Chevy Trax Outsells Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Jeep Renegade During Q1 2023

Chevy Trax sales increased in the United States but decreased in Canada during the first quarter of 2023.

Chevrolet Trax Sales - Q1 2023 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Trax deliveries totaled 6,465 units in Q1 2023, an increase of about 11 percent compared to 5,801 units sold in Q1 2022.

Chevrolet Trax Sales - Q1 2023 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Trax deliveries totaled 25 units in Q1 2023, a decrease of about 82 percent compared to 140 units sold in Q1 2022.

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

Chevy Trax sales during the first quarter of 2023 placed the Bow Tie’s subcompact crossover in 15^th place among 21 entries in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment when ranked by sales volume. We’ve added the Subaru Crosstrek to this report for the first time, with the model taking the top spot in the segment thanks to an 11 percent bump in sales to 41,562 units. The Chevy Trailblazer (see running Chevy Trailblazer sales), the Trax’s corporate cousin and the second segment entry from Chevy, placed second with a segment-best 225 percent leap to 27,951 units. The Honda HR-V followed in third with a 37 percent drop to 26,504 units, while the Jeep Compass placed fourth with a five percent slide to 23,209 units. The Mazda CX-30 rounded out the top five spots with a 109 percent jump to 19,870 units. The Buick Encore GX (see running Buick Encore GX sales), the Trailblazer’s platform mate, took 11^th place with a 128 percent jump to 12,279 units. The Chevy Trax (see running Chevy Trax sales) placed 15^th with an 11 percent bump to 6,465 units. The Buick Encore (see running Buick Encore sales), the Trax’s platform mate and the second segment entry from Buick, placed 18^th, up 14 percent to 2,979 units.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - United States

From a segment share standpoint, the Trax maintained a two percent segment share. The Crosstrek led with a 15 percent segment share, up one percentage point year-over-year. The Trailblazer posted a 10 percent share, up a segment-best seven percentage points, while the HR-V posted a nine percent share, down a segment-worst seven percentage points. The Compass held an eight percent share, down one percentage point, and the CX-30 earned a seven percent share, up three percentage points. The two other GM models in this space fared as follows:

• The Encore GX posted a four percent share, up two percentage points
• The Encore maintained a one percent share

The four GM vehicles in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment, the Chevy Trax and Trailblazer along with the Buick Encore and Encore GX, accounted for a cumulative 49,674 deliveries. That was good for a 17 percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - USA

By comparison, the three Stellantis rivals, namely the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, and Fiat 500X, saw 27,473 deliveries combined for a nine percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Stellantis Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - USA

Toyota’s Corolla Cross and C-HR saw a combined 15,264 deliveries for a five percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Toyota Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - USA

Meanwhile, Hyundai – with the Kona and Venue – and Kia – with the Seltos, Niro, and Soul – saw a cumulative 68,528 deliveries, which accounted for a combined 25 percent segment share, commanding a quarter of all sales in this space.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai and Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (With Soul) - Q1 2023 - USA

However, a strong argument can be made that the Kia Soul is not part of the segment in question, but rather competes one segment below based on its size and price point. Removing the Soul from the Hyundai-Kia total nets 51,544 deliveries for a combined 19 percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai and Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (Without Soul) - Q1 2023 - USA

Out of the 11 manufacturers represented here, four field multiple models in this space of 21 entries. When combining the sales volume of those compared to automakers with a single entry, each ranks in this order:

• Hyundai-Kia
  • 25 percent segment share, five models
  • 19 percent share, four models
• GM – 17 percent share, four models
• Subaru – 15 percent share, one model
• Stellantis – nine percent share, three models
• Honda – nine percent share, one model
• Mazda – seven percent share, one model
• Toyota – five percent share, two models
• VW – five percent share, one model
• Nissan – four percent share, one model
• Mitsubishi – two percent share, one model
• Ford – one percent share, one model (now discontinued)

Note that while fielding multiple models in general seems to give a manufacturer more deliveries, that doesn’t prevent those with a single model – like Subaru and Honda – from performing well. As such, this seems to be a game of commanding more “shelf space” versus cannibalizing sales.

The mainstream subcompact crossover segment grew six percent to 280,412 units during Q1 2023, meaning Trax sales outperformed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

Chevy Trax sales continued positive growth into the first quarter of the New Year, placing 13^th among 21 entries, even though the current model was retired after the 2022 model year. The all-new 2024 Chevy Trax has since launched to replace it and recently went on sale. However, the Q1 2023 figures only represent deliveries of the discontinued last-gen model and do not take into account those of the all-new model.

We posit that Trax sales improved as a result of better availability of the last-gen model. Interestingly, the impending launch of the all-new Trax did not seem to prevent the last-gen model from selling out some of its last remaining units.

It’s also worth noting that sales of GM’s four entries combined – the Chevy Trax and Trailblazer along with the Buick Encore and Encore GX – gave the automaker a second place showing in a crowded and competitive field.

About Chevy Trax

Last October GM debuted the next-generation 2024 Chevy Trax as the Bow Tie’s new entry-level crossover.

Outside, the 2024 Chevy Trax incorporates the Bow Tie brand’s latest ICE-based design language, taking after the Chevy Blazer crossover. The latest Trax is longer, lower, and wider than the preceding model. Up front is a set of LED headlamps, configured within a dual-level cluster. Five trim levels are on offer – LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and Activ; each include their own unique styling bits, from wheels to grille treatments.

Inside, the new 2024 Trax is roomier than the preceding model, and offers more safety features and tech, including a standard eight-inch diagonal infotainment screen on LS and 1RS trims, while higher-end LT, 2RS, and Activ trims get an 11-inch screen. Further onboard tech includes Active Noise Cancelation and cruise control, while Adaptive Cruise Control is offered on most trims.

The 2024 Trax is motivated by the turbocharged 1.2L I3 LIH gasoline engine, the same powerplant found in the Chevy Trailblazer LS and LT trim levels. Only front-wheel drive is available while the outgoing Trax offerred an all-wheel-drive option. Those who would like AWD will need to move up to the aforementioned Trailblazer.

With GM President Mark Reuss calling the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax the best entry-level vehicle in many years, we expect strong sales for the Bow Tie brand’s new entry-level crossover so long as GM can produce enough units to meet demand. The automaker seems committed to do just that as the 2024 Trax is now being built at its own assembly plant in South Korea.

Having recently spent some wheel time with the all-new Trax, GM Authority Executive Editor, Alex Luft, was quite impressed with the new model.

About The Numbers

• All percent change figures compared to Chevy Trax sales in Q1 2022, unless noted otherwise
• In the United States, there were 75 selling days for Q1 2023 and 75 selling days for Q1 2022
• South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
• GM Q1 2023 sales reports:
  • GM Q1 2023 sales U.S.A.
    • Chevrolet sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
    • Cadillac sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
    • Buick sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
    • GMC sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
  • GM Canada sales Q1 2023
  • GM Mexico sales Q1 2023
    • GM Mexico sales January 2023
    • GM Mexico sales February 2023
    • GM Mexico sales March 2023
  • GM China sales Q1 2023
  • GM Brazil sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Brazil January 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Brazil February 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Brazil March 2023 sales
  • GM Argentina sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Argentina January 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Argentina February 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Argentina March 2023 sales
  • GM Chile sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Chile January 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Chile February 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Chile March 2023 sales
  • GM Colombia sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Colombia January 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Colombia February 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Colombia March 2023 sales
  • GM South Korea sales Q1 2023
    • GM South Korea January 2023 sales
      • Chevrolet South Korea January 2023 sales
      • Cadillac South Korea January 2023 sales
    • GM South Korea February 2023 sales
      • Chevrolet South Korea February 2023 sales
      • GMC South Korea February 2023 sales
      • Cadillac South Korea February 2023 sales
    • GM South Korea March 2023 sales
      • Chevrolet South Korea March 2023 sales
      • Cadillac South Korea March 2023 sales