Compact Crossover Affordability for City Driving
Chevrolet presents an SUV in each measurement from small to very massive, propelled by gasoline, diesel or electrical energy. The 2025 Chevrolet Trax is available in on the small finish of the SUV spectrum and is the least costly automobile offered by Chevrolet. In growing order of measurement the Chevy SUV line-up is the Trax, Trailblazer, Equinox, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe and Suburban. The purpose is that Chevrolet doesn’t need you to look elsewhere when going larger as your loved ones grows or when all the youngsters have moved out and smaller turns into higher as soon as once more.
Drivetrain
The 2025 Chevrolet Trax solely is available in front-wheel drive, powered by a turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed computerized transmission with a handbook shifting possibility. The three-lunger places out 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque with peak energy at 2,500 rpms that can get you from 0 to 60 mph in about 9 seconds.
The Trax is EPA rated at 28 mpg Metropolis/32 Freeway/30 Mixed. In 189 miles of principally in-town driving we averaged 28.8 mpg. The perfect we achieved was over a pure 50-mile freeway run at 65 mph—33.2 mpg.
Driving Expertise: On the Highway
The Trax Activ weighs in at a comparatively trim 2,983 kilos, which is an efficient factor because the small engine displacement means momentum is all the pieces. The 1.2-liter turbocharged engine wanted to be pushed exhausting to get up-to-speed for freeway merging or climbing a hill. As soon as in sixth gear cruising at freeway speeds, and it got here time to move, there’s a lack of torque. Coupled with two seconds of lag earlier than the turbo kicks in, plus ready for the transmission to drop down a gear or two, requires ahead planning earlier than passing.
The treatment for this—and to squeeze-out as a lot oomph as potential—is to make use of the handbook shift mode. When needing to carry a gear or speed up tougher merely press the button on the left aspect of the gear shifter after which pull again to drop right into a decrease gear. It labored remarkably properly and have become my go-to for regular acceleration. With this stated, the Trax shouldn’t be a sporty SUV and Chevrolet doesn’t promote it as such.
The suspension, which may have been extra agency, made for an general easy freeway trip. Sure street imperfections challenged the Trax with jolts felt strongly. Some physique roll arrived when The Trax was pushed too exhausting round a nook, but it surely was acceptable. Wind noise was practically non-existent, with the facility home windows and the facility glass sliding sunroof ($895 possibility) closed. When the sunroof was open, there was a buffeting “thud, thud, thud” sound that went away by opening one of many home windows about an inch. This isn’t distinctive to the Chevrolet Trax, however is one thing designers ought to be certain doesn’t occur.
The electrical-assisted energy steering was mild, which is okay because the Trax is happiest when tooling across the metropolis. The Goodyear Assurance 225/55 all-season tires on 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels offered for good maneuverability and grip. Stopping was straight from power-assisted ventilated entrance disc and rear drum brakes, aided by digital brake pressure distribution, cornering brake management, brake help, a 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) and stability and traction management.
One factor lacking that we come to anticipate on all of the automobiles we overview is Auto Maintain. Participating this characteristic would maintain the Trax at a lightweight while not having to continuously apply the brake.
Driving Expertise: Inside
Clear Fleet Report spent every week in a Trax outfitted the Activ trim, the highest of 5 trim ranges. The others are LS, 1RS, LT and 2RS.
Our Trax Activ had a mixture of exhausting and mushy plastic on the sprint and door panel surfaces with supplies that had been anticipated for an reasonably priced automobile. With comfy seating for 4, there was good rear head and leg room. Storage is ample with the rear 60:40 seat up, however expands to 54.1 cubic ft when the rear seats are folded close to flat. Entry to the storage space is thru a handbook carry gate with a handy low lift-over load top resulting in a flat flooring. There’s a privateness cowl for the rear cargo space.
Chevrolet describes the Trax as having a “thoughtfully designed inside maximizing consolation.” For probably the most half, we agree. Our Trax inside colour was black with grey insets on the seats and door panels and tasteful brushed aluminum accents. The seats had been lined in EcoTex, an artificial leather-like materials designed to be sturdy, stain-resistant and simple to scrub. The heated entrance seats offered good help with the motive force’s adjustable with 8-way energy and the passenger 4-way handbook. The padded middle armrest opened for storage.
Different options are a number of storage compartments, cup holders, A/C, energy home windows (specific down) and door locks, energy and heated outdoors mirrors, rear window defroster with a wiper, carpeted flooring mats and keyless entry and begin. The solar visors not extending was curious.
Driving Expertise: Tech and Leisure
The infotainment display screen tilts towards the motive force with the Trax having all of the related automobile expertise we’ve got come to anticipate. The 11-inch colour contact display screen dealt with the HD rear imaginative and prescient digicam and the six-speaker sound system with AM/FM/HD and SiriusXM. Different options embrace USB-C and A ports, OnStar voice recognition, Bluetooth streaming audio, hands-free phone and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A Wi-Fi scorching spot is out there with a separate AT&T service and information plan.
A be aware relating to OnStar: A easy push of a button connects you with a pleasant GM consultant to deal with emergencies, instructions and basic help to make your driving expertise safer and extra pleasing. That is one space the place GM has been the business chief. After the introductory service plan expires, it’s properly price renewing.
The Trax sprint format is straightforward and straight-forward, that includes a tachometer and speedometer as a part of the 8-inch driver info middle. All controls are inside simple attain of the motive force, however in case you have learn lots of our evaluations, Clear Fleet Report is a giant fan of wheels, knobs and switches for the radio and local weather controls.
Chevrolet received it half proper. The local weather management wheels are massive sufficient to make use of when carrying gloves, however the radio solely had a quantity knob—no channel knob. The primary controls are on the contact display screen. The steering wheel-mounted audio and phone controls are a back-up for comfort or if the display screen ought to resolve to not cooperate to your contact command. The system labored properly throughout our time with the Trax, however are each a quantity and channel choice knobs actually an excessive amount of to ask for?
Driving Expertise: Exterior
The Trax attracts consideration with design cues separating every of the trims. The Activ we drove had slim, wide-set LED headlights sitting apart a black grille with titanium-chrome accents. Our Trax Activ had black roof rails framing the facility glass sunroof.
Security and Comfort
The 2025 Trax has a 5 Star NHTSA authorities score and comes with security and comfort options, together with 10 air baggage, a tire stress monitoring system, ahead collision alert with emergency braking and lane preserve help. The Driver Confidence Bundle ($795 possibility) provides rear cross-traffic alert, lane change and aspect blind zone alert, adaptive cruise management and rear park help.
Pricing and Warranties
These 2025 base costs embrace the $1,095 Vacation spot cost.
- LS $21,595
- 1RS $23,595
- LT $23,795
- 2RS $25,595
- ACTIV $25,595
The 2025 Trax comes with these warranties.
- Bumper To Bumper – Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain – 5 years/60,000 miles
Observations: 2025 Chevrolet Trax Activ
The 2025 Chevrolet Trax is within the very aggressive small SUV class that features the likes of the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Toyota CH-R, Kia Soul, Jeep Renegade, Mazda CX-30 and Nissan Kicks. To standout from this crowded discipline the Trax holds its personal by providing a roomy inside with ample cupboard space, has good expertise choices and low-30s freeway gas economic system. What’s going to get customers consideration is the low worth of the LS trim, beginning at beneath $22,000.
The Trax is comfy for 4 adults and shines for commuting and shorter vary street journeys. It’s a good worth for the cash contemplating the options and roomy inside. Because the least costly automobile offered by Chevrolet, it’s a cheap strategy to transition from a small sedan to a SUV.
Story and pictures by John Faulkner.
Disclosure
Clear Fleet Report is loaned free check automobiles from automakers to judge, sometimes for every week at a time. Our street exams are based mostly on this one-week drive of a brand new automobile. Due to this we don’t deal with points reminiscent of long-term reliability or complete value of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new automobiles or expertise. As a part of these occasions we could also be supplied free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of automobiles and information irrespective of those inducements.
Our focus is on automobiles that supply one of the best gas economic system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical automobiles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and different environment friendly powertrains. We additionally characteristic these environment friendly gas-powered automobiles which might be among the many prime mpg automobiles of their class. As well as, we intention to supply evaluations and information on superior expertise and the choice gas automobile market. We welcome any suggestions from automobile house owners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for various viewpoints. Please tell us your views at writer@cleanfleetreport.com or by commenting on any of our tales. We reply each remark!
