2022 Chevrolet Trax

Priced at a starting MSRP of $25,015, The 2022 Chevrolet Trax LT trim with AWD is the one to get. We would also recommend getting the optional Sport Edition package for 18-inch wheels, Black exterior accents and sportier appearance, the LT Convenience pack, and the popular Driver Confidence package for the driver-assistance features.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax is available in the same two trim options as its predecessor namely LS and LT. They do get a new powertrain for the 2022 model year, however, the rest of the car is pretty much the same as the 2021 Chevy Trax, Even with the new powertrain, the 2022 Trax is priced at a starting MSRP of $22,595 which is the same as last year. As standard, a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine and FWD drivetrain are found in the 2022 Trax and have the option of an AWD drivetrain as well.

In terms of options and packages, there are a few on both trims, but the LT comes with better options which include the popular LT Convenience package, Midnight Package, Redline Edition, Driver Confidence Package, and Premium Seat Package. The Redline and Midnight packages offer cosmetics enhancements while the rest of them offer more convenience and safety features.

A firm ride and steady handling give the Trax a feeling of solidity, and quick steering makes it agile in parking lots and urban areas - Car and Driver

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax lineup gets a new 1.4-liter turbocharged Inline-4 engine which makes 155 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, which replaces the previous anemic 138 hp, 1.4-liter inline-4. The new engine now includes direct injection which results in a 12% boost in power and bumps up the torque by up to 20%. The engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic and power goes to the front wheels as standard.

The 2022 Trax can be had with an AWD as well by paying an additional amount of $620. Coming to the performance figures, the 2022 Trax is able to sprint from 0-60 MPH in just 8.7 seconds, while covering the quarter mile in 16.4 seconds. With the improvement in power and torque, it performs similar to the Buick Encore which gets the same engine.

The 2022 Trax is a tallboy although contrary to popular belief it exhibits lesser body roll and remains planted even during high-speed rides. Part of the credit comes to the firm suspension setup. While the smaller footprint coupled with the light steering wheel makes the Trax easy to maneuver in city traffic or tight spaces. As for the brakes, the 2022 Trax gets ABS on all four corners with the front being disc while at the rear you get drum brakes. The braking is consistent and the brake bite is powerful enough to bring this small SUV to a halt in no time. The brake pedal is progressive and feels firm.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax with the new turbo-four engine gets an EPA estimated gas mileage of 24 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 27 MPG combined. When compared to the 2021 Trax, the city and highway figures have dropped by 2 and 1 MPG, respectively. That said, the 2022 Trax when equipped with AWD, returns 1 MPG less in the city, 2 MPG less on the highway, and 1 MPG  less combined compared to the FWD model. 

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax continues to offer a 14.0-gallon fuel tank allowing it to have a range of 378 miles combined. However, the Honda HR-V is available with a smaller fuel tank but offers better MPG figures allowing it to get a better range than the Chevrolet Trax. The Buick Encore on the other hand offers the same combined MPG but loses out in highway and gains in the city MPG compared to the Trax.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax uses much of its interior space quite well - The Car Connection

There are no changes to the interior of the 2022 Chevrolet Trax, except for one thing. For 2022, Chevrolet has discontinued the flat-folding front-rear passenger seat as there were many consumer complaints about its functionality on the 2021 model. Apart from that, everything else in the interior has been carried forward. The cabin is quite spacious and can easily accommodate five adults, but the rear occupants might feel a bit cramped. Thus the most comfortable seating is two both in the front as well as the back.

Talking about the seating, the LS trim is offered with cloth upholstery seats and the LT trim will get cloth/leatherette upholstery seats and a small storage drawer under the front passenger seat. Also standard is single-zone air-conditioning (manual) on both trims. The 2022 Trax will come with 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space. While a 6-way power driver's seat and heated front row are available options included in the LT Convenience package and Premium Seat Package.

In terms of infotainment, the 2022 Chevrolet Trax comes equipped with a 7-inch center-mounted infotainment touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 interface. The system supports connectivity options such as Bluetooth, AUX, and USB through which the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be enabled. The interface has pre-installed in-vehicle apps like Spotify, the Weather Channel, Pandora, and Marketplace. An optional Wi-Fi hotspot is available. Both the trims feature a 6-speaker audio system as standard.

Chunky and upright, the 2022 Trax sports a small footprint and short overhangs - Kelley Blue Book (KBB)

On the exterior, the 2022 Chevrolet Trax remains unchanged retaining all the cosmetic features like the 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, halogen reflector headlamps, and body-colored power mirrors while the LT trims enjoy updated tech like the LED DRLs, LED taillights, and silver-painted skid plates on the front and rear.

Aesthetically, the 2022 Trax doesn't look pleasing and modern at all when compared to some of its contemporaries. However, Chevrolet offers exterior customization packages like the Redline trim, Midnight trim, and Sport trim which add larger 18-inch wheels, black exterior accents, black skid plates, black grille, and emblem making it look sportier and less boring. 

Lengthwise the Honda HR-V is the longest SUV among all which inherently gets it the longest wheelbase too. Also, the HR-V boasts of the highest ground clearance among the SUVs here. The Chevrolet Trax is slightly smaller in length than the HR-V but it is wider and taller with its wheelbase smaller by 2.2-inches than the latter. 

Exterior Features:

• 16-inch painted aluminum alloy wheels
• LED daytime running lights
• LED taillights
• Roof rails
• Halogen reflector headlamps (Base) and Halogen projector-beam headlights (LT)
• Front intermittent wipers
• Rear parking sensors

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax has not yet been tested by the IIHS, but they have given the 2021 Chevrolet Trax the highest rating of "Good" in five out of six parameters. While the 2022 Trax has been tested by the NHTSA where it got the perfect score of 5-star in overall safety ratings. Moreover, for 2022, Chevrolet has introduced a few driver-assistance features as standard now, unlike last year. Most of the advanced safety tech is still bundled into the Driver-Confidence Package as optional extras and is only available on the LT trim.

Safety Features:

• Rear Vision camera
• Rear child security door locks
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (Optional)
• Rear parking sensors (Optional)

2022 Chevrolet Trax vs 2022 Ford EcoSport

The 2022 Ford EcoSport comes with a now bigger engine that makes more power which in turn is a match to the refined and powerful engine of the Chevrolet Trax. However, the EcoSport does lose out in terms of better MPG numbers and combined range.

Move inside, and between both the tallboys the Ecosport offers more interior as well as the cargo space and is also priced much lower than the Trax. Albeit with the slight compromise in performance, the EcoSport still is a better option. 

2022 Chevrolet Trax vs 2022 Buick Encore

The Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax are quite similar in engine, cargo, and fuel efficiency. But the Encore is more refined and performs well on the undulated roads. In short, both share a similar platform and mechanical instead it's the overall package that differs.

The Buick Encore offers a premium cabin compared to the budget-grade interior you see in Trax. The Chevrolet Trax boasts a lesser price tag than the Encore but there is a lot of cost-cutting done to achieve that.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trax addressed the previous big issue of the anemic engine with this year's turbocharged engine. However, everything else has been carried forward, which shows Chevrolet is going down the tried and tested path. That said, its competition does have a more feature-rich package in case of the Buick Encore or get the same amount of features for a lesser price which is what the Ford EcoSport offers. While the Honda HR-V proves to be an all-rounder with decent performance, good gas mileage, and a spacious cabin. Thus before putting your money on the Trax we suggest looking at these compact SUVs.