2019 Chevy Trax Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
byWill Kaufman
Senior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax
Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at Edmunds. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.
Pros
- Offers appealing passenger space for its size
- Plenty of features for the price
Cons
- Ride quality is choppy on the freeway
- Slow acceleration from the underpowered engine
- Less cargo space than some rivals
- Fuel economy falls short for the class
What's new
- No significant changes for 2019
- Part of the first Trax generation introduced for the 2015 model year
When the Chevy Trax premiered, it was an early member of a new segment with very little competition. Things have changed, though, and for 2019 it's just another drop in the bucket. While we found the seats comfortable and the interior easy to use, we disliked the underpowered engine and the rough, noisy ride. It did recently receive some technology updates to make its infotainment and connectivity features more competitive, and it offers a good number of features for its price. However, if you carefully consider your priorities for a subcompact crossover, you're likely to find something else that better suits your needs.
The all-new Hyundai Kona is better to drive, as is the Mazda CX-3 that also sports an upscale interior. The Honda HR-V can deal with all sorts of cargo needs, and if you require a small, all-weather AWD runabout, the Subaru Crosstrek is very capable. Chevy certainly hit the market sooner than most competitors, but compared to the current roster of options, the Trax isn't as refined or as purposeful.
Driving
Braking performance is average for the class, and steering is precise if numb. Otherwise, the Trax falls behind the segment in terms of performance and handling. The small engine struggles to accelerate, and the tires protest in even moderate turns.
Comfort
Comfortable seats are the high point. Beyond that, the Trax's ride quality exhibits quite a bit of choppiness, and there's a fair amount of road noise. Many competitors offer a better ride quality and a more pleasant driving experience.
Interior
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.
Utility
Cargo volume is less than what some competitors offer, with maximum cargo space of only 48.4 cubic feet. The rear seats are at least easy to fold, and the fold-flat front seat provides extra space for longer items.
Technology
Chevy's MyLink system is easy to learn, and combined with OnStar, provides a robust set of features. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, as is Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. Only the Premier trim gets a full suite of active safety features, but some are available on the LT.
Which Trax does Edmunds recommend?
The Trax is already a bit slow, so we'd stick with front-wheel drive unless we lived somewhere we regularly needed the extra traction of all-wheel drive. From there, we think the LT is the best choice. It adds some extra conveniences such as cruise control and roof rails, and it has more options to choose from. The Driver Confidence package adds some extra active safety features that are worth having.
2019 Chevrolet Trax models
The 2019 Chevy Trax is available in three trim levels: LS, LT and Premier. The base LS trim has enough standard equipment not to feel stripped down, but the LT adds more practical features and has access to several option packages. The Premier trim not only gets interior upgrades, but it also has added active safety features.