Technically still in its first generation, the Chevy Trax is set to stick around for the 2021 model year, much like the Buick Encore. The 2021 Chevrolet Trax will come with a few updates and changes, including deletion of the Premier trim level, new exterior colors, new interior options, an equipment reshuffle, and new packages.
Back in May of 2019, GM Authority was the first to report that the first-gen Buick Encore would live alongside the all-new Encore GX here in the U.S. Now, we’ve learned the Chevrolet Trax will follow suit, with an update for the 2021 model year that will coincide with the debut of the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, rather than discontinuation to give way to an all-new second generation. The Trax was first introduced to the U.S. market for the 2015 model year.
The 2021 Chevrolet Trax will continue to be offered as a subcompact, five-door crossover utility vehicle (CUV) and will be sold as both a retail and fleet model. Trim levels include the LS FWD, LS AWD, LT FWD, and LT AWD. Just one engine choice will be offered, namely the turbocharged 1.4L LUV inline four-cylinder gas engine.
Under the skin, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax will continue to utilize the GM Gamma II platform, the same platform as the first-generation Buick Encore, not to mention the first-gen Chevrolet Sonic. A launch is expected for Q3 of the 2020 calendar year, per GM’s standard model year rollover sequence. Pricing has not yet been announced, but a slight increase over the 2020 model year pricing is expected. For reference, the current 2020 Trax starts at $22,295.
Are you a fan of the current Trax, or should it be retired in favor of a replacement or second generation? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Trax news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
It’s a shame that Chevrolet isn’t adopting this approach to the Corvette, imagine if they continued to sell the front engine C7 Corvette along side the C8 Corvette with the C7 getting access to the 495 hp LT2 6.2L V8 as well.
It would have been very easy for them to put the LTG or orphaned LF3 TTV6 in the C7 frame, throw a Solstice or Sky-style body kit on it, and rebadge it as a halo affordable roadster. And it’s a damn shame they didn’t.
There will be a replacement for it? It’s the best selling smal CUV, why GM should kill it?
Why do they keep using that crappy engine? The newer, better 1.4 turbo from the Gen2 Cruze is more efficient, more powerful, more reliable and has the start/stop feature. I drove a 2020 as a loaner and was happy to give it back and get in my Cruze
It all boils down to cost. The Trax will become the bargain-basement entry. It will be very affordable… and to do that, you have to use really old (paid for) parts, like the engine.
That engine, has a worse power band than the engine it uses currently. While it has more power, it takes a higher rpm to achieve it.
Stay away from this vehicle and GM vehicles. I own a 2018 Trax LT Redline and it started having minor/major issues with 2500 miles on it and hasn’t looked back. It is woefully underpowered, horribly unstable and handles bumps like a cargo van. It now has 31000 miles on it and it is starting to have mechanical issues with the transmission, engine, suspension and the driver’s door has saged and catches the fender. I ended up hiring a lemon law lawyer and won my case against GM. I got a third of what I paid back and GM told me to keep the car. car is 2 years old and is depreciated to less than 50% of what I paid originally because of all the issues it has had. This is by far the worst experience and worst car that I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned 10 cars
You didn’t “win” your case. You got what is called a cash and keep settlement. The issues weren’t severe enough to deem the vehicle a lemon or substantially impaired, so GM gave you a cash settlement based on the issues you had and to compensate you for any diminished value. You keep your car and the factory warranty remains in effect. If you trade it in or sell it, the money that GM paid you in the settlement is intended to make up the difference between what you receive and what you should have received had the vehicle not had the issues it did. The vehicle itself is not branded a “lemon” in a cash and keep settlement.
Good. They need to rethink it and keep it around. I don’t like how they ditch the best one of the line up the Premier model though.
I think they should keep the Trax and offer a bigger engine !
They should ditch it. Too many issues that don’t get covered by the warranty and shouldn’t be there in a new car. Unfortunately not the same issue each time to be covered under the lemon law
I had a Trax for three years, and while it is nothing to brag about. In 50,000 miles I had zero problems.
I love my 2015 LTZ trax! Had no issues the last 5 year’s I’ve had it.
I bought a 2015 Trax new. 6 kms on the odometer. The dealership wouldn’t let me take it for a real test drive, only around the block, so I didn’t realize how gutless it was and how cobbled together it felt. I hadn’t owned it two hours when I was hit by buyers remorse. Sold it last month with 57,000 km on it and it was ready to fall apart. Absolutely the worst new car I ever owned BY FAR!
Just had the safety inspection (required every two years here) on our 2016 LS with 6m transmission and AC. reading 43 000 miles. it is perfect, even the brakes which are original still passed meaning they had 20 percent pad life showing. I bought this thing for my wife as a commuter vehicle brand new paid the equivalent of 12 700.00 USD. The only things I’ve put in it are 3 wiper blades 3 air filters and four oil changes (the first four were thrown in and a set of winter tires. the eight tires are still good for at least another season each too.
I tried to convince her to let go of it last month as its bumper to bumper will expire in the coming year and wanted to start shopping for a replacement and she absolutely refuses to let it go. She loves the little thing. turns on a dime, easy to park, plenty of torque with the 6-speed manual, parks anywhere. with the three seats folded had put in absolutely anything she wanted in the thing.
Frankly, its been incredible value for money as a second vehicle without a doubt the cheapest to own of all our vehicles, a close second was the Astra XR it replaced, which she owned for 7 years without putting a dime in till it blew its lifters.
I have a 2020 TRAX with just over 1000 miles on it and am loving the experience especially with the power sun roof and the Bose sound system. My only criticism is the undersized driver’s side only arm rest. I have been looking for a suitable after market arm rest for both front passengers that can be installed with no modifications, but have so far come up empty handed. Other than that, so far so good. I will report back sometime in the future when the car has some significant mileage.
I have a 2019 awd lt Trax I love it to death. Only thing I don’t like is the slow engine. And actually I like this better than the new trail blazer. Just wish they would have a non turbo engine like 2.0 liter at least. Hell Toyota, Hyundai and Honda can do it.
I have a 2016 LT AWD Trax. I love this little suv. Only work on it was a recall on front end fixed within days and replaced a faulty engine pully under warranty. Love the drive, comfort, sat radio and speakers, AWD works great in snow water and ice, ice cold air,gas mileage etc and etc. I’ve put 103,000kms on it with synth oil every 8000kms. With my test drive I obviously figured out that I wasn’t buying a fast long wheel based suv or car. So the smaller engine and bumps were already a forgone conclusion. The LT AWD is meant to be best bang for buck and I can only speak from my own experience so far.. They nailed it.
Love the car. Size everything about it. But the engine sucks cost to much to keep it running. Only 70,000 miles on 3 turbo, intake manifold, vaule cover. Plus all the seals. Chevy you can do better then this or can you?
And this would be why I tried to convince my wife to let it go. This turbo engine while it has shown extremely reliable in the Cruze for many years, many hitting over 150 000 miles. Trax/Encore is the most trouble free vehicle GM offers according to my service manager and friend. They just don’t see them much.
It remains a cheap disposable car. There is no rebuilding these engines or Turbo units to any point of reliability. Since it is worth next to nothing on the trade-in keeping the loveable pug and driving the wheels off of it, is ok too.