore, and Spark.
Does more than lag. Mine in the LT model went out all together. And keep’s bringing up warnings. Then they disappear.
While GM made significant improvements to the Trailblazer, I do wonder if the Trax might be too much of a good value that it makes the former kind of irrelevant now.
I guess the Trailblazer’s main selling point now is that it looks like a more conventional SUV and has slightly higher-end features.
Good points. The new Trax gives GM the breathing room to make the Trailblazer more rugged and off-road capable, similar to Bronco Sport.
What the Trailblazer offers that the Trax doesn’t is AWD.
That, plus a more powerful engine option, a nine-speed transmission, and a few more high-end features.
But perhaps more importantly, the Trailblazer also offers an entirely different appearance that appeals to those who want a more SUV-like aesthetic.
Car and Driver just road tested a Trax and came to many similar results you did!
Nice looking vehicle.
They estimated 8.8. It’s not actual acceleration. Mentioned slow laggy downshifts, warble sound. I get it, it’s cheap. How cheap can a car be made by a manufacturer that’s only middle of the road reliability for their normally and overpriced compared to the competitions vehicles?
No cvt is good. I bet if this doesn’t become #3 like they’re expecting an engine upgrade comes along.
Good review Alex. Seems GM ticked most of the right boxes with the new Trax. I still think the 2RS and Activ trims should have some missing features even at a higher cost, like 1.3 turbo engine option rear AC vents rear armrest/cup holder and rear LED taillights, while the LT trim does the heavy lifting at its current configuration. I expect the Trax to be a successful vehicle, knew it was a winner when I first saw it.
All in all, a very well thought out vehicle, and thank you for the article. A lot of articles from the time said the last-gen U.S. Cruze was the nicest driving compact car available, so a favorable comparison to the Cruze is a big plus.
It is a good looking, nice-sized, economical, sporty little category blurrer, and I hope it sells like crazy.
As for the last gen Cruze, it did have good mechanicals, GM just ruined the looks. They said it was discontinued because no one was buying cars anymore, but the truth is, no one wants an ugly car. Still a lot of Civics, Corollas, and Sentras to be found. So yea, I see this Trax as a Cruze replacement as well, more carlike than SUV – somewhere in the middle – should do fine in the market.
1st gen Cruze was a very good looking, very right vehicle, right time. The 2nd gen Cruze was a huge miss.
needs AWD for us to purchase it
That’s what the Trailblazer is for.
Can’t see how he can compare it to a corvette. It looks like a mini Equinox.
He said it’s the corvette of its segment from a handling standpoint. And it looks like a mini blazer, not an equinox.
I’d like to see how it compares to the Buick Envista Avenir and if the premium content is worth the price.
I currently have a Cruze and am looking at the Trax to potentially be my next vehicle. Thanks for the informative video. Am also looking at the Buick Envista.
I still think they could have went with the 155 HP 1.3 engine on both this and the TB to at least make it competitive with a 2016-2019 Cruze which used a 153 HP 1.4T 4 cylinder engine. Yes the 1.2 is adequate, yes this is a cheaper priced vehicle but these are haulers that often have 2-3 people on board with the A/C blasting during the warmer months so passing and hill climbing power are not going to be very good with so little HP. There also appears to be no mileage benefit with the smaller engine. My other want would be some other interior color choices like the previous Trax offered and some padding in the armrest as mentioned. Otherwise this is an attractive package for not a lot of money and arguably better looking than the Buick Envista.
I would have liked an NA engine. A 1.8-2.0. A higher reving 4 would have similar MPG/costs but more power and sport feel as well as reliability.
Sounds like Chevy hit a home run with the Trax. A good moonshine runner to outrun the revenuers chasing from behind.
Is a remote power liftgate available on any of the trims? Once you have that feature it is tough to give up for daily shopping, kids,etc
JHC – nope, it’s manual across the board for the 2024 Trax, with no power liftgate option. I know what you mean about the power liftgate becoming a must. The 2024 Trailblazer offers a power liftgate, albeit that vehicle is very different from an aesthetic standpoint.
Mr. Luft
Perhaps you have insight on this.
My wife is actively in the market for a Small Hybrid SUV due to fuel efficiency, and she’s looking for something similar to the good looks of this TRAX. Even though she’s a perfect candidate for EV driving maybe 25 miles a day, she, nor I honestly are ready to move to full electric. We have visited our preferred Chevy Dealership and they informed us Chevy has no Hybrids available in SUV’s, is it possible this Trax or other small Chevy SUV’s are ready to come out as a Hybrid?
We are GM/Chevy loyalists, but we may have to go to Honda or Hyundai to meet her expectations in this case.
GM stated a few years ago that it’s not developing hybrids anymore and instead focusing on full electrification. That’s why the only hybrid product today is the Corvette E-Ray which was electrified for performance reasons, not for fuel efficiency.
No mention of fuel economy during your time with the Trax. Other testers have reported as low as 18-19mpg in mixed driving which is not good at all.
A bunch of auto journalists flogging a new model in the mountains and you think their mpg’s will reflect what normal drivers will experience?
Turbos 🙄 should of made a 1.8L 4 with VVL to aid with the emissions. Bet it would been cheaper too
Thank you for your thoughtful review. The Trax is the most anticipated new product from GM in years. I hope it sells well. I hope it does well in the crash tests. I hope dealers don’t mark them up over MSRP. I can’t wait to sit in one and test drive one. It looks like a mini Blazer to me.
Thank you, J Roy!,
Understood, and please know I appreciate your feedback very much.
I owned 2 Chevy Cruzes, one Chevy Trax and a Buick Encore. The Trax and the Encore both had AWD. These were all decent vehicles. My issue was not all that roomy in the backseat area. Also hubby didn’t think the cargo area (with backseats up) in the Trax and Encore were that large. I like the looks of this Trax, as compared to the former model. What is the ground clearance on the 2024 Trax? I can see this vehicle being a nice second vehicle for a family, or a daily driver for work. The price point will be the real winning factor.
Cruze f*cked up around 31K on us. Constant coolant leaks after that and in a Checy service bay almost every two months. POS.
Reminds me off my old sunfire. It’s easy to make an affordable FWD sportster that gives you smiles for miles! Would have like to see a bigger NA engine that also would allow you to rev it high and get that race whine. Nice thing about the sunfire was that cheap, but big engine for its class. A 2.2 in a class full of 1.5’s and 1.8’s was just glorious. FYI, it’s 0-60 was 7 seconds.
Hello Alex,
How does the power/acceleration compare with the in-class competition? The Trax is a beautiful vehicle. I believe one of the video reviews I watched stated the Trax is best-in-class power. My only dislike is the taillights but not a deal breaker.
I cannot for the life of me imagine driving this thing weighing so much a long distance with four adults in it. MPG around 20mpg and that silly turbo glowing white hot after 200 miles. Long distance cruiser this Korean pop-tart is not.
I don’t know what kind of purchaser would buy a subcompact with the intention of hauling 4 adults. Even the families at the Trailblazer fan sites talk about anticipating outgrowing their TBs as their toddlers get bigger and then moving up to an Equinox or Blazer of even a Traverse. Different vehicles suited for different purposes. Kind of like buying a starter home after renting an apartment and then moving up to a McMansion.
Excuse me but some people buy a vehicle and keep it ten years or more. And money is often an issue. This might be their only new car for years. In your perfect 1950s GM world the aspiration idea means nothing. It’s a heavy vehicle with a very small engine and it’s going to be stressed. They buy new to have a warranty. If they could afford a bigger vehicle they’d buy it. And brand loyalty means zilch.
It’s not about aspiration, it is about buying the vehicle that meets your needs. A good sales professional can help you make a selection of a suitable vehicle, that will meet current needs as well as future needs. Chevrolet offers entry level Trax, then Trailblazer. After that there is the Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe, and Suburban. All uniquely suited for different size people, number of passengers, cargo capacity, towing, etc. I have bought vehicles that I have kept for up to 15 years (1999 Blazer – replaced with 2014 Equinox, which I still have). My first new Blazer was a 1986 S10 – two-door, 2.8V6. Kept that one 13 years. Only reason I bought a 22 Trailblazer is because we needed a 3rd vehicle so daughter could have the 2014 Cruze. The market was extremely tight – we were waiting on a new Blazer – were taking forever. So, we gave up on having a V6 and all the bells and whistles. The dealer had an open order on a fully loaded Trailblazer, so we reserved it and it arrived 4 months later. Still no Blazers had arrived, so we took the Trailblazer. Saved $16,000, and have not regretted waiting further for the non existent Blazers. If my daughter ever wants it down the road, we will consider something else, maybe electric. What amazes me is how this Trailblazer outshines the 86 Blazer S-10. 1.3 3 cylinder vs. 2.8 V6. Approximately same curb weight. Top speed on the Trailblazer rate at 130mph (this thing cruises easily in 80mph traffic) versus 95 on the Blazer. 155 HP versus 125 on the Blazer. 174 lbs torque versus 150 on the 86 Blazer. Engine durability will be an issue on most ICEs, the way they are being downgraded to meet 2025 CAFE standards. But the 2.8 V6s had issues too – had 2 intake manifold gaskets replaced, and at 102,00 miles had the engine rebuilt because one piston got wobbly because the cylinder wore out.
I’ve never gone into a dealership unprepared myself. The salesmen are there to do the paperwork only and I’ve shut them down quickly if they think I am some putz to bamboozle.
Look at the pictures. This needs to haul 4 people boss. I sat in one at the auto show and there is plenty of room for 4.