2021 Chevrolet Trax

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax also lacks many features compared to the competition. Still, the Chevy Trax is a good option in the segment, considering that it starts from an MSRP of $22,395. The 2021 Chevrolet Trax has no mechanical changes, and it is powered by the same 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. The performance is not very good, and it handles everyday commute just fine. Let’s test the 2021 Chevrolet Trax in every aspect and compare it to the competition to find out the best option for you. 

The new Chevrolet Trax comes only in two trim options LS and LT. The previous top-trim Premier has been eliminated from the line-up. The optional Sun and Sound Package from the previous year has also been removed. There are many other optional packages like the power sunroof, and the Bose audio system is also not available anymore. Chevrolet Trax already didn’t have a good features list. Removing these features from the 2021 model has further limited the feature list.

The features offered on the 2021 Chevrolet Trax are very decent for the price at which it comes. The newer entrants have slightly better features on offer compared to the Chevy Trax. They also feel more modern in the exterior and interior design. The base LS trim has the basic features, and the upper LT trim gets some addition to the LS in interior and exterior features.

Which Trim should you buy?

The LS trim has all the important features that are offered in the 2021 Chevrolet trim. Still, we recommend that an upgrade to the LT trim will be a better choice, as you get more features for a slightly higher price. The additions like roof rails and DRL’s give a better look to your small SUV from the outside. Cruise control also comes very handy while cruising on the highways, as the acceleration is not that good from the engine.

The performance is very average from the 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine that powers the Chevrolet Trax. The engine produces 138 horses worth of power and 177lb-ft of torque, which is acceptable for the segment. Although on paper power figures seem to be fair, the real-life performance is even worse. The acceleration is very slow, and it takes 9.3 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill. The quarter-mile sprint takes 16.8 seconds.

The refinement levels are also not good for the engine. It delivers okayish performance in the city, but as soon as you get out on the highway, you start feeling constant noise from the engine. The engine is very hesitant to respond to the throttle response, and the harder you press the throttle, the more you hear the engine noise getting louder. The 6-speed automatic gearbox is also good in the city, but sometimes it feels sluggish while shifting the gears.

Although Hyundai Kona produces more power, it lacks behind in the torque figures. The acceleration figures also show that the Hyundai Kona is even slower than the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore. The 2021 Ford Escape takes the lead here in the power figures, and the real-life performance too.

How well does the 2021 Chevrolet Trax handle?

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax is fairly good in terms of handling for the segment. The steering wheel feels agile for most parts, and you do not need to worry much while changing the lanes out on the road. The compact size helps in the easy maneuvering of the Trax. The 2021 Chevy Trax is also very easy to manage in the city traffic, and you do not feel tired after driving it for long journeys.

The ride quality is good for the city conditions, but things get worse when you are out on the highway. The ride feels a little busy and choppy on the highways at higher speeds. That also takes away from the confidence of driving at higher speeds. There is no way that you are going to put it into the corners at high speeds. It feels best when you drive it in a relaxed manner.

Braking Performance of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax

Brakes on the 2021 Chevrolet Trax do a great job of stopping the small SUV. Chevy has used 11.8-inch brake rotors for the front wheels and relatively smaller 9-inch brake rotors at the rear wheels. The brakes give progressive feedback at normal speeds in the city driving conditions. Although the engine is hesitant to accelerate, you will not find much struggle from the brakes to stop the Chevy Trax. You can easily predict the braking distance, and ABS also provides good assistance in sudden braking situations.

The 2021 Buick Encore takes only 126 feet of distance to come to a halt from 60 miles per hour. Although the 2021 Buick Encore 2021 is the heaviest small SUV of the lot, it takes the least time to stop. The Ford Escape and the 2021 Hyundai Kona take 128 feet and 129 feet, respectively, to come to a standstill from 60 mph.

The fuel economy is one of the strong points of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. Chevy Trax delivers 26 mpg worth of fuel economy in the city driving condition, which can go up to 31 mpg on the highway. If we combine the city and highway driving conditions, then you can expect anything in excess of 28 miles per gallon. The fuel economy also depends on the drivetrain that you select. It can further dip by 1 mpg in the case of the All-Wheel Drive variants. 2021 Chevy Trax uses a fuel tank with 14 gallons capacity and can give a combined range of 392 miles.

The 2021 Ford Escape delivers the best fuel economy figures in the comparison. It also comes with the largest fuel tank. Ford Escape delivers 27 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg in combined driving conditions. Combine it with the largest fuel tank with 14.7 gallons of fuel, and you will be rewarded with the best range in the comparison. Hyundai Kona offers the least range because of the smallest fuel tank.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax surprisingly provides more space from the inside than we expect looking from the outside. Space is well managed inside the interior, and the Chevy provides good space in the front row. In the second row also the space feels decent. Although it is not recommended for long-distance journeys, as it feels claustrophobic after a while. The cargo room is also compromised compared to the competition. The material used on the dashboard is also good enough for the segment. Still, you can find some of the cheap plastic for navigation controls, and in some other parts of the cabin. 

The 2021 Ford Escape has a better space in the second row and it also offers the best space in the cargo area. Buick Encore and Chevy Trax have similar cabin space and the cargo area has no big difference either. The Hyundai Kona is the most compact small SUV in the comparison. Here are some of the interior features of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax:

• Good cabin space in the front row
• Comfortable driving position
• Leatherette seating surfaces
• 60/40split-folding rear seat
• Automatic climate control

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax features a 7-inch touchscreen system for infotainment. You get a 6-speaker system for the music. The optional Bose premium stereo system is not available anymore. The touchscreen also supports connectivity for Android Auto and Apple Carplay that allows you to control your phone right from the infotainment screen. The screen also supports inbuilt navigation and a 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot for connectivity.

Here are some of the infotainment features of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax:

• A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 6-speakers audio system
• 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot connectivity
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Inbuilt navigation support 

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax was launched in 2015, and the design has become older now. The newly launched models by other brands in the segment look more modern. Still, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax looks good from the outside. The changes in the exterior of the 2021 Trax remain very subtle, and it is very much the same as the 2020 model. The 2021 Chevrolet Trax comes with the same 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels that were used in last year’s model. 

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax features automatic headlamps and the same sculpted tail lamps in the rear. Most of these features are limited to the LT trim. You can load your Chevy Trax with more optional features by selecting the available packages. Here are some of the exterior features of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax:

• Automatic projector headlamps
• 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• LED DRLs
• Rear privacy windows
• LED taillamps

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rated the 2021 Chevrolet Trax five out of five stars in the crash test. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also found the 2021 Chevy Trax to be a good car in terms of safety. Although it lacks many basic driver assistance features, which affects the safety aspect of the 2021 Trax. There are no major standard safety features, and you need to rely on optional packages even for the basic safety features. The competition offers a far better safety feature list in comparison to the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. Here are some of the safety features of the 2021 Chevrolet Trax:

• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Available forward-collision warning
• Available blind-spot monitoring
• Available rear parking sensors

2021 Chevrolet Trax vs. 2021 Buick Encore

The Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax are very similar in terms of performance. You get similar acceleration performance as you get in the Chevy Trax. The interior space is also nearly identical, but everything else seems better in the Buick Encore. You get better interior quality, more standard safety features, and a much modern design than the Chevy Trax. The only advantage with the 2021 Chevrolet Trax is that it is $1000 cheaper than the 2021 Buick Encore if we compare the base trims of both these vehicles.

2021 Chevrolet Trax vs. 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape has a more powerful engine than the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The Ford Escape delivers better performance and mpg figures in the same package. The interior is more premium, and you also get better space in the cabin of the Ford Escape. The Ford Escape also has a higher trunk space than the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. If you are ready to pay a little more for the 2021 Ford Escape, then it will be a better purchase in every aspect. You also get better safety features as standard with the Ford Escape.

2021 Chevrolet Trax vs. 2021 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is a relatively new entrant to the small SUV segment compared to the Chevrolet Trax. It offers better exterior design and better standard safety features on offer. The Hyundai Kona also offers better space in the interior of the car. If we talk about the performance, it is the worst small SUV in the comparison. It produces the least torque figures and takes the highest time to reach 60 mph from a standstill. The performance of Hyundai Kona makes it a not-so-good choice in the segment.

We can not deny the fact that Chevrolet Trax has aged over time as it has not seen any major updates since its launch in 2015. The competition offers a far better package compared to the Chevrolet Trax. The lack of standard driver assistance features is a big reason to avoid the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. In the fleet of General Motors only, you can find Buick Encore which is a far better option than the Chevy Trax. Our recommendation here would be to skip the 2021 Chevrolet Trax and go for the 2021 Buick Encore. You can also go for the 2021 Ford Escape which is a better option in every aspect.