2019 Chevy Trax Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

No significant changes for 2019Part of the first Trax generation introduced for the 2015 model year

　　When the Chevy Trax premiered, it was an early member of a new segment with very little competition. Things have changed, though, and for 2019 it's just another drop in the bucket. While we found the seats comfortable and the interior easy to use, we disliked the underpowered engine and the rough, noisy ride. It did recently receive some technology updates to make its infotainment and connectivity features more competitive, and it offers a good number of features for its price. However, if you carefully consider your priorities for a subcompact crossover, you're likely to find something else that better suits your needs.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Chevrolet Trax LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$133/mo  for Trax LS

　　Trax LS

　　LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $21,300 MSRPLS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $22,800 MSRPLT 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) (Most Popular) - $23,200 MSRPLT 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $24,700 MSRPPremier 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $27,600 MSRPPremier 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $29,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　The all-new Hyundai Kona is better to drive, as is the Mazda CX-3 that also sports an upscale interior. The Honda HR-V can deal with all sorts of cargo needs, and if you require a small, all-weather AWD runabout, the Subaru Crosstrek is very capable. Chevy certainly hit the market sooner than most competitors, but compared to the current roster of options, the Trax isn't as refined or as purposeful.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　With more and more competition in the subcompact SUV segment, the Chevy Trax stands out less and less. Its comfortable seats and practical interior are overshadowed by the choppy, noisy ride and poor engine performance. Competitors offer more practicality, better technology or a better driving experience.

　　

Driving

　　Braking performance is average for the class, and steering is precise if numb. Otherwise, the Trax falls behind the segment in terms of performance and handling. The small engine struggles to accelerate, and the tires protest in even moderate turns.

　　

Comfort

　　Comfortable seats are the high point. Beyond that, the Trax's ride quality exhibits quite a bit of choppiness, and there's a fair amount of road noise. Many competitors offer a better ride quality and a more pleasant driving experience.

　　

Interior

　　A smart interior layout makes the most of the Trax's relatively small — but still competitive for the segment — interior space. Visibility is good, the controls are straightforward, and getting in and out is pretty easy.

　　

Utility

　　Cargo volume is less than what some competitors offer, with maximum cargo space of only 48.4 cubic feet. The rear seats are at least easy to fold, and the fold-flat front seat provides extra space for longer items.

　　

Technology

　　Chevy's MyLink system is easy to learn, and combined with OnStar, provides a robust set of features. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, as is Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. Only the Premier trim gets a full suite of active safety features, but some are available on the LT.

　　

Which Trax does zzdcar recommend?

　　The Trax is already a bit slow, so we'd stick with front-wheel drive unless we lived somewhere we regularly needed the extra traction of all-wheel drive. From there, we think the LT is the best choice. It adds some extra conveniences such as cruise control and roof rails, and it has more options to choose from. The Driver Confidence package adds some extra active safety features that are worth having.

　　

2019 Chevrolet Trax models

　　The 2019 Chevy Trax is available in three trim levels: LS, LT and Premier. The base LS trim has enough standard equipment not to feel stripped down, but the LT adds more practical features and has access to several option packages. The Premier trim not only gets interior upgrades, but it also has added active safety features.

　　All three trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (138 horsepower, 148 ft-lb of torque). Also standard is a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional. Front-wheel-drive models have front disc brakes and drum brakes in the rear, and all-wheel-drive models get disc brakes at all four corners.

　　The base Trax LS comes with 16-inch steel wheels (alloys if you upgrade to all-wheel drive), automatic headlights, power-adjustable manual-folding side mirrors, keyless entry and a rearview camera. Inside you'll find a 60/40-split folding rear seat, driver power lumbar adjustment, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, air conditioning, OnStar communications (with a 4G LTE connection and a Wi-Fi hotspot), a Chevy MyLink infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen interface, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, two USB ports and a six-speaker sound system.

　　Moving up to the LT gets you roof rails, upgraded headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, heated mirrors, remote vehicle start, cruise control, upgraded cloth upholstery, and a storage drawer under the passenger seat. The infotainment system receives satellite radio, and a 110-volt outlet is added for the backseat area. Alloy wheels are added with front-wheel drive.

　　Four major packages are offered for the Trax LT. The LT Convenience package adds premium cloth upholstery with simulated-leather inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless ignition and entry, and a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Driver Confidence package includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. Opting for the Sun and Sound package gets you a seven-speaker Bose stereo system and a sunroof.

　　Another option for the Trax LT is the Redline Edition, an appearance package that adds black body accents and 18-inch alloy wheels painted black with — surprise, surprise — a red line around the circumference.

　　The top-tier Premier trim comes with all of the LT's packages (aside from the Redline Edition), as well as 18-inch wheels, foglights, full faux leather upholstery, an auto-dimming mirror and heated front seats. It's also the only trim that gets forward collision and lane departure warning systems. The only option package for the Premier is the Midnight Edition, which, more surprises, comes with black paint and black interior and exterior trim pieces.

　　

2019 Trax Highlights

Trim: LSLTPremierLS

　　

Base MSRP	$21,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$133/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles