2021 Chevy Trax Review

Name: 2021 Chevrolet Trax Review
Brand: Chevrolet
Rating: 4.1 (40 reviews)

Price Range: $13,995 - $20,998

2021 Chevrolet Trax LT 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+174

Read full review See all features & specs

Price & Payment

66 cars

$17,023 avg. price

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise This Car

For sale nearby

66 listings

Sort by:

See all for sale

Chevrolet Trax model years

Chevrolet Trax for Sale

2021 Chevrolet Trax Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

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

Previous top-level Premier trim discontinued
More powerful engine added late in the model year
Part of the first Trax generation introduced to the U.S. for 2015

Overview

Extra-small SUVs typically offer high fuel economy, easy maneuverability, and a decent amount of cargo capacity. The 2021 Chevrolet Trax checks these boxes and is also easy to get into and see out of. But the Trax is hampered by some fairly uncomfortable seating, a noisy, harsh ride and a back seat that could induce claustrophobia.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$130/mo

$157/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Much of the problem is that the Trax is a fairly old design, having come out for the 2015 model year. Since then, newer and fresher competitors have arrived, including the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3 and Subaru Crosstrek. Furthermore, Chevrolet has just introduced the Trailblazer, which is also an extra-small SUV but considerably more modern. We recommend going with any of these picks before settling on the Trax.

Which Trax does Edmunds recommend?

In LS trim, the Chevrolet Trax offers a decent amount of features for the money. And while the upper-level LT trim doesn't stand out for extra standard features, it is our pick since it holds the promise of options including the Driver Confidence and LT Convenience packages.

2021 Chevrolet Trax models

The Chevrolet Trax is an extra-small SUV available in either an LS or LT trim level. They both come with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 138 horsepower or, for Trax models built late in the 2021 model year, 155 hp. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional for either trim level. Highlight features include:

LS
Starts you off with:

7-inch infotainment touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Wi-Fi hotspot capability
Six-speaker sound system
60/40-split folding rear seat

LT
Includes the LS's standard features and adds:

Cruise control
Upgraded seating surfaces
LED running lights
Roof rails
Heated outside mirrors

Optional features for the LT include:

Blind-spot monitoring
Keyless ignition and entry
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Faux leather upholstery with heated front seats

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#5 out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Chevrolet Trax from 2008-2022.}

$484/yr

vs. $435/yr
for Average Subcompact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.56x/yr

vs. 0.69x/yr
for Average Subcompact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

15.1%

vs. 10.7%
for Average Subcompact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Chevrolet Trax.

5 (65%)

4 (7%)

3 (12%)

2 (2%)

1 (14%)

4.1

40 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 40 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Sporty and tons of fun to drive

Donnie, 07/03/2020

2020 Chevrolet Trax LT 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I looked at all the competition and and the Chevy Trax beat them hands down. I purchased a 2020 Trax AWD LT and it has all the bells and whistles and comfort i expected. Getting in and out of it is easy. Has plenty of power to move in and out of traffic. Tons of storage and hidden compartments and that is with the back seat up. Fit and finish is excellent compared to the others. Only …

Test Drive

Tim, 04/22/2020

2020 Chevrolet Trax LT 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

My wife and I went for a test drive and this vehicle is just fine with great value.We were curious about the power since that was the negative concern from the " pro review crowd", the power is just fine. I would say peppy in traffic and adequate on the hiway, if you want more go big. This is a subcompact SUV not a V- 8 powered SUV. Further more why would pay 3 to 5 K for competition, …

Very Impressive

Chad R., 08/12/2020

2020 Chevrolet Trax LT 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I'm 64 years old. I have been driving sense I was 9 years old. I Like Cars. I have owned well over a hundred used cars & trucks and about 20 new ones, I have owned just about every model GM made, Fords, Dodge, Chrysler's, Toyota's, Nissan,s, Kia's, VW's, and a Subaru just to name a few. Never put over 50,000 miles on any of them, (didn't keep them long enough). Well in 2014, I decided I …

great fit

Chauncey Robinson , 12/27/2019

2020 Chevrolet Trax LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I'm a bigger guy, so I don't fit well in smaller vehicles. Don't let this one fool you, it is roomy, comfortable and fun!

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax, so we've included reviews for other years of the Trax since its last redesign.

See all 40 reviews of the Chevrolet Trax

Write a vehicle review

2021 Trax Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$21,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Trax models:

Side Blind Zone Alert: Warns the driver if a lane change might result in a collision with another vehicle.
OnStar: Includes services such as automatic crash response and stolen vehicle locator.
Lane Departure Warning: Sounds an alert if the driver drifts out of the lane without activating a turn signal.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover19.8%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

People who viewed this also viewed

Chevrolet Trailblazer
4.1 average Rating out of 12 reviews.
Starting at $23,100

See Chevrolet Trailblazer Inventory

Mazda CX-30
4.5 average Rating out of 20 reviews.
Starting at $24,995

See Mazda CX-30 Inventory

Buick Envista
3.6 average Rating out of 37 reviews.
Starting at $22,400

See Buick Envista Inventory

2021 Chevy Trax Review

Price & Payment

For sale nearby

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2021 Chevrolet Trax Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Which Trax does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Chevrolet Trax models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Sporty and tons of fun to drive

Test Drive

Very Impressive

great fit

2021 Trax Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Chevrolet Trax info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Chevrolet

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Chevrolet Trax LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}