The Chevrolet Trax made its debut 4 years ago. It was a performer in an otherwise new and fresh era of the subcompact crossover segment. It was revised 2 years later, but this American SUV has been the same in spirit ever since its launch. the 2020 Chevrolet Trax remains mostly unchanged and there is no denying that the design is getting a bit boring and mundane now.
The latest Trax is powered by a measly 1.4L inline-4 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This SUV has a contradicting design language; the cabin is quite spacious but due to its compact size, it falls short of actually providing passenger comfort on the same line.
The new model sees no changes from its predecessor
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$22295
bodystyle
4dr SUV
passenger capacity
5
drivetrain
front wheel drive
engine type
displacement
83
horsepower
138 hp @ 4900 rpm
torque
148 lbs.-ft. @ 1850 rpm
transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
chassis
suspension front
Independent front strut suspension
suspension rear
Semi-independent rear torsion beam suspension
dimensions
wheelbase
100.6 in.
length
167.6 in.
width
69.9 in.
height
64.9 in.
curb weight
3124 lbs.
ground clearance
6.2 in.
capacity
cargo volume
48.4 cu ft.
payload
1263
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
26/28/31 mpg
highway range
434.0 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
3 yr./ 36000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
5 yr./ 60000 mi.
corrosion warranty
6 yr. /100000 mi.
roadside assistance
Yes
Pictures
exterior
interior
Trims
LS $22,295 onwards
138 hp @ 4900 rpm | 1.4 L | Inline 4 | regular unleaded
LT $24,195 onwards
138 hp @ 4900 rpm | 1.4 L | Inline 4 | regular unleaded
Premier $28,595 onwards
138 hp @ 4900 rpm | 1.4 L | Inline 4 | regular unleaded
Colors and Styles
Summit White
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Features
4.0
Engine And Performance
3.0
Fuel Economy
5.0
Interior
4.0
Exterior
4.0
Safety
5.0
Final Verdict
4.2
4.2
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
4.2
Overall Rating
Rivaling this American SUV are quite a few well-established badges. The segment leader Mazda CX-3, Honda's HR-V and the Toyota C-HR stack up to give the Trax a run for its money. Having said that, the Trax still does a fine job of competing and holding up. Read on to find out more.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Angular Front View
2020 Chevrolet Trax Angular Rear View
4.0/10 Features
3.0/10 Engine and Performance
5.0/10 Fuel Economy
4.0/10 Interior
4.0/10 Exterior
5.0/10 Safety
4.2/10 Final Verdict
2020 Chevrolet Trax Features
4.0/10
Offered in 3 different configurations – LS LT, and Premier - all the trims are further split in two different drivetrains – FWD and AWD. With a difference of $1,500 between the two drivetrains, the subcompact crossover starts at $21,200 for the FWD. It introduces a modest list of features as standard.
Trim
LS
LT
Premier
MSRP (FWD)
$21,200
$23,100
$27,500
MSRP (AWD)
$22,700
$24,600
$29,000
Key Features
16” steel wheels
16” aluminum wheels
18” aluminum wheels
7” MyLink Infotainment system with 6 speaker sound system
7” MyLink Infotainment system with 6 speaker sound system
7” MyLink Infotainment system with 7 speaker Bose sound system
Driver Seat: 4-way manual
Driver Seat: 4-way manual
Driver Seat: 6-way manual
Mirrors: Power-adjustable, manual-folding, body-color with Black base
SiriusXM Satellite Radio All Access Package with a 3-month trial subscription
SiriusXM Satellite Radio All Access Package with a 3-month trial subscription
Foglamps
Further up the trim, you’d find better-equipped packages, but you could always buy from packages to equip your Trax with certain features. The highest trim, Premier, costs $27,500 and is feature-rich. A 1.4L engine with a 4-cylinders mated to 6-speed automatic transmission powers the entire lineup.
We recommend
Choosing the LT trim is the wisest option for it offers almost all the features and technology of the top trim but at a lesser cost. It is a sweet deal for it bridges the gap between the top and base configurations.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Engine and Performance
3.0/10
Other than confined city driving, which can be a bit challenging given the Tahoe's size, we found most driving situations to be quite comfortable and free of drama. -Autotrader
Engine and Transmission
Under the hood, propelling the front wheels of the 2020 Trax sits a turbocharged 1.4L with 4-cylinders mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Wait, what turbocharged? Like most similarly sized crossovers in this segment, sluggish and lazy gear shifts, galling noise, and uninspiring engine performance make up the SUV’s frail powertrain. There’s nothing much left to write about the feeble machine under the Trax.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Engine
Among the competition, the mightiest crossover is the Jeep Compass Sport, with a 2.4L I-4 spurting 180 horses. The Trax holds the lowest powertrain joined by the Buick Encore.
Models
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Toyota C-HR
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Crosstrek
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Jeep Compass Sport
MSRP
21,300
$20,520
$20,945
$19,500
$23,200
$20,390
$21,859
$20,945
$23,095
Engine
1.4 Liter Inline-4
1.8 Liter Inline-4
2.0 Liter Inline-4
2.0 Liter Inline-4
1.4 Turbocharged Inline-4
2.0 Liter Inline-4
2.0 Liter Boxer-4
2.0 Liter Inline-4
2.4 Litre Inline 4
Transmission
6-speed automatic
CVT with Overdrive
2-speed CVT with Overdrive and auto-manual
6-speed automatic with Overdrive and auto-manual
6-speed automatic transmission
6-speed automatic
5-speed manual transmission
6-speed manual transmission
-
Horsepower
138 hp @ 4900 rpm
141 hp @6500 rpm
144 hp @ 6100 rpm
147 hp @ 6200 rpm
138 hp @ 4900 rpm
148 hp @ 6000 rpm
152 hp @ 6000 rpm
148 hp @ 6,000 rpm
180 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque
148 lb.-ft. @1850 rpm
127 lb. ft. @ 4300 rpm
139 lb. ft. @ 3900 rpm
132 lb. ft. @ 4500 rpm
148 lb. ft. @ 1850 rpm
146 lb. ft. @ 2800 rpm
145 lb. ft. @ 4000 rpm
145 lb.-ft. @ 4,200 rpm
175 lb.-ft @ 3900 rpm
Acceleration
Painstaking flat power delivery in the light-duty drives the front wheels of the Trax from naught to 60 mph in 9.3s. The quarter-mile drag sprint is done leisurely and completed in 16.8s. In the segment of a mix of underperforming motors across the field, the Buick Encore takes the fastest crown followed by the Mazda CX-3 while the rest come home half a second and more.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Acceleration
*These figures are based on the 2018 powertrain, which going into 2020 has remained unchanged.
Models
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Toyota C-HR
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Crosstrek
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Jeep Compass Sport
0-60 MPH (sec)
9.3
9.3*
11.0
10.0
8.4
8.6
9.0
8.9
10.0
Quarter mile (sec)
16.8
16.8*
18.4
17.3
16.2
16.3
16.9
16.6
NA
Engine
1.4-L I-4
1.8-L I-4
2.0-L I-4
2.0-L I-4
1.4-L I-4
2.0-L I-4
2.0-L H-4
2.0-L I-4
2.4-L I-4
Emission
(Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
6.3
6.3*
6.0
5.9
6.3
5.7
7.0
7.1
NA
Ride and Handling
Chevrolet Trax is nimble with responsive, light and quick steering input. Body roll is controlled at a certain speed and bumps are easily absorbed. Driving around the city is quite easy for this light-duty SUV, thanks to its short turning radius and agility. Driving the SUV inspires no fun, staying as mundane as its powertrain is.
Compared to other SUV’S in the segment, the ride quality is sub-standard. Its handling borderlines mediocrity, while remaining predictable. At high speeds, the crossover feels unsure and underpowered, especially at high speeds.
Braking
Well well Trax, there’s one place in your mechanics that works better than most of the crossovers in the segment. Along with good modulation and firmness with good pedal feel, the rear-disc brakes with front-drum decelerate the 2800 pound heavy crossover with ease.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Wheel
Model
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Toyota C-HR
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Crosstrek
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Jeep Compass Sport
Brake Front (in.)
11.8
11.5
11.8
11.8
11.8
11
11.6
11.6
12
Brake Rear (in.)
9.0
11.1
11.1
9.0 (Drum)
10.6
11.1
10.8
11.9
11
Curb Weight (lbs.)
2805
2906
3300
2890
3237
2809
3113
3,032
3327
60-0 MPH (ft.)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/lA
N/A
N/A
NA
2020 Chevrolet Trax Fuel Economy
5.0/10
Fueling the Trax to drive 33 miles per gallon on the highway with a combined figure of 28 mpg is quite an average task by the powertrain. While these figures may seem impressive at first glance, when compared to its rivals, they fall short. The segment leader, Mazda CX-3 impresses with quite an efficient powertrain while Honda’s HR-V follows suit.
Model
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Toyota C-HR
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Crosstrek
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Jeep Compass Sport
MPG (city)
25
28
27
27
26
29
23
24
22
MPG (highway)
33
34
31
33
31
34
29
30
31
MPG (combined)
28
30
29
30
28
31
25
27
25
2020 Chevrolet Trax Interior
4.0/10
“A smart interior layout makes the most of the Trax's relatively small — but still competitive for the segment — interior space. Visibility is good, the controls are straightforward, and getting in and out is pretty easy.” -edmunds
Seating and Comfort
Ability to seat 5 passengers inside, the cabin space in the Trax is ample and spacious for the segment. However, the legroom for both the front and rear seats is a bit compromised due to the SUV’s small design. The seats in itself are quite comfortable covered with cloth-upholstery. The headroom, on the other hand, is ample on both rows.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Seating
Aesthetically, the cabin is modest at best with plastic touch and feel alongside cheap materials and quality in places. Apparently, noise isolation is less of a concern for the American manufacturer; imagine driving comfortably sans the cabin around you. Visibility is commendable thanks to the position of the raised seats.
Infotainment System
Chevrolet’s MyLink 7” touch screen infotainment system sits on the center console. An intuitive system with a user-friendly interface otherwise fails to impress in its physical controls which are plastic in material and have redundant use for some functions.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Infotainment Display
MyLink’s touch screen looks good but delays in responsiveness make it less appealing. Fortunately, the Trax features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which comes optional even on some of the most high-end cars with premium features. Some standard features include –
6-speaker audio system
2 USB ports
OnStar Communications with 4G connections and Wi-fi hot spot
7” Infotainment System
Cargo Volume
Offering 18.7 cubic feet with unfolded seats is quite a decent task for the Trax. The compact crossover is evened by the Buick Encore but is bettered by the rest. Surprisingly, the segment leader, Mazda CX-3, has the lowest of the lot at 12.4 cubic feet.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Cargo Space
Coming to the rear seats when folded, you’ll find 48.4 cubic feet available on the Chevrolet Trax, standing along the top of the segment. However, the Honda HR-V offers the best practicality along the segment in both instances.
Model
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Toyota C-HR
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Crosstrek
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Jeep Compass Sport
Trunk Volume (ft.3)
18.7
24.3
19
19.2
18.8
12.4
20.8
21.7
27.2
Cargo Volume with Rear seats folded (ft.3)
48.4
58.8
36.4
45.8
48.4
44.5
55.3
49.5
59.8
Interior Features
Mirror: Rearview, manual day/night
Remote Keyless Entry with panic alarm
Rear vision camera
Steering column: tilt and telescopic
2020 Chevrolet Trax Cockpit Area2020 Chevrolet Trax front seat2020 Chevrolet Trax dashboard2020 Chevrolet Trax rear seat2020 Chevrolet Trax center console
2020 Chevrolet Trax Exterior
4.0/10
“The dowdy 2020 Chevrolet Trax doesn’t say much about its driver.” -thecarconnection
Designs and Dimensions
Rolling over 16” steel wheels, the Trax has a compact, conservative design. Headed by chrome-accented dual-element grille flanked by Halogen headlights, the SUV sits 6.2” above the ground and measures 100” in its total wheelbase. Weighing 2805 pounds, the crossover blends itself amongst its diverse compact rivals, sitting on the lightest spectrum.
2020 Chevrolet Trax Side View
The design philosophy of the Chevrolet Trax is very simple to understand – not overdone but simply curved and molded with a dash of – ‘this will do’ – mindset. A rear lip spoiler rests above the windowpane, while the same hard plastic design found in the front is twinned in the back.
Model
Chevrolet Trax
Honda HR-V
Toyota C-HR
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore
Mazda CX-3
Subaru Crosstrek
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Jeep Compass Sport
Curb weight (lbs.)
2805
2906
3300
2890
3237
2809
3157
3,032
3327
Length(in)
167.2
170.4
171.2
164.0
168.4
168.3
175.8
171.9
173
Width(in)
69.9
69.8
70.7
70.9
70.1
69.6
71
71.3
73.8
Height(in)
64.9
63.2
61.6
61
65.2
60.7
63.6
64.8
64.6
Ground clearance (in)
6.2
5.4
5.9
6.7
6.2
6.1
8.7
8.5
8.2
Wheelbase (in)
100.6
102.8
103.9
102.4
100.6
101.2
104.9
105.1
103.8
Track width (in) F/R
60.6/60.6
60.4/60.6
60.6/60.6
60.62/60.62
60/59.5
61/61.2
60.6/60.6
60.7/60.3
-
Exterior Features
Some of the features include in the Trax LS trim are –
Body-color door handles
16” steel wheels
Halogen reflector headlamps with automatic exterior lamp control
2020 Chevrolet Trax2020 Chevrolet Trax front2020 Chevrolet Trax rear2020 Chevrolet Trax top view2020 Chevrolet Trax headlight2020 Chevrolet Trax taillight
2020 Chevrolet Trax Safety
5.0/10
As of writing this review, the Chevrolet Trax SUV is yet to be rated by the NHTSA and IIHS. Since the crossover is an unchanged iteration since the previous year, we suspect the test ratings to be likewise for the 2020 model.
The compact SUV offers a scarce list of standard features found in other rivals in this segment. Some standard features included in the Trax are –
10 airbags - 2 Frontal and knee for driver and front passenger
Seat-mounted side-impact and roof rail-mounted for front and rear outboard seating positions
Passenger Sensing System
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) for child safety seats
OnStar Safety & Security Plan with 1-month coverage, including Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Roadside Assistance, Turn-by-Turn Navigation and more
2020 Chevrolet Trax Competition
Chevrolet Trax vs Mazda CX-3
Going up against the segment leader, the Chevrolet Trax is doomed here. The Mazda CX-3 costs less than the American crossover, overall better driving dynamics with superior powertrain, finer cabin quality and space alongside comfortable seats. Evidently, the CX-3 is the obvious winner here.
2020 Mazda CX-3
Chevrolet Trax vs Toyota C-HR
Leaving aside comparing the rest of the field, the Chevrolet Trax edges the Toyota C-HR in terms of features and AWD availability, spacious interior and boot space. While the Japanese SUV manages to stay inches ahead in due to its slightly greater powertrain, it isn’t enough to defend its lead over the American crossover. Choosing the Trax over the C-HR would be a wise option. Wiser option? Skip both.
2020 Toyota CH-R
Chevrolet Trax vs Honda HR-V
With an efficient powertrain together with spacious interior and large boot space, the HR-V is otherwise a tad similar to the Chevrolet Trax. But driving dynamics are ahead in the Japanese SUV and so is a feature available in the base model. Priced similarly, the competition is stiff, however, due to Honda’s practicality, it makes the better buy here.
2020 Honda HR-V
2020 Chevrolet Trax Final Verdict
4.2/10
What exactly does the Trax offer? It has great boot space, good handling, decent fuel efficiency and spacious interior along with comfortable seats. Nonetheless, its powertrain is mediocre at best and features list alongside safety equipments are disappointing.
If you truly want something out of this compact crossover, you’d have to spend a few more bucks and get higher trims or additional packages. Considering other rivals, however, is a safer bet if Chevrolet Trax does come under your radar.