2023 Chevrolet Trax RS – Review by Stu Wright

This past week I visited Yoder Chevrolet in Ft. Lupton to test drive the new Chevrolet Trax, totally redesigned for the new year and carrying the “2024” nomenclature. The company completely skipped the 2023 model year with the Trax, and the new vehicle is 11 inches longer that the prior version. It is completely different in all aspects, actually, and the design brings it to a “baby Blazer” characterization, to my way of thinking.

The new Trax is basically a car, and Chevrolet builds the Trailblazer SUV for a little more money, but the Trailblazer is no larger than a Trax. Its (the Trailblazer’s) all-wheel-drive offering pulls it away from the car category, but both vehicles have the SUV look and height and the front-wheel drive only Trax is less expensive. Very inexpensive, in fact; the nice looking black Trax I tested had an M.S.R.P. of only $23,944.00.

The unit I drove was the RS model, nicer than the base SP and a little less fancy than the Trax flagship, the Activ. It had the only engine offered in the Trax lineup, the three cylinder turbocharged 1.2 liter unit with 137 horsepower and 162 lb. ft. of torque. It offered me plenty of acceleration and passing power and it was mated to a six speed automatic, not a CVT like most of the competition. Shifting the Trax was by virtue of a conventional console-mounted shift lever in the middle of a roomy, attractive interior with two-toned upholstery.

Dressy little upgrades are in abundance in the RS Trax such as a heated, flat-bottomed steering wheels, round a/c vents, 8” infotainment screen, rear cross traffic alert system, lane change alert, heated seats and remote engine start (steering column starter is key-operated).

Styling is nothing like the first generation Trax, and as noted it is a much larger set up on a 106.3” wheelbase. The wheels are two-toned aluminum 18” models and quite attractive. Cladding is arranged appropriately on the car and the vehicle has a lower profile than the old model.

The Trax is in competition with SUV type players like the Nissan Kicks, Kia Soul, Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Venue, and entry-level versions of the Honda HR-V and no-longer available Ford EcoSport. It offers a decent ground clearance of 7.3 inches with a hatchback body and roof rails to look rugged-like, but, again, it’s really a car. Ten years ago, this Chevy Trax would be a compact hatchback, like the Chevy Cruze. It is therefore appealing to entry-level buyers. Chevrolet can see that customers enjoy SUV’s, which can be expensive, and aim to deliver SUV looks in an attractive, affordable package.

Ruth and I drove to Greeley in the Trax, and liked the quiet ride, guidance, and acceptable noise level. Fuel economy came in during our drive at 27 mpg, and EPA rating for highway driving is 32 mpg. We both agreed that the Trax could end up being the top seller for Chevrolet.