2024 Chevrolet Trax Activ: First Drive

FINALLY!!! I have been wanting to drive the 2024 Chevy Trax since I first saw it myself at the LA Auto Show last fall.

I think Chevy really has found a sweet spot in the current market with this affordable little crossover. With a price range of about $22,000 to just over $26,000 from base model LS to loaded Activ trims, there really is something for almost everyone in the new Trax at a price that won’t break the bank.

Yes, there is really only about a $5,000 price difference in a base model and a loaded one. Keeping in mind I have tested top trims that easily double the cost of base trims (looking at Ram’s 1500 TRX), a mere $5,000 price span in the Trax offerings might leave consumers thinking they won’t have a lot of modern amenities, but that is where you would be wrong.

I am impressed with the packaging and pricing of the Trax more than anything. Chevy clearly had a mission of keeping the cost as low as possible, while simultaneously offering the most sought-after features in a modern crossover. Heated seats, heated steering wheel, push-button start, room for actual adults in the back seat, and a fuel-sipping powertrain are just some of the reasons you may want to check out the latest version of the Trax.

While the outgoing model was discontinued in 2022, the 2024 model is all-new and only comes in front-wheel drive, the first cost-cutting measure Chevy took to ensure the Trax was affordable. Yes, the outgoing model did offer AWD, but the complexities raised the price and thus that option was nixed for the new version.

Interior space is up over the previous model. With a longer wheelbase, the rear seat was plenty roomy for me to sit behind my 5’ 10” driving position. Behind the rear seat is 25.6 cubic feet of storage space, that’s more than is behind the third row of the Chevy Tahoe.

Chevy is also offering a smaller engine, with fewer cylinders, than the previous version. Using the 1.2-liter Ecotec 3-cylinder, the new Trax promises EPA estimates of over 30 mpg on the highway, yet another reason to consider Trax. While the smaller 3-cylinder engine may not be a selling point to you reading this article, I can say from driving it around that it is no slouch. It is peppy with its 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, and its 6-speed automatic is lightyears better than the CVT found in the Honda HR-V.

The ride is about what you would expect from a vehicle that does not even flirt with $30,000. That is not to say it is bad, but over the rough pavement of the Wisconsin roads I toured while behind the wheel, I felt like I was back home in my Chevy Cruze. The front suspension is a MacPherson strut setup while the rear is a twist-beam setup common of economical cars.

I only had a few minutes of time with the Trax but I hope to get one soon for a full week of testing.