The battle over consumers looking for a budget-friendly SUV continues, and this year Chevrolet is not getting left behind. Its attempt to refresh the design and performance of the new 2024 Chevy Trax might just pay off. However, the devil is in the details because all manufacturers have taken to cost-cutting. Relative to their larger SUV brothers, entrants to this field have sported relatively cramped seating, lackluster infotainment, and lowered performance.
The all-new 2024 Trax bucks that trend by improving on every one of these metrics, all while being cheaper than the previous 2022 model. With all five versions of the new Trax coming in at less than $25,000, the value is hard to beat. But will making it cheaper, larger, and more stylish be enough to push against the more established compacts - especially those that surged ahead unopposed in 2023? As always, it depends. So here are the top 10 features of the 2024 Chevrolet Trax that you need to know about.
10 A Larger And Sportier Body
Not every carmaker gets the looks right, but in this case, an overwhelming majority is in favor of the look on the 2024 Trax. Since form follows function- it is not all to show, this new version should be able to drive better due to the body's wider and lower stance. Compared to its predecessor the new Trax is a whopping 11 inches longer and two inches wider, making it acquire more of a presence. The vehicle also sits five inches lower than before to give it that sporty look, but that’s not the only thing that’s been lowered. The car now has a lower roof-line that along with the black bow-tie grille and muscly contour lines -greatly helps to accentuate the new aggressive styling.
9 Large And Clean Infotainment Screens
If you have ever driven around with friends or family, you know that a huge part of your driving experience is the infotainment screen. In this refresh of the Chevy Trax, you are sure to be impressed - the new Trax comes with an 11-inch infotainment screen and an eight-inch digital instrument cluster that offer a sleeker user interface. The layout of the screens at the top of the dash, as well as the resolution and the glossy sheen, do give the interior a more modern and clean look. This means that as you drive you get to experience your music, view directions and check trip information without all the clutter and plastic buttons. To add to the convenience, this car supports both Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard.
8 Electronic Driving Assistance
For the prospective urban buyers the Trax targets, safety is as much of a factor as affordability. And in this new version of the Trax, safety is paramount. The car comes with an array of Chevrolet safety features standard including forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, and auto high beams. This means you can drive around with the assurance that some kind of electronic assistance will keep you on track. That is not all however, there are some equally useful features you may opt to add, for instance, you can get cruise control or perhaps a lane change assist with alerts for the cars approaching your blind zone. Whichever choice you make, with the 2024 Trax, you are assured of a significant improvement in driving safety.
7 Up To 54.1 Cubic-Feet Of Cargo Space
Improvements continue all around. The Trax now comes with 25.6 cubic feet of trunk space. That is almost six cubic feet larger than the past model’s. This might be a surprising leap but if you think back to the additional 11 inches in length we pointed out, you can see how Chevrolet managed that. If the usual trunk size is not enough for whatever large object you want to haul about, the car has 60/40 split-folding rear seats. That means you can have a person or two at the back while carrying your awkwardly long piece of luggage. Fully folding the rear seats, however, will raise the cargo space to its more impressive maximum capacity of 54.1 cubic feet. With a space that large you should be able to move more with fewer trips.
6 Easy Wireless Access
Driver seat view of a phone in the wireless charging area, the front passenger footwell, and the center console
It is not just the modern looks, the car has done well to offer a modern experience too. You will no longer need any cables or any clunky integrations because the 2024 Trax features a number of wireless features. The ease of use and unobtrusive nature makes these wireless features hard to resist once you start using them. Firstly, the vehicle offers keyless entry which obviates all that jangling in your pocket. You can also stop worrying about looking for a charging port because wireless charging is now available for all your supported devices. Additionally, wireless Apple Airplay is included as well as a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. That means you can enter the car smoothly, be on your way and pick up your curated playlist right where you left off - now that is true urban ease.
5 Remote Functions
Ever left your Chevrolet behind, looked around, and wondered if you can check on it? If you answered yes, you are in luck. This 2024 Trax now joins the new fleet of Chevrolet cars that offer remote functions that put your mind at ease. The way this works is that Chevrolet, through its myChevrolet app, has placed a suite of functional buttons and diagnostic tools right at your fingertips. So now just using your phone, you are able to both lock and unlock your doors, check the tire pressure figures, start or stop your engine and so much more. There is a caveat however, many of the app functions are paid, but for the more careful owners, the setup will be well worth the time and money.
4 Front Seats And Sensibilities
The car's appearance and styling might be tempting, but where you most certainly spend your time is on the front seats. As many may note, the base version does seem slightly more Spartan with its six way manually adjusted seats and enclosed roof. However, on the higher - yet still affordable trims - you can enjoy a small moon roof to give you a more airy feeling, along with an eight-way power-adjustable front seat that you don't have to shuffle around too long with each new driver. Other comfort-focused additions on offer include heated seats and a heated steering wheel. These heated options are a must-have for those living in areas with cold winters and autumns. But whichever trim you pick, the new Trax’s larger size will always allow you just that little extra room for your comfort.
3 Stylish And Comfortable Interior
As most budget-conscious consumers know, the interiors of most subcompact SUVs are quite practical but nothing to write home about. The 2024 Trax however has a few tricks it tries to spice up what could be an otherwise bland interior. Chrome accents and piano black plastic dominate the driver side of the dash, the console, and the gearbox cover. Hard gray plastics, however, are present on large sections of the dash and the doors -especially in the lower trims. To remedy the look of the hard plastics the Trax includes some patterns and textures that make it more stylish and the seats have a decent faux-leather appearance, with perforations, stitching and contrasting colors. The Trax walks a fine line and for most consumers looking at this price range, the interior will surely be sufficient.
2 Efficiency Without a CVT
Given the car’s muscular looks one can feel short-changed on the acceleration because the car comes with a 1.2-liter supercharged three-cylinder engine. On paper, this is a step back from its former 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, however, the new Trax has an edge on it in one key area - efficiency. The Trax’s new engine will give you a whopping 30 miles per gallon. That is impressive fuel economy which - when coupled with the start-stop feature - will give urban and long-distance drivers absolute peace of mind. But the fun does not stop there, the car only comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, which is a relief for those avoiding the boredom of a CVT. So go ahead and get a Trax if you want the best of both worlds.
1 Spacious Rear Seating
The driver and the front seats got all the attention as usual, but at some point, we all sat in the backseat and felt the weight of poor design. This might be a perennial problem for other competing subcompact SUVs but the 2024 Chevrolet Trax does shine in this regard. That is because the rear seats receive more focus than before with three inches more of legroom than the 2022 model. That extra space allows for taller rear passengers as well as some much-needed room for stretching. Care is taken to the rear passenger experience as the floor is relatively flat, and the seats are more accommodating for three person seating. These seem to be small details for a driver, but you’ll definitely be glad to hear fewer arguments at the back.