2019 Chevrolet Trax Road Test and Review

One of Chevrolet’s major strengths is its SUV lineup. With the Tahoe and Suburban, the brand certainly has the full-size end of the spectrum covered. But when consumers think of smaller vehicles, they often turn to import models. Chevy execs aim to change that with the Chevrolet Trax, their diminutive entrant among small (and we do mean small) SUVs. At just over 167 inches long, the Trax is nearly 5 feet shorter than the Suburban.

But the small SUV segment is getting more and more sales action. That's because even a smaller crossover like the Trax offers good versatility versus a similar-sized sedan or hatchback, and its higher driving position gives a better command of the road. That’s the reason vehicles like the Trax, and key competitors that include Hyundai Kona, Kia Sportage, and Toyota C-HR, continue to gain in popularity. In the most recent J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, Trax outdid Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR, among other subcompact crossovers. With the exception of new exterior colors, the 2019 Trax is virtually unchanged from the 2018 model. 

The Trax is a very typical unibody crossover, and that means it has all the advantages of the class. Shorter from a length standpoint and tall in height means that the driver of a Trax has a good view of the road ahead and an excellent sense of where all four corners of the vehicle are. This is especially handy in urban driving, because the Trax can scoot into small openings and squeeze into very tight parking spots. Pizza delivery drivers should love it.

Over the road, the ride is a bit choppy because of its short wheelbase, but not at all uncomfortable. Using a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Trax offers good acceleration and reasonable passing power with just a hint of turbo lag. Available all-wheel drive doesn’t alter the overall feel of the vehicle, but it does come in handy in winter weather. The Trax’s ride is skewed toward comfort versus sharp handling, and that’s sensible.

The Chevy Trax interior design features some international flair, a logical move since the vehicle is sold in many countries around the world. The dash design has some swoopiness, but that doesn’t detract from its functionality. The infotainment screen is placed high in the middle of the dashboard, right above easy-to-use knobs that control heating and air conditioning. We wish much more expensive cars offered this functionality. The instrument cluster is contained in a petite nacelle right in front of the driver.

Standard 60/40 folding seats in the second row are a bit tight for three passengers, but they contribute to the Trax’s eight seating/cargo configurations. The little vehicle has an amazing 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space. The interior also features 11 distinct storage areas to help you squirrel stuff away.

The standard infotainment in the Chevrolet Trax is pretty impressive. It relies on the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, which is very straightforward, and it is controlled by a 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen. Simple buttons and a single knob under the screen make scrolling the info easy. One potential downside is you can’t get integrated navigation, even as an option, but the additional features for compatible smartphones should cover you there.

These features include Bluetooth audio streaming for two active devices, voice command pass-through to your phone, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system has two easy-to-access USB ports and an auxiliary input jack. The base audio system has six speakers. The up-level optional Bose system has seven speakers and an amplifier and subwoofer — big sound in a little car.

In a segment in which some exterior designs try way too hard, we like the handsome lines of the Trax. Bold bowtie badges on the front and rear announce it is a Chevrolet, but overall the design is restrained and clean. Some might say it is restrained to the point of drabness, but we like the understated look. If you’d like to add a little more zing, Chevrolet offers Redline and Midnight Edition appearance packages, and they add significant bling.

In overall length, the Trax is among the shortest of the small suvs. At 167 inches long, it's nearly 10 inches shorter than the 176.4-inch Kia Sportage, so this is a small vehicle. But an easy-to-open rear hatch enables ready access to the surprisingly large cargo compartment. Ground clearance is over 6 inches, but our guess is most Trax drivers will never even consider going off-road.

The Trax offers a single powertrain choice for 2019, so that takes much of the worry out of the decision-making process. The engine is a 138-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder offering 148 lb-ft of torque. The engine is small in displacement and relatively light in weight, but turbocharging and variable valve timing help it punch above its weight class.

Its power is channeled to either the front wheels or all four wheels by an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission. Other vehicles of this size frequently use continuously variable (CVT) transmissions. Drivability with the six-speed automatic is good, and fuel economy is even better. In front-drive form, the Trax gets an EPA certified 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. With all-wheel drive, the numbers fade to 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Some other vehicles in the category offer more cargo room than the Trax, and that’s one tradeoff for its easy-to-maneuver length. That said, the Trax will still carry a giant amount of stuff, making it much more useful than a subcompact sedan of similar length. With the rear seat folded, it offers 48.4 cubic feet of cargo room versus the nearly 60 cubic feet of the Honda HR-V and Kia Sportage. Even with the rear bench in use, there is still 19 cubic feet of storage room behind it.

Despite its 11 storage areas, the Trax does not have a true center console. Instead, it uses that space for cupholders, and that might be a good call, depending upon your drinking habits. The Trax offers a modest 1,200-pound towing capacity, but that is enough to pull a light trailer when you need to.

All Trax models can be equipped with a number of sophisticated safety features. The Trax has 10 standard airbags, including side-curtain, knee, and rear seat-mounted thorax airbags. A rear-vision camera system is also standard. On the active safety front, to get the highest level of safety equipment, you need to buy the Premier trim level. The Trax's “Driver Confidence Package,” which is standard on the Premier and available on the LT, includes a blind-zone alert, a rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist.

Then there’s the “Driver Confidence II Package,” also standard on the Premier, that includes a forward collision alert and lane-departure warning. Electronic stability control with full-function traction control is standard across the Trax line, so it's an inexpensive vehicle with a lot of technological prowess.

The Trax is available in three trim levels — LS, LT, and Premier. The LS version has a fairly rich mix of standard features, among them power door locks, keyless entry, and a driver seat with power lumbar support. The LT trim offers a wide variety of luxury and convenience features. The most expensive trim, Premier, features many luxury and safety items as standard equipment.

The Trax also offers two special editions: Redline Edition, available on the LT, and Midnight Edition, available on the Premier. The Redline includes 18-inch black wheels with red accent stripe and a collection of black trim pieces. The Midnight Edition features a special black metallic exterior color, 18-inch aluminum wheels, black leatherette interior trim, and body-color door handles. All levels are available in either front or all-wheel drive.

Pricing for the Trax follows Chevrolet's common trim-level scheme. The price-leading LS trim has an MSRP of $21,300, while the top-of-the-line Premier with all-wheel drive has an MSRP of $29,100. (Note, these prices don’t include the $995 destination charge.) The nicely equipped LT starts at $23,200. With all-wheel drive, the LT’s MSRP jumps to $24,700. Smart options include 4G LTE Internet access, wireless phone connectivity, touchscreen LCD monitor, OnStar, voice-activated infotainment functions, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

From a cost-to-own standpoint, the Trax is bested by top-resale competitors like the Honda HR-V. At the same time, it tops its Honda and Toyota competitors in the most recent J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. The 2018 Trax is backed by Chevy’s standard 36-month or 36,000-mile warranty. For fighting your way through the urban jungle, the 2019 Chevrolet Trax can get the job done.