First Drive Review
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The Sonic’s crossover cousin aims for the Kia Soul.
Originally designed for Europe and currently sold in Mexico and Canada, the Chevrolet Trax soon will be offered in the U.S. Pitted against affordable, small crossovers such as the Kia Soul, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and the Nissan Juke, the Trax is designed to appeal to an audience that prioritizes style, connectivity, and practicality a bit more than driving dynamics. This “youth-focused” Chevrolet is the sister model of the Buick Encore, and it shares the Buick’s chassis and powertrain. Assuming a position in Chevrolet’s pricing structure below the larger Equinox, the Trax will likely slot in near the $20K point like the Juke and Outlander Sport. That will make it much cheaper than the Encore, which commands $25,085 to start.
Like the Buick, the Trax has a single engine choice: a turbocharged, port-fuel-injected 1.4-liter-four that produces 148 lb-ft of torque at 1850 rpm. It doesn’t reach its peak power of 138 horsepower until the crankshaft is spinning at 4900 rpm. The smoothness of this powerplant begins to wane just before 5000 rpm, at which point the noise and character turn unpleasant and stay that way to its 6500-rpm redline. However, this engine—also shared with the lighter Sonic sedan and hatchback—is reasonably responsive, and its turbocharger operates with little lag. Unfortunately, it also provides less punch than you might hope for, and the 0–60 estimate of 9.2 seconds—for the quickest and lightest front-wheel-drive configuration—is pretty poky.
The only available transmission is the six-speed 6T40 Hydra-Matic, which can take its sweet time to downshift. Upshifts and downshifts can be manually commanded via a tap-shift switch, which is awkwardly positioned atop the console-mounted shift lever. Front-wheel drive is standard, and a variable all-wheel drive system is optional. The AWD system adds a couple hundred pounds to the curb weight, with vehicles so equipped tipping the scales at an estimated 3300 pounds.
Trax-ster, Yes, Track Star, No
As you might expect for a general-use vehicle, the Trax understeers solidly. Its light-effort, rack-mounted electric power steering, however, provides ample feedback, and this little crossover SUV remains composed even on bumpy roads. It does a good job shielding its occupants from bumps and uneven surfaces. Clearly, the Trax is tuned to please the non-enthusiast driver and to get passengers from point A to B in safety and relative comfort.
These passengers will appreciate the generous interior space it offers. The Trax is short, spanning a mere 168.5 inches nose to tail, but it’s also tall at 65.9 inches. At 69.9 inches, it is relatively wide. As a result, the cabin feels roomy and airy, and there’s ample room for four aboard. Cargo volume with all seats raised is generous at 18.7 cubic feet, and it can be expanded to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. And while visibility is good, the Trax enhances it with a standard rearview camera, although we wish the trajectory lines swiveled with steering angle.
Packed With Tech
The passengers can fiddle with a plethora of telematics and connectivity features. Depending on trim package, the Trax is available with 4G LTE connectivity, USB ports, the MyLink system with a large touch screen, and Siri Eyes Free service. The interior also features multiple storage areas.
But even though the list of standard and optional equipment is impressive, one trait is distinctly lacking: style. On our test car, the interior was a sea of gray, with way too much hard plastic. But this is a Chevy, and there need to be ways for its Buick sibling to set itself apart. We are just not sure that this kind of interior ambience will cut it in this segment. The Trax cabin is better than the toy-like Nissan Juke’s, but it falls far short of the new Kia Soul’s.
Offered in LS, LT, and LTZ trim, the compact Chevy crossover will hit the market in late 2014; as mentioned, we expect prices to start just below $20,000. It is a comfortable, competent offering, but it doesn’t deliver the same level of style as its competitors from Nissan and Kia. But with an agreeable price and an overall inoffensive persona, expect to see these swarming everywhere from the suburbs to city centers.
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