The Trax was the first subcompact SUV from Chevrolet, adding maneuverability and affordability to the carmaker's portfolio when it debuted in Canada for the 2013 model year. Since then, it's been joined by the similarly sized Trailblazer, which launched for 2021. Both offer shoppers a smaller alternative to the Equinox, a compact SUV, and the midsize Blazer, making them ideal for small families or couples.
Chevrolet Trax Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
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The Trax's budget-friendly pricing and just-right sizing has opened up a new market for Chevrolet, and it has remained competitive against value-focused models from Hyundai and Kia. This is by design as the Trax was developed in Korea and is assembled there alongside the related Buick Encore and Envista, as well as the Chevrolet Trailblazer.
Chevrolet Trax Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Chevrolet Trax Pros and Cons
- Chevrolet Trax Generations
- Second Generation (2024 - present)
- First Generation (2015 - 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Chevrolet Trax years are the best?
The second-generation Chevrolet Trax will likely attract more customers. It's larger than the original Trax, offering more rear passenger space and significantly more cargo capacity. It's also noticeably quicker and comes with more driver assistance features. The lack of an all-wheel drive option could strike it from some shoppers' short lists, though.
Which Chevrolet Trax years are the worst?
Cars from the first few years of Trax production (2013-2016) were relatively slow compared to later years, and safety features were rather sparse, too. That said, those models did receive decent safety scores when compared to their contemporaries.
Is the Chevrolet Trax a good deal?
All things considered, the Chevrolet Trax is about average for the subcompact SUV class. It provides plenty of passenger and cargo space for the money in its current generation, though some of its Hyundai and Kia rivals come with more standard features.
Chevrolet Trax Pros and Cons
Pros
- Second-generation has plenty of passenger and cargo space
- Decent value for money
- Compact
Cons
- No AWD option with second-generation model
- No hybrid variants
- Strong competition
Chevrolet Trax Generations
Second Generation (2024 - present)
After a year-long hiatus, the second-generation Chevrolet Trax went on sale in the 2024 model year. This time around, it gained nearly 28 centimetres in length and 5 cm in width, but its roof sat about 11 centimetres lower. This resulted in a loss of just under 2 cm of rear-passenger headroom but netted considerable gains in rear legroom and cargo capacity. Rear-seat legroom increased by a full 7.5 cm, while cargo space increased by 36 percent from 530 to 724 litres.
New Trax models leaned further into Chevrolet's styling language with a Camaro-like front end and grille that looked wider and sportier than before, along with the trademark bowtie badging. The sides and the rear were trimmed down, too, so it looked significantly leaner than the first generation. The interior also received a major makeover with a faceted dashboard that echoed Chevy's corporate design direction.
At least as far as appearances went, the new Chevrolet Trax looked to be an improvement. However, this generation was not offered with all-wheel drive (AWD). At launch, Chevrolet indicated this was a cost-cutting measure and suggested customers looking for a subcompact with SUV would migrate to the Trailblazer.
On paper, the 2024 Trax's engine specs were also a disappointment. All models are now powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder only good for 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. In practice, however, this engine outperformed its predecessor and was able to accelerate to 100 km/h in nine seconds (an improvement of a full second).
In Canada, the Trax was initially available in five trim levels: Chevrolet Trax LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and Activ. The entry-level Chevy Trax LS included 17-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a four-speaker audio system, heated front seats, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. Advanced safety was better represented with the Chevy Safety Assist suite of features that included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and IntelliBeam automatic high beams.
Stepping up to the Chevy Trax 1RS added a sporty flair with 18-inch alloy wheels, a unique grille with gloss-black exterior elements, remote start, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel. The Trax LT trim reverted back to the LS as a starting point and added 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, keyless ignition, automatic climate control, a digital instrument panel, an 11-inch touchscreen, and a six-speaker audio system.
The Trax 2RS built on the 1RS's sporty nature with 19-inch wheels, while the Trax Activ trim picks up where the LT trim left off, adding 18-inch wheels and a power driver seat. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on the bottom three trims and standard on the 2RS and Activ. Adaptive cruise control was standard on these trims as well as the LT. A power sunroof was optional on all but the base trim, and a wireless charging pad was optional on the top three trims.
Fuel economy was marginally better than the first-generation Trax with a Natural Resources Canada-estimated 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined (8.3 city, 7.4 highway). In 2025, figures rose slightly to 8.1 L/100 km combined (8.5 city, 7.6 highway). Considering how much bigger and more capable this generation is, we’d say that’s a win.
With crash test safety scores, the Trax took a slight step backward from the previous model. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2024 Trax four out of five stars in overall, frontal, and rollover tests, and five stars in side-impact evaluations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had more mixed results, giving the Trax its best score of "Good" for frontal crashworthiness, its second-best score of "Acceptable" for side impacts, and its lowest score of "Poor" in the moderate overlap frontal crash test.
So far, only one recall has been issued for the second-generation Chevrolet Trax involving an instrument panel that would unexpectedly go blank. That issue was addressed within the initial 2024 model year. The Trax's relative trouble-free nature likely helped it retain its value better than its predecessor, and while resale data is still somewhat limited, it now appears to depreciate at a rate that is comparable with other subcompact crossovers in the class. As of this writing, Chevrolet Trax units on the Canadian used vehicle market don’t provide an appreciable discount over buying new.
First Generation (2015 - 2022)
The Chevrolet Trax debuted in Canada for the 2013 model year, two model years before its arrival in the United States. It was designed and developed in conjunction with GM Korea, which had already been producing the related Buick Encore for a few years. As Chevy's first subcompact crossover, the Trax blurred the line between compact cars and small SUVs, giving owners the added space and elevated driving position that the automotive market was seeking while also having the maneuverability and fuel efficiency of a sedan.
In its inaugural year, the 2013 Chevrolet Trax was offered in three trim levels: LS, LT, and LTZ. All models were powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produced 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels, and all-wheel drive (AWD) was available as an option with the LT and LTZ trim levels. That output was merely adequate as the Trax needed 10 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h, trailing other subcompact crossovers by a full second.
The base LS trim was fairly simple with feature highlights that included 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, a six-speed manual transmission, power windows with driver auto up-down, and remote keyless entry. A unique folding front passenger seat allowed owners to haul objects as long as nearly 2.5 metres (eight feet). On the tech side, the Trax came with a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, GM's OnStar telematics, and Bluetooth. The LT trim upgraded to a six-speed automatic transmission and alloy wheels while adding air conditioning, cruise control, heated mirrors, and smarter cloth upholstery. Satellite radio, a backup camera, a power driver’s seat, cloth and leatherette upholstery, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system were part of the 2LT package.
Stepping up to the top LTZ trim added 18-inch wheels, full faux leather upholstery, heated front seats, and fog lights. Some of these features were available as options on supporting trims, along with a sunroof.
For 2017, the Trax received a slight makeover inside and out with edgier styling that was already being adopted by other Chevrolet models. New additions included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and the LTZ was renamed the Premier trim. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional along with lane departure warning and forward collision warning.
The 2018 Trax made some of those safety features standard on the Premier trim. Following the 2019 model year, the manual transmission was discontinued. The lineup was pared down to two models with the discontinuation of the Premier trim in 2021, but the Trax gained a more powerful 155-hp engine later in the year. 2022 marked the end of the first-generation Trax as well as the folding front passenger seat.
NRCan estimated the 2013 Chevy Trax would consume 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres combined (9.1 city, 6.8 highway) with FWD and the manual transmission, 8.3 L/100 km combined (9.4 city, 7.1 highway) with the automatic, and 9.0 L/100 km combined (10.0 city, 7.8 highway) with AWD. Figures fluctuated slightly but not appreciably throughout the first generation.
In crash tests conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2015 Chevy Trax received five out of five stars in overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars in rollover evaluations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) followed suit, awarding its top score of "Good" in all categories except the small passenger-side overlap and a new side impact test, where it received a second-best "Acceptable" rating. The 2015 model year, which was the Trax’s first in the U.S., was the only first-generation version to earn a Top Safety Pick award, the Institute's second-highest honour.
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by Mark Takahashi
Mark Takahashi has been in the automotive world since 2001 and over the years has contributed to Edmunds, Car and Driver, Autoblog, and TrueCar. Prior to being an editor, Mark was an art director on various car and motorcycle publications and has competed in amateur open-wheel racing. He is also a juror on the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards.
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